Most of us would say that what we want from life is some form of meaning. The trouble is that “What is the meaning of life?” is almost too big to answer; humanity hasn’t settled on one yet. A more useful approach is to ask, “What makes life meaningful?” This is the question modern psychology does as well. And at Surfaces for Life, we look at how the kitchen can be one of the everyday places where a meaningful life is shaped in practice.
Autonomy, Competence, Connection
Modern psychology leaves the purpose of life to philosophy, art, and spirituality. Instead, it studies the conditions that make life feel meaningful – the things that make us feel steady, motivated, connected, and alive.
One of the most widely accepted frameworks for this is the Self-Determination Theory (SDT). It says that people tend to thrive when three core needs are met: autonomy, competence, and connection. When we feel in control of our choices, capable in our lives, and supported by others, we naturally move toward growth without needing external pressure.
We spend most of our lives trying to meet these three needs – sometimes consciously, sometimes out of instinct. How we do it depends on our circumstances and environment. The modern urban world is hectic, and leaves us with few spaces as essential and easily accessible as the kitchen.
Modern Urban Life
Urban Indian life is hectic, dense, and chaotic. Work stretches into late evenings, homes double as offices, social life fights for space in the margins, and we rarely do things that don’t require a screen. It’s easier than ever to feel like we have no control over our lives, are incapable, and are disconnected. When we deliberately seek wellness today, we’re trying, in different ways, to find healthy ways to meet the same psychological needs: to feel in control, to feel capable, and to feel connected.
But wellness itself takes time, money, and energy, all of which feel increasingly scarce. The search for balance often competes with the pace of everyday life.
And that’s where the kitchen, an everyday space already in every home, becomes unexpectedly relevant.
Why the Kitchen Matters
The kitchen is one of the most familiar rooms in a home, but it’s also one of the most underestimated. We tend to see it as functional, something to move through rather than spend time in. But when we look at it through the lens of overall wellness and drive, the kitchen supports many of the conditions that make life feel meaningful.
It is the space where involvement means making choices for ourselves every day – what to eat, how to eat, and how to care for our bodies. It’s a space that builds capability through repetition, attention, and skill. And it is a space where connection naturally grows: with the people we cook for, the people we learn from, and the people we share meals with.
In a world where wellness often feels like something we must carve out separate time for, the kitchen offers something different: a space that can support well-being as part of ordinary daily life.
What we mean by ‘Wellness’
Here, “wellness” is a practical way of looking at the parts of life that affect our daily well-being – how we think, feel, behave, and connect. “Kitchen Wellness” is the idea that tapping into the kitchen can help us have a strong, positive impact on all the following:
Mental health: How your mind works day to day – mood, clarity, focus, stress, and how you handle mental load.
Emotional health: How you experience and express your feelings – noticing emotions, managing them, and responding with balance.
Physical health: How your body functions – energy, sleep, immunity, digestion, and the ability to move through daily activities with ease.
Connection: How you relate to others – feeling supported, sharing experiences, and maintaining relationships that add meaning to your life.
Growth (Capability, Skill-Building): How you learn and develop – building skills, adapting to challenges, and gaining confidence through repetition and practice.
Recreation (Fun, Enjoyment): How you experience lightness – moments of curiosity, creativity, play, or simple enjoyment that break the monotony of daily routines.
What Kitchen Wellness Looks Like
As with any healthy path to a meaningful life, it starts with consistency and participation.
The kitchen is a natural space to support you as you get what you want from life because it blends routine with decision-making, individual effort with shared experience, and daily necessity with opportunities to learn and connect. It’s one of the few rooms in a home where mental, emotional, physical, and social aspects of life come together through the everyday act of feeding ourselves.
Takeaway
The path to the things we want from life isn’t abstract. The needs that make life feel meaningful – autonomy, competence, and connection – take shape through everyday actions. The kitchen is one of the few places where these needs come together naturally, even with a small amount of consistent participation.
Surfaces for Life explores how the kitchen can support a more intentional, meaningful way of living. Follow us as we look at what’s possible in a room we often overlook.
Specta Quartz sees the kitchen as a space for growth, health, meaning, and connection. Follow us on Instagram @surfacesforlife for more.
