Why Purpose Matters More Than We Think
Millions of people around the world report feeling a lack of purpose in their lives. The concept alone can feel inaccessible and somewhat indulgent in a world where so many of us are focused on survival. For a long time I shared this view, until I began to understand the way purpose intersects with wellbeing.
Prior to committing to my work in the creative and social impact space, I stayed in stressful and oftentimes toxic workplaces because I believed that I was doing the right thing for myself and my career. I felt the friction and physical effects of stress on my body long before I decided to leave, but it wasn’t until I began to transition away from those spaces that the devastating hidden cost of work without purpose became alarmingly clear.
Fast forward almost a decade, I have noticed significant improvements in every aspect of my health and wellbeing as a result of bringing a sense of purpose into my work and daily routines.
To say it was life changing is an understatement.
What Does Purpose Mean and How Do We Find It?
For many of us, the mention of purpose may seem idealistic, prompt eye rolling, or conjure up images of social media gurus telling you to ‘live your best life’. In reality, purpose is not some mystical epiphany that strikes us like lightning, stripping us of any sense of doubt or uncertainty. Purpose simply means the reason why something is created or actioned. ‘Why’ being the operative word.
Purpose is all around us. For anyone that has ever purchased an item, started a business, or even followed a training plan in the gym - there is always a ‘why’ behind the reason that product, business or plan was created.
Applying purpose to your own life means bringing a sense of intention to why you do what you do. It means reclaiming a sense of authority and autonomy over your life, and most importantly, not fighting yourself on the things that are important to you.
For better or worse, each and every one of us has a set of values and belief systems that guide our everyday actions and choices. For some people, family is the most important thing. For others, they value education. For some people, it is beauty, or travel, or great food.
Finding your purpose is simply a matter of reflecting on what is important to you, and bringing that to the forefront of your mind as you make decisions.
Purpose Can Change, and That’s Okay
Purpose can be fixed throughout a person's lifetime, but more often than not our purpose changes and transitions as we move through life. What matters to us today may not matters 20 years from now.
Giving ourselves permission to move through life and be adaptable allows us to stay connected to a greater sense of purpose in the long term, and enjoy even greater well-being benefits of living purpose-led lives.
Purpose Benefits Our Physical and Mental Health
One of the most significant ways purpose benefits our wellbeing is through its ability to reduce chronic stress.
According to the American Psychological Association, feeling personally invested in the work we do increases motivation and engagement, making us less likely to experience prolonged stress or burnout. Rather than simply working to complete a task, a deeper sense of meaning helps us navigate challenges with greater resilience.
This matters because the long-term effects of chronic stress on the body are substantial. Persistently elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol have been linked to damage throughout the body, including reduced immune function, an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, premature ageing, and even shrinkage of the prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain responsible for emotional regulation, decision-making and complex thinking).
As stress levels reduce, our bodies are better able to recover, regulate emotions and maintain overall health.
The benefits extend beyond our physical wellbeing. Research consistently shows that people with a stronger sense of purpose report lower levels of anxiety and depression, alongside greater psychological wellbeing and life satisfaction.
It also changes the way we respond to setbacks. When we care deeply about the work we do, challenges are more likely to be interpreted as problems to solve rather than reasons to give up. This shift in perspective encourages resilience, strengthens our confidence, and reinforces our belief in our own ability to overcome difficulties.
Over time, purpose doesn't simply change our relationship with work, it changes our relationship with ourselves. We become more resilient, more self-assured and more connected to the lives we are actively creating.
Money Becomes Validation For a Job Well Done, Not the Intrinsic Motivator
Most interestingly, purpose actually shifts our relationship to financial gain.
We go to work to earn money because it is essential to our survival, but being invested in the work causes a psychological shift where autonomy and mastery become the intrinsic motivators - not the money itself.
Instead of waking up each day thinking ‘I have to do this’, the narrative transitions towards ‘I get to do this, and I want to do it well’. The money becomes an additional reward for a job well done.
Purpose Gives Us a Reason to Move Forward
The evidence suggests that purpose isn’t something that sits alongside our wellbeing; it actively contributes to it.
When we feel connected to the work we do, we experience less stress, greater resilience, improved mental wellbeing and a stronger sense of fulfilment.
Not only does our relationship with work begin to change, so does our relationship with success. Rather than measuring our lives solely by what we earn, we begin to consider the impact we have, the problems we solve and the contribution we make to the people around us.
Whilst purpose won't eliminate challenges or difficult days, it will certainly offer you a reason to continue through them.
In a world that often asks us to move faster, produce more and achieve endlessly, purpose offers us something different: a reason to keep moving forward. And for many of us, that may be exactly what we need, now more than ever.
