The Relationship Between Purpose and Resilience

Finally, we come to a discussion of “purpose,” or, more specifically, “purpose in life,” in the context of one’s ability to bounce back from adversity. I will start this next series of articles by talking about what we mean by “purpose.”

Definition of Purpose

A synonym for “resolution” and “determination,” the word “purpose” is defined by Mirriam-Webster dictionary as “something set up as an object or end to be attained,” and by Macmillan Dictionary as “the goal that someone wants to achieve.” Simple, right?

Now let’s take a look at the definition of “purpose in life.” The APA Dictionary of Psychology defines it as “the mental sense of a goal or aim in the process of living or in existence itself. This concept is of special significance in existential psychotherapy, in which its development is considered to be central to the treatment of anxiety, depression, and related negative emotional states.” According to The Berkeley Well-Being Institute, “Life purpose is defined as having set goals and a direction for one's life…More specifically, it's thought that life purpose, or engaging in purpose-driven behaviors, is just one thing that contributes to a meaningful life.” https://www.berkeleywellbeing.com/life-purpose.html 

In an article about children and adolescents who have experienced trauma in their lives, Heather Malin, the director of research at the Stanford University Center on Adolescence,  writes in The Blog of Harvard Education Publishing in an article entitled, “Teaching Purpose for Resilience and Flourishing,” 

Some young people show greater resilience to adversity…An important source of resilience is having a sense of purpose in life. Purpose, defined as a commitment to make a meaningful contribution to the world, gives direction to life and is associated with physical, social, and psychological well-being. People with purpose see themselves as having something important to contribute—to their family, their community, to society, or to the world—and are driven to do it.

https://www.hepg.org/blog/teaching-purpose-for-resilience-and-flourishing 

Malin cites a study which found that those with a greater sense of purpose showed better emotional recovery following a negative experience, concluding that highly purposeful people are more inclined to use positive methods of coping after have the bad episode. She even suggests that while those with purpose possess a greater resilience to adversity, adversity itself can create purpose in life, perhaps because a traumatic event can activate the processes associated with developing purpose. She explains, “Following trauma exposure, some engage in post-traumatic growth processes, including efforts to make meaning from the experience, values reassessment, and commitment to new life goals. These are essentially the same processes anyone can use to develop purpose in life: finding meaning in life experiences, reflecting on core values, and committing to meaningful life goals.”    

Why is Having Purpose Good for You? 

I read an article on the website Everyday Health that says, “Purpose in life is finding meaning in and having goals for your life… A sense of purpose — and the ability to adapt it throughout different phases of your life — has a positive effect on health and well-being, including your physical health and how you respond to stress.” https://www.everydayhealth.com/emotional-health/all-about-having-a-sense-of-purpose-what-it-means-and-why-its-so-good-for-you/

The article points to some of the benefits of having purpose, as demonstrated by a variety of studies:

• It will help you live longer. When you encounter misfortune, having a sense of purpose is protective and will promote longevity 

• It will help you recover from negative events more quickly 

• Higher levels of purpose can reduce the harmful effects of Alzheimer’s disease

• It promotes physical health and better sleep

• You’re more likely to practice healthy habits

• It’s correlated with having stronger personal relationships

In my next two articles, I will address how having a purpose in life can help you build resilience, and how to find purpose in life.