6 Benefits of Living a Purposeful Life
Rev. Dr. Kitty Boitnott, NBCT, RScP
Heart-Centered Career Transition & Job Search Coach | Possibility Thinker
Instead of settling for an "ordinary" life, why not create a life that feels focused and purposeful? You have the power to create a life that brings you joy, excitement, and fulfillment. There are many benefits to discovering your interests and passions. These discoveries can lead you to understand your purpose in life. Don't you deserve to live a life that is extraordinary? Of course, you do! Everyone does!!! That is our birthright. Many of us settle for less, however. We don't consider how exceptional we are.
Many people have offered opinions about what life is all about and why we are all here. Theologians and philosophers alike have written through the ages about what it means to live a "purposeful life." The Transcendental theologian, Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” I believe that Emerson believed if you did that, it would ultimately lead to living a "happy" life after all.
So, what, you might ask, are the benefits of living a purposeful life? I can think of six, in particular, so keep reading to see what they are. You may be able to think of others that are just as meaningful to you.
Self-Development
If you haven't yet done so, start by identifying your primary interests. Consider what causes or activities motivate you most. What do you want to learn that is new to you but you find fascinating to consider? What new skills might you need to learn? You'll find that if you are on the right path, you are excited to learn and grow while pursuing a passion. Set goals for yourself that you can meet. Identifying your passion and your purpose is powerful as a self-development tool. Following what lights you up and energizes you will provide opportunities to grow. As you grow, you also develop as a person.
Focus
Increased focus is one of the significant benefits of following your passion. It also contributes to a sense of your living a purposeful life. This is because you will have identified exactly what you want to achieve in your life and how you will make it. Goal setting and planning are invaluable tools in the process. They will help you to focus on creating positive change in yourself and your life.
Motivation
The fact that you have a purpose drives you. Your inspiration for creating change in your life will provide the momentum. You can keep moving forward towards your goals. As you go, you will want to track your progress. Measure it against your goals and plans. Keeping track will motivate you to continue to progress. You will feel the success of achieving targets and goals at each step of your journey. Each time you meet a goal or objective, you will feel stronger and more self-reliant.
Happiness
Living a purposeful life will increase your sense of happiness and well-being. We all need to feel a compelling reason to want to get up in the morning. Having goals will provide a sense of satisfaction and success as you meet them. All these positive emotions will help you realize that you are the master of your destiny. You have the ultimate power to change your life.
Better Health
Your situation and your outlook will improve as you take decisive action each day. You will begin to notice that you feel happier than you did before. At the same time, your stress and anxiety levels will reduce. By giving yourself a purpose, you will find that you want to take better care of yourself. Your health will improve. As you feel healthier, you can continue working towards your goals. As you work toward and achieve your goals, you will be creating the life you desire.
As a way to continue to improve your health, build a plan for regular exercise. Take occasional breaks. Go on vacations. Eat healthy meals and snacks. And don't forget the importance of getting enough sleep. You can ensure that you achieve the most benefit of your new purposeful lifestyle. And you will feel better, too!
Self-Knowledge
Living a life of purpose and passion will enable you to grow as a person. It will open doors to interests and networks that will stretch you. At any age, we need to be challenged mentally, emotionally and physically. As you follow these new ways of being, you will discover more about yourself, your interests and needs. You will enjoy the process of creating goals and reviewing them. You will get to see the marked progress you are making toward building the life you want for yourself.
There are many benefits to creating and living a purpose-driven life. Why not think about what you want from life and go for it? See what you can discover about yourself and how you can use your purpose and passion to make the world better.
Until next time.
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