Life projects: a comprehensive definition

This article introduces a comprehensive definition of life projects. It begins with a broad conception of a project as a process comprising the formation, enactment, and maintenance of intentional structures and actions. This definition represents the integration of two theoretical traditions that considered a project either as a process prior to action or a set of actions aimed at the same goals. Next, we differentiate life projects from other types of projects. Then based on a broad conceptual framework, we define a life project as an ongoing, evolving process to form, enact, and maintain intentional structures and actions that, altogether, comprise a long-term, meaningful, and prospective narrative capable of guiding decisions and behavior in daily life. This comprehensive definition integrates six different dimensions of life projects reported across 93 journal articles analyzed in a previous scoping review. We end by contrasting our definition to related concepts and discussing practical implications in career counseling.