What does it really mean to live the good life? For decades, mental health research has zeroed in on what goes wrong—studying disorders, diagnoses, and treatments. But for Luke Kalb (PhD ’17, MHS ’08), an associate professor of Mental Health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, there’s more to the story.
His research pushes beyond managing illness and explores what helps people flourish. Instead of only asking how to fix mental distress, he’s asking what builds a life worth living for the majority of people who aren’t in crisis.
Kalb’s work focuses on an often-overlooked area of public health: positive mental well-being. “Roughly 20% of Americans will experience a psychiatric disorder in their lifetime,” he explains. “But what about everyone else? What are we offering the other 80%?”
He’s interested in how individuals find meaning, experience joy, and develop resilience—components that collectively define a well-rounded and sustainable life.
Looking Beyond Happiness
Freepik | Happiness is the daily dominance of emotions like pride and hope over sadness.
Happiness and well-being are frequently lumped together, but Kalb draws a clear distinction between the two. As he sees it, happiness is an emotional balance, feeling more positive than negative emotions. That includes feelings like pride, hope, or gratitude, outweighing stress or sadness on most days.
But there’s a catch. “Happiness has been packaged and sold to us in ways that don’t actually work,” Kalb says. He describes how the endless pursuit of status, achievement, or material goods often leads to what he calls “miswanting”—chasing something with the hope that it will bring lasting joy, only to feel let down once it’s achieved.
In contrast, well-being digs deeper. It’s not just about feeling good—it’s about living a life rooted in purpose and meaning. “When people feel like their lives matter and their actions align with something bigger than themselves, their well-being is more likely to be sustained,” Kalb notes.
Where Meaning and Purpose Come From
Building a good life requires intentional focus on the elements that shape identity and connection. According to Kalb, people draw meaning and purpose from a variety of sources:
1. Personal relationships
2. Cultural and spiritual values
3. Community involvement
4. Employment and creative pursuits
5. The natural and built environments
However, these sources don’t always deliver instant happiness. That’s okay. Kalb emphasizes that meaning and joy don’t have to happen at the same time. “You can be living with purpose and not feel happy every day,” he says. “But when you start with purpose, it’s much easier to find joy. Starting the other way around rarely lasts.”
Simple Actions That Build a Better Life
So, what can people do to move toward a life filled with meaning and well-being? Kalb offers three foundational strategies:
1. Strengthen Identity Through Balance
Kalb stresses the importance of self-complexity—having multiple sources of identity. “Think of it like a stool. Each leg is a role you play in life,” he explains. “If you lose one, the others keep you standing.” He suggests intentionally making space for hobbies, roles, and connections that enrich life beyond work.
2. Make Relationships a Priority
Freepik | To combat loneliness, prioritize nurturing all social bonds, as even small interactions can lift spirits.
Loneliness is more than just a feeling—it’s a public health concern. Former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called it an epidemic, and Kalb agrees. He urges people to actively nurture both close relationships and casual social connections.
“Even a short chat with someone new can boost your mood more than you expect,” he says, referencing the “double-sided liking gap,” where both parties tend to underestimate how much they enjoy a conversation.
3. Take Care of Physical Health
Physical and mental health go hand in hand. Kalb emphasizes that exercise, nutrition, and medical checkups aren’t just about avoiding illness—they also support emotional resilience and energy. “When you feel good physically, you’re more capable of connecting with others and doing what matters most,” he notes.
A Broader Vision for Public Mental Health
Kalb believes it’s time to rethink the scope of mental health research. While preventing illness remains important, he sees equal value in studying what makes people thrive. His course, Public Health Approaches to the Good Life, invites students to explore the science behind well-being and apply those insights to real-world mental health challenges.
“There’s so much we can learn from people who are doing well,” Kalb says. “That knowledge doesn’t just help the fortunate—it can also inform how we support people in distress or at risk.” By focusing on well-being as a public health goal, his research is helping shape a future where the good life is more accessible to everyone.
Why Meaning Builds a Lasting Foundation
While happiness may come and go, meaning and purpose offer stability that can carry people through life’s highs and lows. The good life isn’t about constant joy—it’s about alignment, connection, and balance.
Kalb’s research reminds us that cultivating meaning is not only good for the individual, but it’s essential for building healthier, more resilient communities. When people live with intention, their well-being becomes a force that positively shapes families, workplaces, and society at large.
