Have you ever wondered what your purpose in life is or even what is means to have purpose? Your life purpose is made up of the central motivating factors in your life – the reasons you get up in the morning and put effort into what you do throughout the day. Having and recognizing your purpose can help guide life decisions, provide a sense of direction and create meaning in your life. And, perhaps most importantly, having a sense of purpose has also been linked to increased longevity and keeping your brain healthy later in life.
Research Confirms the Benefits of Having Purpose in Life
In a group of more than 2,500 older people studied at the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, those with a high level of purpose in life developed Alzheimer’s-related dementia about six years later than those with a low level of purpose and about three years later than those with a moderate level of purpose. A separate analysis of the same people found that those with a high level of purpose lived about four years longer than those with a low level of purpose.
The findings suggest that having a high level of purpose in life delays the onset of adverse health outcomes in old age by several years, can prolong life without dementia by up to six years, and enable older adults to remain active and productive members of society for a greater amount of time.
“We’re really encouraged by these study findings. Keeping older adults active and engaged in society longer can lead to substantial public health and economic benefits. We’re finding purpose in life is one of the most promising factors showing a direct improvement on outcomes across a variety of health conditions, including dementia and longevity. Therefore, purpose should be prioritized as a treatment with the potential to have wide reaching mental and physical health benefits.”
Patricia Boyle, PhD, MBRF Trustee and Professor of Behavioral Sciences and Psychiatry with the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center in Chicago.
How to Achieve Purpose in Life
Living a purposeful life leads to better physical health and mental health. Studies have even showed that people with purpose have been reported to have less depression, chronic disease and pain, and obesity, as well as better heart health and physical abilities. The benefits are clear, but if you’re still wondering how to find your purpose in life, the tips below may help.
- Adopt a Growth Mindset: Constantly pushing yourself to grow and become a better version of yourself can help you find your purpose.
- Give Back: When you help others, you also help yourself. To start giving back, look for ways you can be of service in your community. You can also volunteer for or donate to a cause you are passionate about or practice random acts of kindness to help others.
- Practice Gratitude: Working to switch your negative thoughts to positive ones can make you more generous and happier, which helps lead to a sense of purpose. To clear your negative thoughts, start by writing down a few things you’re thankful for first thing in the morning or before you fall asleep at night.
- Explore Your Passions: Think about what you’re good at and what you enjoy – these activities are likely your passions. Whether you love animals or mentoring young people in a career similar to yours, your passions and interests are a good indicator of what your purpose may be.
- Be Part of a Community: Being an active member of a community can help connect you with others and contribute to a greater purpose in life. Bing part of a community, whether it’s your faith community, neighborhood or the friends you play sports with, gives you a sense of connection with other people who share common goals and interests.
- Practice Self-Acceptance: Accepting your limitations and being kinder to yourself when things go wrong helps you become more self-aware and more self-accepting. Accepting yourself makes you more likely to give the best of yourself in every situation and can lead to a greater sense of connection with others and give more meaning to your life.
- Take Time for Self-Care: Self-care comes in many forms and can be whatever you find relaxing. Whether it’s walking in nature, practicing deep breathing or journaling, self-care helps your brain relax. When your mind is relaxed, you’re more open and receptive to new ideas, which can lead you closer to finding your purpose.
There are many ways to find your purpose in life and however you choose to find yours, it’s worth the effort. Finding your purpose helps guide your life decisions and has been linked to delaying the onset of cognitive decline, allowing you more time to live an independent and healthy lifestyle.