In this episode, we unpack its purpose, its benefits and why we can’t live without it.
“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away”. – Pablo Picasso
Have you ever asked yourself:
What gives my life meaning?
Why am I here?
What should I do with my life?
I have!
Purpose can look different for each of us. It doesn’t have to be extravagant; however, it needs something meaningful and worthwhile that aligns with values and the things we are passionate about.
It’s known that having a sense of purpose in life is important for our mental well-being and can help us live a more fulfilled and content life.
Together we will look at what is so great about having a sense of purpose, why we can’t live without purpose and how our sense of purpose goes beyond ourselves.
#1 What is so great about having a sense of purpose
Research has shown us that having a sense of purpose is linked to:
– A greater sense of happiness
– Healthy habits, regular exercise, eating healthy foods, watching less TV
– Stronger personal relationships
– Wealth
– Better Health, including sleep quality
– Longevity
– Reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease
– Better mental health
However, on the other hand, what is not so great is when we don’t have a sense of purpose.
#2 Why we can’t live without purpose
A lack of purpose in our lives can leave us feeling
– Bored
– Dissatisfied
– Empty
– Feeling hopeless
A lack of purpose can also contribute to depression and anxiety, especially when we cannot see a way beyond these unpleasant feelings.
Experiencing a lack of purpose in life can also isolate us from our friends and loved ones, leaving us feeling lonely.
A lack of purpose has a ripple effect and impacts others.
#3 Our sense of purpose goes beyond ourselves
– Living in the fruit of someone else’s sense of purpose, perhaps our doctors, teachers, police officers, inventors and the like
I am reminded of a time in my study journey when I was trying to figure out what my purpose of helping people actually looked like. Sometimes I would sit at my desk to study, and everything in me wanted to throw in the towel. A thought came to mind “Who is on the other side of your choices and sacrifice” it was then that I could take my eyes off myself and take one step in front of the other. When I witness a client reach their goals and gain new insights, it reminds me that there is a bigger picture that we are all part of, and our purpose goes beyond ourselves.
One of my favourite Les Brown quotes is: The wealthiest place on the planet is the graveyard because, in the graveyard, we will find inventions that we were never ever exposed to, ideas, dreams that never became a reality, hopes and aspirations that were never acted upon.
Perhaps, the purpose of this quote is not to create a sense of doom and gloom but to encourage us to live life on purpose!
On a finishing note, now that we’ve looked at: what is so great about having a sense of purpose, why we can’t live without purpose and how our sense of purpose goes beyond ourselves.
Would you answer the following questions differently:
What gives my life meaning?
Why am I here?
What should I do with life?
I will leave with those thoughts and until next time, take care.
Recommended Resource: Dream Again
Sources:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/changepower/202108/10-powerful-benefits-living-purpose
