Challenge 02 - Purpose
What is your Ikigai?
Having a sense of purpose in life is associated with both enhanced wellbeing and overall quality of life. A recent study on life purpose found it is not just a powerful motivator but could help you live longer. A meta-analysis involving more than 136,000 participants possessing a high sense of purpose in life is associated with a reduced risk for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events.1
So, what is purpose? A purposeful life can be defined as "a self-organizing life aim that stimulates goals, promotes healthy behaviours, and gives meaning to life" 2. The Japanese call it "Ikigai' and translates to "a motivating force; something or someone that gives a person a sense of purpose or a reason for living."
During the recent pandemic, purpose has not only served to protect during stressful times, but it can also be an enhanced experience. This is supported by research showing that despite spikes in acute stress, depression, and anxiety among front-line healthcare workers, an astonishing 61% of them said they had found increased meaning and purpose in life3.
As uncertainty and volatility continue to increase in our world, finding purpose can help us buffer and build our mental health reserves. My career purpose is to 'use wellbeing science to help people be the best version of themselves,' and this has definitely guided me through the challenges of the past twelve months.
What activities help you or other create purpose? survey
Reference
1. Purpose in life and its relationship to all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events: a meta-analysis. 2016. Cohen R, Bavishi C, Rozanski A.
2. Origins of Purpose in Life: Refining our Understanding of a Life Well Lived. 2009. Kashdan and McKnight.
3. Positive psychology in a pandemic: buffering, bolstering, and building mental health. 2021. Prof L. Waters (ref Shechter et al., 2020).
Further reading
Read: Three simple steps to identify your life purpose. www.forbes.com
Watch: Why we do what we do. TED. Daniel Pink
Listen: Daniel Pink podcast www.super-soul.simplecast.com
** Disclaimer – Part of the Fresh Start Effect / Build Your Ideal Day Program by Duncan Young. All content and media on the Build Your Ideal Day Website is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice.
