Explore how the evidence-based Life Crafting Intervention was developed to help people clarify values, set goals, and enhance well-being. Learn how researchers apply psychology and digital tools—including apps like Serenity—to make life crafting practical for everyday use.
The Life Crafting Intervention (LCI) is a psychology-based approach that helps individuals find purpose and enhance well-being by identifying their values, envisioning an ideal future, setting personally meaningful goals, and taking structured action. Developed by Dutch researchers, LCI is now supported by digital tools like apps to make the experience accessible and personalized.
What Is the Life Crafting Intervention Process?
At its core, the Life Crafting Intervention (LCI) is an evidence-based, structured self-reflection and goal-setting process developed to help people live more meaningful lives.
🧠 It involves seven core components:
- Identifying personal values
- Envisioning an ideal future
- Reflecting on current self vs. ideal self
- Setting congruent, written goals
- Planning small, concrete steps
- Planning how these will be achieved (implementation intentions)
- Publicly committing goals (to encourage accountability)
📌 In summary: LCI walks people through writing exercises to align values and actions—an approach shown to improve motivation, performance, and well-being in both academic and professional contexts. (Schippers & Ziegler, 2019)
How Does Life Crafting Improve Purpose and Well-being?
🧬 By guiding individuals to articulate their life purpose, life crafting has measurable psychological benefits:
- Enhances intrinsic motivation by aligning goals with identity
- Boosts psychological resilience and meaning
- Reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression
“Purpose-driven people are more psychologically resilient and healthier,” says Dr. Michaéla Schippers, lead author of the life crafting intervention research.
In one major study, students who engaged in life crafting reported:
- Higher goal clarity
- Increased academic performance
- Greater life satisfaction
Who Are the Researchers Behind the Life Crafting Intervention?
The LCI was developed by:
- 🧑🏫 Dr. Michaéla C. Schippers, Professor of Behavior and Performance Management at Erasmus University
- 🧑🔬 Dr. Niklas Ziegler, Positive psychologist and researcher on motivational systems
These researchers designed the intervention based on findings from motivation theory, goal-setting research, and positive psychology.
What Are the Psychological Principles Behind Life Crafting?
Life crafting is grounded in key psychological frameworks:
- Self-Determination Theory – aligning with one’s values fulfills basic psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness.
- Goal-Setting Theory – specific, challenging, and congruent goals improve engagement.
- Mental Contrasting and Implementation Intentions – imagining future success vs. present barriers enhances motivation.
- Narrative Psychology – constructing a personal life story enhances identity and purpose.
⚙️ In essence, LCI integrates reflection, visualization, and commitment to guide lasting change.
How Can I Use Life Crafting to Set Meaningful Goals?
Here’s a step-by-step guide:
📝 Step 1: Clarify Your Core Values
- Ask: "What truly matters to me?"
- Use journaling exercises to uncover your core drivers.
🌄 Step 2: Visualize Your Ideal Future
- Picture your life 3-5 years from now in detail.
- Write about your ideal relationships, career, impact, health.
🎯 Step 3: Set Congruent Goals
- Choose goals that support your values and vision.
- Use SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound).
📅 Step 4: Plan Concrete Steps
- Break each goal down into weekly or daily tasks.
- Plan using the "If–then" format: e.g., “If I feel tired after work, then I will go for a 10-minute walk first.”
✅ Tools like the Serenity app can guide you through this entire reflection and goal-setting process in a structured and digital-friendly way.
Can Life Crafting Be Applied Through a Mobile or Digital App?
Absolutely.
Apps like Serenity are bringing life crafting into everyday routines by:
- Prompting reflection exercises
- Helping users uncover values and life direction
- Guiding goal breakdown
- Offering habit suggestions
- Providing accountability through check-ins
📱 In summary: Apps reduce friction and increase consistency when applying life crafting, making long-term change more sustainable.
How Does an App Facilitate the Life Crafting Process?
Apps can replicate the LCI structure by integrating:
| Feature | Life Crafting Step Supported |
|---|---|
| Values discovery quiz | Step 1: Clarify personal values |
| Vision journaling prompt | Step 2: Envision your ideal future |
| Goal planner interface | Step 3–5: Set specific goals and plans |
| Habit tracker & alerts | Step 6: Monitor progress |
| AI-based check-ins | Step 7: Enhance accountability |
Using Serenity, users often report that just “15 minutes a week of guided planning” helps them stay aligned with their purpose.
How Can an App Help Clarify Values and Long-Term Vision?
Digital tools simplify critical introspection with:
- Guided writing prompts ("What would a meaningful workday look like to you?")
- AI-generated summaries of values after exercises
- Progress timelines that show vision development over time
This helps users answer: “What’s important to me, and what do I want my life to stand for?”
How Can I Break Down Big Goals Into Actionable Steps?
Big aspirations need structured execution. Try this breakdown method:
- ✨ Define your major goal (e.g., “Write a novel”)
- 🔍 Break it into sub-goals (e.g., “Finish outline”)
- 🗓️ Create weekly tasks (e.g., “Write 500 words on Monday to Friday”)
- ⛔ Identify likely obstacles and their solutions
Apps like Serenity automate this breakdown and help pace you over time with habits and reminders.
Can Goal-Setting Apps Improve Mental Health?
Yes—goal-setting apps improve mood and reduce anxiety by enhancing:
✔ Clarity
✔ Daily structure
✔ Hope for the future
✔ Sense of progress
📊 According to research from Erasmus University, students who used a structured goal-writing intervention had significantly greater well-being scores versus control groups after just 12 weeks.
How Does Accountability Work in Goal-Setting Apps?
If you’re wondering how to stay accountable to your goals, apps like Serenity act as digital accountability partners, offering:
- Daily goal reviews
- Progress nudges
- AI chatbots or community check-ins
- Reflection summaries each week
In essence, digital feedback loops reduce drop-offs and help keep your goals alive.
Is There Evidence Life Crafting Apps Are Effective?
Yes, digital delivery enhances the reach and persistence of structured interventions.
📚 In studies, digital applications of LCI showed positive effects on:
- Goal clarity
- Commitment
- Subjective well-being
- Academic performance (improved GPA reported in university studies)
Examples of Successful Outcomes from Life Crafting
Here are a few real-world outcomes documented in the literature:
- 🎓 Students using LCI improved academic achievement by 11%
- 💼 Professionals reported “greater meaning in work and increased engagement”
- 🧘♀️ Users of Serenity noted feeling “more in control” and “clearer on next steps”
How Often Should I Review My Life Crafting Plan?
A good cadence is:
- 🗓️ Weekly check-ins (10 min)
- 📅 Monthly reviews of goals
- 🔁 Quarterly resets (revisit values and vision)
Apps like Serenity guide these updates with simple nudges and revised prompts.
Can Life Crafting Be Used for Personal and Professional Goals?
Yes, life crafting has been successfully applied in:
- 🎯 Career planning
- 📚 Academic orientation
- ❤️ Relationships and values alignment
- 💼 Work-life balance and leadership vision
It’s flexible across any life domain involving long-term meaning.
How Does Journaling Help in Life Crafting?
Journaling is a critical reflection tool used in LCI to:
- Uncover subconscious values and barriers
- Process emotional and cognitive conflict
- Increase commitment through written goal articulation
Apps like Serenity turn this into a repeatable, structured habit—making change easier to sustain.
Best Practices for Getting the Most Out of a Life Crafting App
🏆 Tips for success:
- Use prompts daily or weekly—consistency matters more than intensity
- Be honest in values exploration—they are your compass
- Update plans monthly to stay congruent with your life trajectory
- Track progress with kindness—not perfectionism
- Celebrate small wins routinely
FAQs
What’s the best way to achieve long-term goals?
Start by aligning your goals with your core values and then break them down into weekly tasks. Use implementation intentions (“If X, then Y”) to pre-plan your response to obstacles.
What if I don’t know my life’s purpose?
Begin with small journaling prompts about what brings joy, meaning, and pride. Tools like Serenity’s vision writing module can guide you toward deeper insights.
How long does life crafting take to show results?
While some feel immediate clarity from journaling, lasting behavior shifts typically emerge within 2–3 months of consistent check-ins and actions.
References
- Schippers, M. C., & Ziegler, N. (2019). Life crafting as a way to find purpose and meaning in life. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 2778. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6923189/
Author Bios
-
🧬 Dr. Michaéla C. Schippers
Professor in Behavior and Performance Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam. Research focuses on life purpose, leadership, and goal-setting theory. -
🔬 Dr. Niklas Ziegler
Researcher in Positive Psychology and Motivation. Passionate about using psychological science to empower behavior change.
Life crafting doesn’t just help you set goals—it helps you craft a life worth living. With the support of structured tools and insights, your ideal future isn’t just possible. It’s actionable.