After exploring the research for ultimate satisfaction, Seligman noted that the pursuit of pleasure was hardly any contributor to lasting fulfilment. Instead, pleasure is really the whipped cream and the cherry on the top. It adds a certain sweetness to satisfying lives. But the foundation is the pursuit of meaning and engagement. The combination, though, of all three made for the best outcomes.

Basically, what we’re trying to say and what nearly all researchers have found is that happy people choose and engage in habits that guide them to create and enjoy their meaningful lives.