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Research shows that purpose and meaning in life are associated with the highest levels of happiness. Father of positive psychology, Martin Seligman, Ph.D., [3] teaches that many people live the “pleasant life,” which consists of experiencing positive emotion on a regular basis.
What is life purpose and how do you find your life purpose (or purposes)? Learn more about the science of purpose so you can create a more purpose-driven life.
Jun 2, 2023 · Living a purposeful life means finding meaning and impact in everything you do. It's about discovering your passions, values, and goals, and aligning them with your actions. When you live with intention and purpose, you'll find greater happiness, fulfillment, and success.
- Happiness
- Healthy Habits
- Stronger Personal Relationships
- Wealth
- Health
- Longevity
- Better Sleep
- Reduced Risk of Alzheimer's Disease
- Better Mental Health
- Better Heart Health
The researchers found that a sense of purpose promoted happiness and well-being among adults 50-90. “Happiness” included a range of positive feelings from pleasure to life satisfaction to the sense of contribution to a larger purpose.
Older adults with a sense of purpose were more likely to practice healthy habits, according to the study. For example, participants with high rankings on PIL were more likely to exercise regularly, eat healthy foods, watch less TV, participate in the arts, and avoid sedentary behaviors. Along the same lines, a recent surveyof more than 500 adult pa...
Higher ratings for the belief that life is worthwhile were correlated to the likelihood of having a life partner, less risk of divorce, more contact with friends, membership in various organizations, volunteering, and a greater number of close relationships. Not surprisingly, those with strong PIL also experienced less loneliness.
In addition to a wealth of benefits of purpose in life, PIL also brought wealth itself. Sense of purpose was associated with greater prosperity, including income, paid employment, and assets, even after taking baseline wealth into account.
High “Life is worthwhile” rankings were correlated with better self-rated health, a lower incidence of chronic illness, less chronic pain, lower incidence of depression, and higher functional fitness. As if that weren’t enough, other studies have heaped more onto the already full plate of purpose benefits, including these:
A study of almost 7,000 U.S. adults over 50 published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2019 concluded that individuals with stronger purpose in life had lower all-cause mortality. Having a purpose also decreased the chance of prematuredeath. Even after controlling for such factors as depression and chronic illness, those with a...
In a studyof older adults, 428 Black and 397 White, researchers discovered that those with a higher level of meaning and purpose in life had better sleep quality. Moreover, they had fewer problems with sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome.
In a seven-year study of more than 900 residents in senior housing facilities, researchers discovered that greater purpose in life was associated with a substantially lower rate of incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Even when some study participants were afflicted with AD, higher levels of purpose in life seemed to have a protective effect on c...
A small study of 77 people in treatment for addictions found that those who had a sense of existential purpose and meaning in life had fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety, as described here. This result jibes with the U.K. study above, which also discovered that PIL was correlated with fewer depressive symptoms.
Reviewing the data on heart health and purpose in life from 10 studies of 136,000 people, cardiologist Randy Cohen concluded that "people with a low sense of purpose... were more likely to have a stroke, heart attack, or coronary artery disease requiring a stent or bypass surgery." By contrast, those with a strong PIL had a 19 percent reduction in ...
May 27, 2023 · How to Find the Purpose of Your Life. Though often used interchangeably, meaning and purpose are not the same. Meaning refers to how we “ make sense of life and our roles in it,” while purpose refers to the “ aspirations that motivate our activities ” (Ivtzan et al., 2016).
Dec 14, 2021 · It is — anyone can lead an intentional, purpose-filled life. The key is to identify what that personally means for you — and make small but still significant shifts and conscious choices to build...
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May 22, 2023 · What does it mean to live purposefully? Living a life of purpose is about prioritizing what truly matters to you according to your values and beliefs — then taking consistent action toward those priorities. Living purposefully is deeply personal; no one can dictate your soul’s calling.
