"I believe this sentence captures a paradox of the world we live in today. Many of us crave a sense of connection and purpose. We want to belong to something meaningful, to give back, and to make a difference in the places where we live. However, despite being constantly plugged in, the kind of community that nourishes us can still feel distant and hard to reach."
"Dr. Rose, co-founder of the think tank Populace, has analyzed one of the most extensive datasets ever collected on what people truly value-not what they post publicly, but what they admit privately, when they are telling the truth. His findings are both humbling and hopeful: We are far more alike than we think. Most of us crave purpose, contribution, growth, and authentic relationships."
Research of large-scale private-value datasets shows people privately prioritize purpose, contribution, growth, and authentic relationships. Across demographics, one of the highest priorities for a meaningful life is greater engagement in local community, yet community engagement is the area people achieve the least. The civic layer of everyday life—local clubs, places of worship, neighborhood groups—has thinned, reducing opportunities for collaboration, care, and belonging. Digital connectivity has increased visibility but often fails to produce psychological nourishment or the closeness that arises from in-person contribution. The loss of social infrastructure leaves many isolated and unsure where they fit. Rebuilding everyday civic spaces can restore purpose and mattering.
Read at Psychology Today
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]