“Five years from now, make sure you can say you chose your life and not settled for it.”
Mandy Hale
A friend recently shared this quote on Facebook. Following the loss of loved ones, she told of how she’d been reflecting on life’s chaos and the changes she needed to make to better reflect that which she valued most. Concluding that, amongst others, she needed to “continue getting fit so that I can live out my dream of being a feisty old Japanese Grandma who can schlep her own groceries at 90”, my friend’s post inspired but also struck a chord with me. As I’m approaching my ‘third act’ (more about that later), I too have been reflecting on my life, complete with sentiments of what’s been achieved so far, what’s left to achieve, what might need to be revisited, revised, or ditched altogether as time and energy rush down the neck of the hourglass way too fast for my liking. So, motivated by my friend’s post and the perfect quote to focus that energy, I got curious about purpose. Here’s what I found.
The research is clear – purpose matters, not just in where we get to in life but as a fundamental enabler of the well-being and vitality we need to get there. Establishing and pursuing a sense of purpose affects both our brain and body in powerful ways. For example, researchers at the University of California, San Diego found that adults who have a purpose in life are more likely to feel better, both physically and mentally, on a daily basis. What’s more, the positive effects of purpose add up across our lifespan with studies pointing to powerful dividends such as the reduced risk of Alzheimer’s, stroke, sleep disturbance, frailty, and inflammatory markers, improved immune functioning, greater cognitive and neural reserves, increased optimism, positive mood, sexual enjoyment, proactive coping, improved life satisfaction, higher self-esteem, higher subjective wellbeing, more mature coping strategies, and, lower fear of death and loneliness, paying off in later years. Most importantly, evidence shows that, as a trait, purpose is changeable and open to growth throughout life. In other words, it is never too late to develop and grow it! Yet, despite these powerful outcomes, research also confirms that we tend to lose our sense of purpose with age. So why do we forgo this incredible power, and how can we claim it back?
In this inspiring talk, the poster girl for ageing with zest, Jane Fonda, invites us to revisit a major archetype of ageing that society, and we ourselves, seem to be holding onto, i.e., that of “age as an arch”. Calling out our belief that “…you’re born, you peak at midlife and decline into decrepitude…”, JF suggests a new metaphor for ageing, that of a staircase, an “upward ascension of the human spirit, bringing us into wisdom, wholeness, and authenticity.” Age, she claims, is not a pathology, but a potential. Reminding us that we are in the midst of the longevity revolution, living on average 34 years longer than our great-grandparents did, JF invites us to view the final three decades of our lives as the ‘third act’ of life, a distinct developmental stage worthy of embracing with renewed purpose. Needless to say, I’m in! And if you’d like to join me, here are some good resources to get you started:
- Consider starting with a Life Review (like JF did). As William Damon explains in this article about Purpose and Life Review “The capacity for looking forward with a life-fulfilling purpose requires looking backward in an open and receptive way.”
- You can also listen to William Damon talking about the importance of finding your purpose, what a life review is – and how it can change your future – and why it’s never too late to reevaluate your past in this podcast.
- The Greater Good Science Centre (GGSC) ‘Finding Purpose Across the Lifespan’ site also provides a range of resources for people at various stages of life – from childhood, through to adulthood and old age – who want to improve their mental and physical health by tapping into the power and practice of purpose. Start by taking the purpose quiz and then learn how to cultivate more of it through a range of exercises recommended by researchers. Or try out the Greater Good in Action section of the site for a range of evidence-based practices for developing purpose.
References:
Brower, T. (2021). The Power Of Purpose And Why It Matters Now. Forbes. Retrieved 2 April from https://www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2021/08/22/the-power-of-purpose-and-why-it-matters-now/?sh=6660eefd163a
Cotton Bronk, K., Hill, P. L., Lapsley, D. K., Talib, T. L., & Finch, H. (2009). Purpose, hope, and life satisfaction in three age groups. The journal of positive psychology, 4(6), 500-510. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760903271439
Fonda, J. (2013). Life’s third act YouTube, Ted-Ed. https://youtu.be/E7yePfnLKCU
Fotuhi, M., & Mehr, S. (2015). The Science Behind the Powerful Benefits of Having a Purpose. Practical Neurology. https://practicalneurology.com/articles/2015-sept/the-science-behind-the-powerful-benefits-of-having-a-purpose/pdf
Greater Good Science Center. (2023a). Finding Purpose Across the Lifespan. Retrieved 2 April from https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/what_we_do/major_initiatives/purpose_across_the_lifespan?_ga=2.207957906.1424906482.1680949222-1224487632.1680741104
Greater Good Science Center. (2023b). What is Purpose? Greater Good Science Center. Retrieved 2 April from https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/purpose/definition#what-is-purpose
Irving, J., Davis, S., & Collier, A. (2017). Aging With Purpose: Systematic Search and Review of Literature Pertaining to Older Adults and Purpose. International journal of aging & human development, 85(4), 403-437. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091415017702908
Leonard, B., & Kreitzer, M. J. (2023). Why is Life Purpose Important? University of Minesota. Retrieved 2 April from https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/why-life-purpose-important
Shaw, G. (2020). Does Having a Sense of Purpose Improve Your Health? WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/sense-purpose-health