Finding Your Purpose in Life

Finding Your Purpose in Life

In the past few years, research has touted the benefits of having a purpose in life, physically as well as emotionally. Two recent studies show that having a purpose in life increased longevity.

One recent study looked at data from the Midlife in the United States project, which is funded by the National Institute on Aging. Researchers asked more than 6,000 people questions that gauged positive and negative emotions. They observed how people responded to statements like "Some people wander aimlessly through life, but I am not one of them.” Fourteen years after responding to the questions, people who had reported a greater sense of purpose and direction in life were more likely to have outlived their peers. (NPR blog). In fact, people with a sense of purpose had a 15 percent lower risk of death, compared with those who said they were more or less aimless.

In another study, a team from the University of Michigan found that older adults with a strong sense of purpose in life may be more likely to get health screenings such as colonoscopies and mammograms than those who lack such a purpose.

But knowing is one thing and doing is another. Where do you find meaning, and how do you start?

How To Find a Purposeful Life

Don’t know where to begin? Grab a piece of paper and pencil.

Make a list of the things you do for fun, or that you really enjoy. Imagine you're a billionaire with no worries about money, how would you choose to spend your time? This list is of your passions; the things that you love to do, or would do simply for the pleasure they bring you.

Write down the names of people you admire and why you admire them. When you're done, look at the list and know that what you appreciate about others is also in you. Adopt these good qualities of others as a way of inspiring your own actions.

Make a list of your natural talents. These can be an eye for detail, a great sense of humor or the ability to focus intently. These skills can be used in service of our life purpose.

Keep in mind that often we find our purpose along the way. Some people don’t realize their purpose until they look back and see the pattern of their lives. Finally, it's normal to feel scared when stepping into your life purpose. Just think of the fear as the energy you need to take the next step.

 (From the Society of Certified Senior Advisors Senior Spirit Newsletter, Feb 2015)