New research suggests we’ve been chasing the wrong destination. Researchers at the University of Missouri found that hope may be an even stronger contributor to a meaningful life than happiness or gratitude.

Across six studies involving more than 2,300 participants, hope consistently predicted whether people felt their lives had meaning — even after accounting for other positive emotions. Hope was the only positive emotion that predicted a greater sense of meaning over time. That finding is powerful because happiness is usually tied to what’s happening right now. Hope looks ahead. It gives us a reason to keep moving even when today isn’t easy.  Hope remains available even when circumstances don’t cooperate.

We gain more by thinking of what we are looking forward to than trying to chase elusive happiness.

Happiness — a feeling.

Hope — a direction.

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” — Desmond Tutu

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