The balance between meaning and pleasure
And identifying your natural tendencies
There are two main types of rewards in life: those that come from pleasure and those that stem from meaning.
These two aren’t necessarily opposites and can sometimes overlap. However, most of the time, pleasure is fleeting and enjoyed in the moment, offering little long-term impact. On the other hand, meaning provides long-term satisfaction and a sense of purpose but often feels less rewarding in the moment.
Two schools of thought often clash: one argues that meaning is superior because it brings lasting fulfilment and depth to life. The other swears by pleasure, emphasising that life is meant to be lived in the present since tomorrow is never guaranteed.
The secret to a happy and fulfilling life probably lies somewhere in the middle—a middle that is different for everyone.
Why both meaning and pleasure matters
While meaning provides a deep sense of fulfilment, life can feel dull if everything revolves around purpose. Without moments of joy and indulgence, you may wonder what’s the point of all this meaning if you don’t enjoy the journey.
On the flip side, living purely for pleasure can be exhilarating, fun, and full of spontaneity. But over time, it can leave you feeling empty. Without a sense of purpose, even the most exciting experiences can lack depth and significance.
Two types of people
Beyond differing beliefs about meaning versus pleasure, we all have individual tendencies.
Some people naturally gravitate toward pleasure. For them, joy is easy to find, but they might struggle to engage in meaningful projects that require persistence and delayed gratification. Without making a conscious effort to seek meaning, they may feel unfulfilled in the long run.
Others lean toward meaning. These individuals often strive for long-term rewards and purposeful goals but can find it challenging to embrace pleasure in the moment. For them, indulging in activities that don’t serve a "greater purpose" can feel unjustifiable or even guilt-inducing.
Understanding where you stand to correct the balance
You likely already have a sense of where you fall on this spectrum. Recognising your natural inclination can provide valuable insight into where you might focus your efforts to create a healthier balance.
If you lean toward pleasure, consider setting small, meaningful goals to bring more depth to your life. And if you’re inclined toward meaning, give yourself permission to embrace joy without guilt, pleasure can be meaningful too.
Above all, be kind to yourself. The things you struggle with might come naturally to someone else, but the reverse is also true.
Fitness tip: Sit on the floor when you look at your screens
Sitting on the floor is a great way to preserve hip functionality. And what better moment than when you watch TV, a series on your computer or while you scroll on your phone to do so?
Give some love to your hips by spending at least 30 minutes on the floor every day. Any position counts, as long as you’re seated on the floor. Feel free to change position as often as you want.
Science highlight: Delaying carbohydrate consumption post-exercise could impair the next day’s performances
A recent study suggests that delaying carbohydrate intake by 3 hours after training can impair performance the next day.
Interestingly, muscle glycogen (glucose storage in the muscle)—depleted during training and replenished by carbohydrate intake—was not affected by the delayed refuelling, nor were the metabolic molecular responses.
This suggests that for optimal performance the next day, it might be better not to delay your post-workout carbohydrate intake for too long. It’s not just the protein that matters after a workout.
Delaying post-exercise carbohydrate intake impairs next-day exercise capacity but not muscle glycogen or molecular responses, published in Acta Physiologica.
This week's recommendations
Podcast
How to Build Closer Friendships & Get Rid of Loneliness, from The Mel Robbins Podcast
The truth about expiry dates, freezing food and vegetable scraps, from the ZOE Science & Nutrition podcast
We asked an expert to explain PMS - with Hannah Dower, from the KICPOD podcast
Music
Coexist - Sin Shake Sin
Nothing Ever Changes - Nico Collins
Naked - Ella Mai
Reading
In Defense of Witches, a book by Mona Chollet
Take care,
Roxanne