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Job burnout, an empty nest, retirement, the loss of a partner — any one of those can lead you to feel like you’ve lost your sense of purpose or reason to get up every morning. It’s a common experience, especially as we get older. “When you lose something that’s shaped you, it’s a threat to your identity, and you wonder who you are without it,” says Matthew Lee, a sociologist and research associate at Harvard University’s Human Flourishing Program. The question is — will you do anything about it, or will you languish into a void? Your response could affect your health.
Having a sense of purpose is associated with many health benefits, such as sharp memory and thinking skills, mood control, reduced risks of chronic disease and disability, and longevity.
Why is purpose so potent? “Several studies suggest that, compared with people who don’t have a sense of purpose, those who do tend to perceive stressors as being less difficult and cope better with stress. That might help them avoid some of the physiological effects of chronic stress that contribute to heart attack, stroke, and early death,” Lee says.
And some studies have found that people with purpose are likely to engage in healthy behaviors, such as keeping up with health screenings.
Purpose can spring from something simple, like a hobby, or more complex, such as contributing your service to your community in some way. While there’s no one formula to find that inspiration, there are ways to cultivate it. Here are 10 suggestions to get you started, adapted from the Harvard Special Health Report Self-Care (/scshr), with additional insight from Lee.
1. Zero in on your strengths. Ask friends, family, and your partner what comes to mind when they think of you. Do they find you entertaining, compassionate, or artistic? Use their feedback to think about how you can apply these attributes in a way that would give meaning to your life and the lives of others.
2. Think about the obstacles you have overcome in your life. Can you find ways to help others who are going through the same thing? “This can be profound,” Lee says. “Your life experience can help others, which is inherently purposeful.”
3. Draw up a purpose timeline. Your purpose changes as you age. Think about what it was at different points in your life, with particular focus on periods of evolution or transition. Did you learn any lessons that you can apply to your current situation?
4. Look for role models. Are there people whose work you admire? Can you learn how to do something similar?
5. Become a mentor and share your knowledge and skills. People often cite the encouragement and wisdom they’ve obtained from others who took the time to care about their careers. “A mentoring relationship is a caring one that enables us to give and receive love,” Lee says. “Reciprocal, caring relationships are often what’s missing as we get older.”
6. Think about what the world needs. There are a great many needs on this planet, and different people will prioritize different ones. Are you concerned about world hunger? Climate change? Injustice? Identify a cause that’s meaningful to you, and think about how you could help. “There are probably a million needs in your community that aren’t being met. Maybe some of those needs require your skill set,” Lee says.
Why not call a local group that interests you and ask about volunteering opportunities? Or visit Volunteer Match (www.volunteermatch.org) for ideas.
7. Read Viktor Frankl’s book Man’s Search for Meaning. It’s a quick, easy read, and it’s been helping people for decades. “Frankl noticed in Nazi death camps that people who were generous, connected with others, and found meaningful ways to support others were more vital and survived longer. They found a way to relate in a loving way to each other, and there was purpose in doing that. It may inspire you,” Lee says.
8. Write your own story. Your own lived experience is also worthwhile. Recall the best stories from your childhood and write them down with all the detail you can think of. Include answers to important questions about yourself — the kind you wish you had asked your own parents and grandparents. Give the stories to your kids and grandkids.
9. Write your own obituary. You can do this at any age, maybe not for publication — just for yourself or your family. What do you want to be remembered for? Can any of that inform your purpose now? If you haven’t yet achieved something you’re especially proud of, remember that it’s not too late.
10. Picture yourself winning the lottery. What would you do without financial concerns standing in the way? Would you travel the world? Volunteer? Figure out ways to do elements of those same things without a financial windfall. For example, if you’ve always wanted to visit Asia, see if you can sign up with a volunteer organization like the Peace Corps (there’s no age limit!).
Don’t feel pressured. “Explore the possibilities,” Lee says. “It gets you moving again, and momentum can take you further in ways that you may find rich, rewarding, and even surprising.”
Image: © Taiyou Nomachi/Getty Images
Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter
Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
Thinking about becoming a pescatarian? What you should know about the pescatarian diet
Let’s not call it cancer
Chair exercises for seniors: Boosting strength, flexibility, and stamina
Why all the buzz about inflammation — and just how bad is it?
Chronic kidney disease: What to know about this common, serious condition
Beyond the usual suspects for healthy resolutions
COVID tests: Do at-home tests work on newer variants?
A liquid biopsy for metastatic prostate cancer
One way to combat loneliness? Strengthen relationships you already have
Feel like you should be drinking less? Start here
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