Believe it or not, wellness is uniquely connected to uncovering your purpose. Finding your special meaning, being healthy, and reducing stress go hand in hand. Scientific research confirms that you will inevitably become happier and more fulfilled as you discover why you’re genuinely here on this planet. This new life purpose discovery also allows you to free up time to focus on your wellness, which alone can minimize stress.
The modern concept of uncovering your unique purpose can largely be traced to the writings of Dr.Viktor Frankl, the Jewish psychiatrist and neurologist who survived the Nazi concentration camps. His experiences are documented in his famous book, Man’s Search for Meaning. He believed that everyone needs a purpose in their lives to survive. In his book, he linked knowing his purpose to how he survived the death grip of Auschwitz.
So what does all this talk about the importance of finding meaning in one’s life have to do with health? I’m glad you asked. There is scientific-based research that examines the link between wellness and purpose.
Let’s look at these three significant ways that uncovering your unique purpose can boost wellness:
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- Stress Reduction: Finding your purpose can make a vast difference between happiness (a sense of bliss) and frustration ( a sense of deep anger causing overwhelming stress). Living with intention helps us to experience the zest of life. When we focus on what matters most, the daily annoyances don’t get the best of us as much. We can more easily shake off minor and sometimes even significant issues that come for us daily. Although you may be dealing with the same problems as others, you will find yourself less irritated, less frustrated, and less stressed. On the other hand, when we feel “lost” and that our work is somewhat meaningless, it can create stress within the body and mind.
- Inspires Wellness Boosting Behavior: Did you know that women who uncover and pursue their unique purpose have a greater tendency to take good care of themselves? How awesome is that! When you have a sense that your life matters (i.e., has meaning), there is a greater likelihood that you will prioritize wellness and self-care. When you have an ultimate purpose that you are achieving, you realize that your physical, emotional, and mental health lay the foundation for you to achieve it. Studies show that women who have cultivated a sense of purpose tend to engage in regular physical activity more. Likewise, other studies have shown that women with a higher sense of purpose seek preventive measures more than others, such as chronic health exams and screenings.
- A Strong Sense of Purpose May Lead to a Longer Life: According to an article from Harvard Health Publishing: “People who possess a higher sense of purpose also tend to live longer, according to a report in the February/March 2016 Psychosomatic Medicine: Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine. Researchers reviewed ten studies involving more than 136,000 people and evaluated the relationship between purpose in life and the risk of death or cardiovascular disease. The average age of 67 participants was followed for about seven years. The risk of death was about 20% lower for people who reported still having a strong sense of purpose. They also had a lower risk of having a heart attack or stroke. The researchers speculated that a sense of purpose may help a person better manage stress and encourages a more active lifestyle.”
As you can see, there is well-researched and documented evidence that uncovering your unique purpose in life has legitimate health and wellness benefits. Aside from stress reduction and long life, discovering your purpose and finding meaning in life has been shown to help with addiction recovery and alleviate some symptoms of depression and anxiety. Recent findings now show that finding purpose in life for aging adults may lower the risks of Alzheimer’s disease.
Uncovering your purpose is no longer a luxury reserved for the rich and famous. You can see the importance of finding your purpose and how it can affect your health and well-being. Now, What can you do to uncover your unique purpose?
I detail how to start this journey in my free ebook: How to Find Your Fascinating Life Purpose.
In a recent article: 10 More Surefire Ways to Find Your Purpose, I go even deeper into this subject matter.
If you still are wondering, you can sign up for a one-on-one conversation and get the clarity you need to move forward.
Be well + prosper,
Elaine xx