Struggling with existential concerns? Here are strategies to alleviate your 'meaning dilemma'
In the realm of psychology and personal growth, the concept of purpose has gained significant attention as a key factor in shaping one's life direction, motivation, and overall sense of meaning.
Michael Steger, a professor at Colorado State University, has highlighted the importance of finding purpose, but noted a lack of support in this area. He suggests that the search for purpose itself can generate meaning in life, rather than focusing solely on pinpointing an immediate purpose.
In a similar vein, Todd Kashdan, a professor at George Mason University, views purpose not as something that governs behavior, but as a compass to direct energies towards a central life aim. He believes that hobbies, passions, and other aspects of "little 'p' purpose" can serve as seeds that might lead to a deeper, more purposeful pursuit.
The term "purpose anxiety" was coined in 2014 by a University of Pennsylvania graduate student, Larissa Rainey, to describe the gnawing sense that one's life should have an overarching purpose, but it's unclear how to discover it. This sense of uncertainty can be particularly prevalent in a culture where many feel they cannot ensure their children will have a better life than they did.
Jody Day, a psychotherapist and author, has found her purpose after experiencing a traumatic event (inability to have children) and creating an online community for childless women. She is now also helping build an in-person group for childless individuals in rural Ireland. Day feels that her purpose is to be alive and awake in this time, and to have a platform.
The role of purpose in mental health and well-being is undeniable. Research has shown that people who more strongly feel a sense of purpose tend to be physically and mentally healthier. This is rooted in the way purpose fosters resilience, motivation, and a sense of meaning, as seen in Erik Erikson’s developmental psychology theory and Maslow’s model.
Erikson’s theory attributes the virtue of purpose to the third stage in early childhood, where children develop a sense of purposeful interaction with their environment and social world. Failure to develop this leads to guilt and difficulties in engagement later in life. Maslow’s model, on the other hand, relates to purpose through the higher-level needs of self-actualization and transcendence, where individuals seek to realize their full potential and connect to something beyond themselves.
In life contexts, purpose can emerge naturally or shift due to life events. For instance, trauma or changed circumstances can lead individuals to redefine their purpose, as illustrated by Day's transformation from aspiring motherhood to community building for childless women. This redirection helped restore her sense of meaning and well-being.
In summary, purpose acts as a guiding compass in both psychology and daily life, integral to mental health, motivation, and well-being by helping individuals find coherence and significance in their experiences and actions. It is a life aim providing motivation, direction, and meaning, developed in childhood and pursued throughout adulthood. While the concept of purpose anxiety may present challenges, the benefits of finding and embracing one's purpose are undeniable.
Science emphasizes the role of purpose in promoting mental health and well-being, as individuals who strongly feel a sense of purpose tend to be healthier, physically and mentally. (education-and-self-development, mental-health, health-and-wellness)
Learning about purpose in early childhood, such as its role in Erikson's theory, is essential, as it aids in developing a sense of purposeful interaction and engagement. (science, education-and-self-development, lifestyle)
Finding one's purpose can be a significant aspect of personal growth, as it provides meaning, direction, and motivation throughout adulthood, as shown in Jody Day's transformation from aspiring motherhood to community building. (personal-growth, lifestyle, psychology)
