Such concern and efforts on behalf indicate meaningful connections with others, but putting others
ahead of the self seemed to detract from happiness (at least the portion of happiness that is
independent of meaningfulness). These findings are thus consistent with the results we reported
earlier on interpersonal connections: Devoting the self to helping others detracts from happiness but increases meaning. The findings about ongoing activities with future goals are consistent with the pattern that meaningfulness connects across time, and it extends that to issues of selfhood.