Purpose in Your Life

The Importance of Purpose

Why are you here? What difference do you want to make? What is your purpose for getting up each morning?

These are basic and simple questions. Yet, the answers to these questions are profound and have specific correlates to one’s mental and physical health. You can only imagine the faces of the teenagers in my audiences across the country when I ask them about their purpose in life. The earlier we get started trying to understand what our lives mean and what difference each of us can make the better our sense of self and overall wellbeing.

Research indicates that living a long healthy life can be explained by how well we adapt to things outside of our control. Longevity and health has much less to do with genetics or cognition. In addition to being adaptive across our lifespan, the idea of purpose in our lives becomes vital. Unfortunately, many do not explore this question and each of us needs to take some time today to think about our purpose.

Sometimes we discuss “will to live” or “attitude” as being important parts of health. A will to live must involve a purpose, something we are driven to represent or achieve, a goal or meaning that is greater than self. The great news is that our purpose in life can be quite simple and small. The important point is that we align what we do with what we care most about. So many are simply acting each day to complete tasks without the connection to our great purpose with our time and action.

Take some time today to think about your life and to consider what you have accomplished for yourself and for others. Then, think about something that you have “always wanted to do” or perhaps reflect on “something that might be missing” in your life. These thoughts will create a pathway for you to identify and immerse yourself in your Purpose.

Once identified, live your purpose to the fullest as if each day is your last. Your passion and positive energy will be contagious. You will feel happier and your body, spirit, and brain will thank you. So will the people you affect in your life as your purpose helps to affect their lives in a healthy and meaningful way.

Dr. Nussbaum

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