Purpose: how to harness it for better mental health

Imagine if – rather than dragging yourself out of bed every morning, staring at the grey drizzle outside the window and crawling off to work – you were filled with purpose.

You are Martin Luther King with the civil rights movement. You’re Marie Curie discovering radium and polonium. Alan Turing cracking the Nazi code. Nelson Mandela setting out to reform South Africa.

It’s not about making money to pay your bills. It’s not about the money at all. You have purpose. A reason for doing what you do that is bigger than yourself. These people might seem saintly but the benefits are huge. Research suggests that people with a strong sense of purpose are protected against illnesses from poor mental health to dementia.

While many of us envy the lifestyles of the rich and famous, perhaps it should be people with purpose that we revere more. But maybe the reason we don’t is because what they’ve achieved seems even more difficult to achieve than wealth or fame.

But there are huge benefits to be had from finding a reason to get up every day beyond the transactional. Here are some ways in which a broader goal or purpose can contribute to better mental health, supported by research:

Sense of meaning and fulfillment

Having a sense of purpose helps people feel that their lives have meaning and significance. This can lead to higher levels of psychological well-being and life satisfaction. A study by Steger et al. (2006) found that people who perceive their lives as meaningful experience higher levels of happiness and lower levels of depression and anxiety. This doens’t have to be at work. People can find this sense of purpose from volunteering in their communities or for charity.

Resilience against stress

We all get stressed. But a clear sense of purpose can provide a psychological buffer against the negative effects. people with a strong sense of purpose are more likely to persevere through difficult times, as their purpose can offer a sense of stability and direction. Research by Ryff et al. (2004) indicates that having a purpose in life is associated with lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, which suggests better stress regulation.

Motivation and engagement

Goals drive motivation, helping people to engage more fully in activities and pursue long-term objectives. This active engagement can combat feelings of helplessness and enhance overall mental health. McKnight and Kashdan (2009) argue that purpose provides a motivational framework that promotes sustained effort and persistence, crucial for achieving personal goals and maintaining mental health .

Social connectedness

The developed world is seeing an epidemic of loneliness. Pursuing broader goals often involves interaction with others, fostering social connections and a sense of community. These social ties can provide emotional support, reduce feelings of isolation, and contribute to better mental health outcomes. According to a study by Hill and Turiano (2014), people with a higher sense of purpose tend to engage more in social activities, which can enhance their mental health through increased social support .

Reduction in risk of mental disorders

A strong sense of purpose has been linked to a lower risk of mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. Victor Strecher (2016) notes that having a purpose in life is associated with lower rates of depression and a greater sense of well-being, highlighting its protective effect against mental health disorders .

Enhanced coping mechanisms

Purpose can improve coping mechanisms by providing a larger framework within which to interpret and respond to life’s challenges. This broader perspective can help people see beyond immediate difficulties and maintain hope and optimism. Frankl (1985) in his seminal work, Man’s Search for Meaning, emphasises that finding purpose is crucial for overcoming life’s adversities and maintaining mental health. The core content of the book is informed by Frankl’s time in a Nazi concentration camp, and he observed that those who survived the experience were not those who came in healthiest, they were those who found some sense of purpose. In some cases that was a desire to reconnect with relatives. For others, it was helping others to survive in the camp.

It’s a sobering perspective. It’s unlikely that many of us will need to find ourselves in a life or death situation to learn the benefits of purpose. Yet having a broader goal or purpose (even for more everyday people) can lead to a more meaningful and fulfilling life. These factors collectively contribute to better mental health.