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The Hard Road to the Good Life: The Happy, Mature Person

Southern Methodist University

The purpose of this article is to examine how two aspects of the good life, happiness and maturity, are reflected in the stories that people tell about their lives. This article highlights the ways that ego development may change the meaning and experience of happiness. When happy people tell stories of life transition, they are more likely to use foreshadowing and happy endings. When mature people tell such stories, they tend to include mention of their active struggle with their life changes. The stories of happy, mature individuals are examined to illustrate how negative life experiences and difficult times may be accommodated into the good life.

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