Through the windows of the soul: A pilot study using photography to enhance meaning in life

• Meaning in life is important to clinical populations and therapeutic practices.
• Participants took photographs of “things that make your life feel meaningful.”
• Meaning, life satisfaction, and positive affect increased following intervention.
• No significant changes in psychological distress were observed.
• Potential clinical applications and future research directions are discussed.

A pilot study is presented using a photographic method for participants to explore where meaning in their lives comes from. Eighty-six university students were instructed to take 9–12 photographs of “things that make your life feel meaningful.” One week later, participants returned, viewed, and described their photographs. Significant within-person improvements in levels of meaning in life, life satisfaction, and positive affect were observed following the intervention.