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The Value of Finding Your Life Purpose

  • Writer: Patricia Faust
    Patricia Faust
  • Jan 9, 2020
  • 3 min read

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The New Year brings in a clean slate – what are you going to do with it? Let’s go for the big idea and talk about your life purpose. Do you have any idea as to what makes you excited to get out of bed in the morning and joyfully start your day? Is there something you are passionate about? The benefits of life purpose are BIG! It is a “key component of psychological wellbeing, finding meaning in what you do and who you are and leading a goal-directed life” (Mercola, 2015).


Recognizing Passion and Purpose

Recognizing your passion and purpose is life changing. The Stanford Longevity Project, spanning 80 years, found that staying productive and having a sense of purpose promoted a longer life. They referred to this state as conscientiousness. Conscientious people take better care of themselves, make healthier choices and work in jobs they love resulting in reduced stress levels and overall higher contentment with their lives. They tend to regard their work as having purpose.


The Effect of Life Purpose on Your Brain

All of these health benefits should be evidence enough to support life purpose – but what affect does this have on the brain? Well – life purpose has a huge effect on your brain! (You probably guessed that by now!). Scientists at Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center found on autopsy of 246 people (out of 1400 people in the study) that those “who exhibited very different levels of cognitive decline often showed similar levels of damage from Alzheimer’s. The brains that functioned better it turned out – belonged to people who had indicated more purpose in life over the course of the study.” (Applewhite, 2015) In brain-speak – having a goal in life actually affects the cellular activity in the brain (neuroplasticity, neurogenesis). Plaques and tangles still form but having a goal continues to build cognitive reserve. And, the stronger the purpose, the more resilient the brain is. (I told you it was huge!).


What level are you on the life purpose ladder? Is your work your passion? Have you just retired or are you going to retire soon? Or – do you feel that something is missing in your life? Do you go day-to-day numb as to what you do all day? Well, that is the beauty of the new year! You can reflect on the direction your life has taken. This may require some thought and it is not something that can be rushed. However, our brain is ready for change. Your brain loves change and it is always ready to grow new cells and neural pathways to become more resilient as you start embracing your life. Don’t believe that you need to find one purpose. Our purpose lies in the fact that we jump into our current life with both feet and engage in what we are doing here and now. It is a mindfulness approach of appreciating the moment you are in and living it fully.


Steps to Change Your Attitude About Your Life

What if your life is more complicated and it is difficult? Change your brain and you can change your life. Here are some steps to help you change your attitude about your life:

1. Surround yourself with reminders, such as photos or mementoes, of happy times

2. Regularly express gratitude

3. Complimenting people on things you like or appreciate about them

4. Practice mindfulness

5. Visualize compassion

(Davidson, Forbes)


To actually change your brain, you need repetition and consistency. The real purpose in life is to fully engage in your life. You will find your passion as you direct your attention to living. Passion + Daily Activity = Purposeful Life

Trust me, your life will never be the same – it will be so much better.


References:

Applewhite,A. (November 23, 2015). How having a purpose in life impacts your brain – in a big way. Retrieved December 30, 2015 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ashton-applewhite/purpose-in-life-brain_b_85555918.html


Gupta,S. Purpose in life is good for your health. Retrieved December 30, 2015 from http://www.everydayhealth.com/news/purpose-life-good-your-health/


Kaiser,S. (June 19, 2014). 3 Unexpected ways to find your life purpose. Retrieved August 27, 2015 from Huffington Post App.


Mercola. (May 29,2015). A higher purpose in life is essential for brain health. Retrieved December 30, 2015 from http://reset.me/story/a-higher-purpose-in-life-essential-for-brain-health/

 
 
 

Comments

Where did summer go?  It was a goal of mine to be intentional each day of summer to appreciate the warm weather, the long days, and believing we are in the lazy, hazy days of summer.  Turns out that wasn’t exactly how the summer went.  At the beginning of summer, we had a lot of rain.  I mean enough rain to flood the Ohio River and its tributaries.  Everything was wet! Then we went into the heat mode!  At the end of June, we went camping for a long weekend.  We are tent campers!  I think we were the only tent campers in the entire campground.  It was obvious that RVs and Motor Homes were the way to go on this particular camping trip.  Their air conditioners filled the night air with their compressors whirring.  Not to be outdone, my sister-in-law and her husband brought an air conditioner to cool off their tent!  We were really roughing it!!  The 100+ degree temperatures will give us lots of stories to tell about how we survived the heat and still had a great time.

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Then there was July and August and I have no idea what we did to mark those months as memorable.  And now it is September.  This is the best month of the year.  The weather is temperate, and we have an overlap of professional sports in Cincinnati.  The Cincinnati Reds Major League Baseball team is finishing up the season.  The Cincinnati Bengals National League Football team is starting their season. The FC Cincinnati Major League Soccer (MLS) team is amid their season. 

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Octoberfest is at the end of this month.  Cincinnati has the second largest Octoberfest festival in the world, second only to Munich Germany!

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September is really all about Raising Awareness for the Aging Population!​

  • Healthy Aging Month (Brain Health)

  • National Senior Center Month

  • National Assisted Living Month

  • Falls Prevention Awareness Week

  • World’s Alzheimer’s Month

  • National Suicide Prevention Month

  • National Recovery Month

  • Substance abuse and mental health services

This list is mostly positive references to senior events/awareness.  Suicide Prevention Month and National Recovery Month might not seem like they should be in this list.  But the statistics of seniors taking their own lives is the highest of all age groups.   I did a little research to confirm that statement.  What I found was unsettling.  My next newsletter will include a blog on senior suicide.  This is really important information for all of us.

 

The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is less than a month away!! Yikes – I told you I lost a couple of months of the summer!!!  Here are some facts on the personal impact of Alzheimer’s for families, friends, and caregivers.

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  • Today, more than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s.  By 2050, this number is projected to rise to nearly 13 million.  This is a direct correlation to the large size of the Boomer generation.

 

It is hard to conceptualize the impact of these figures if you are not aware of the devastation Alzheimer’s disease leaves behind.  So, let’s make this more personal:

  • Are you a Boomer?  The last group of Boomers will pass through the 65-age threshold in 2030.  Age is a non-modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s.  The percentage of getting Alzheimer’s and other dementias starts to increase rapidly the older you get.  Boomers are now in the high-risk group which accounts for the huge projection of those with Alzheimer’s by 2050.

  • Do you have a parent, grandparent or other relative or friend that are in the over-65 age group?  You will likely experience Alzheimer’s as a caregiver or friend/relative of a caregiver.  Alzheimer’s will impact your life in many ways.

  • Do you have parents in this over-65 age group and children still living at home?  You are now part of the sandwich generation, responsible for care of your parents and your children.  The results of the extreme stress and financial burden will make for a very difficult time in your life.

 

The Alzheimer’s Association is fully aware of the impact of this horrible disease.  Their goal is to Find the First Survivor.  The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is their largest national fundraiser.  Please support/join Team My Boomer Brain as we too fight to bring an end to Alzheimer’s. 

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Link to donate:  http://act.alz.org/goto/faust

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Thanks to all, 

 

Pat

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