In the January 2022 Newsletter
  The Purpose of Purpose / Events

The Purpose of Purpose

What is your purpose in life? How do you find meaning in your life? You’ve thought about this before, I’m sure. Yet 40% of Americans have not yet managed to find it, says the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s not just a philosophical exercise. Having purpose is important for longevity and well-being.

In Japan, ‘purpose in life’ or ‘life worth living’ is called ikigai. According to Growing Young author Marta Zaraska, “Ikigai is seen as having such measurable effects on longevity that Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has included it in its official health promotion strategy. In one epidemiological study conducted on over 43,000 Japanese, not having ikigai was linked to a 60 percent higher risk of dying of cardiovascular disease. That’s a lot. By comparison, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables per day can cut the danger of succumbing to cardiovascular disease by just 27 percent.”

To Naoki Kondo, health sociologist at the University of Tokyo, one of the key factors for having ikigai is a paying job. “I want to work until a second before I die,” he said.

I agree! Why? Making a contribution is one of my top goals, and work provides me an important way to make a meaningful difference. Work makes me come alive. Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, writes, “It is impossible to have a great life unless it is a meaningful life. And it is very difficult to have a meaningful life without meaningful work.”

Definition of Purpose

Merriam Webster defines purpose as the reason why something is done or used, the aim or intention of something. Purpose encompasses a range of aspirations, from a grand reason for living to narrow objectives. Purpose is used interchangeably with the terms aim, target, goal, and intention.

There is a human need for purpose. In Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl, Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, discovered that purpose gives people a will to stay alive. He reports, “Man actually needs the striving and struggling for some goal worthy of him.” Kenneth Thomas in Intrinsic Motivation at Work, reaches a similar conclusion, “We seem to need to see ourselves as going somewhere — as being on a journey in pursuit of a significant purpose.”

Having Purpose Is Good for You

	IT REDUCES STRESS. Having purpose in life may help us reframe stressful situations to deal with them more productively, thereby facilitating recovery from stress and trauma. In turn, enhanced ability to recover from negative events may allow a person to achieve or maintain a feeling of greater purpose in life over time.
	IT PROMOTES LONGEVITY. Purpose is positively correlated with living longer. I’d like to live in a healthy state as long as I can.
	IT FEELS GOOD. With the pursuit of purpose comes fulfillment, and from this experience comes meaning, satisfaction, and a feeling of success.
	IT DELIVERS RESULTS. Having a clear purpose about which you are passionate is essential for getting what you want in work and life. Purpose also helps deliver profit.

Practical Pointers for Living a Life with Purpose

	PREPARE. Purpose comes when preparation meets the possibilities. Nurture yourself and your passions by continuing to learn, grow, and try new things. Do things that will build your true self. Be action-oriented.
	DECIDE. Set the intention to live your life with purpose. Ask yourself what you need to get the intended results from your preparation. Build the groundwork you need ahead of time. Along the way, test your gut.
	BE PATIENT. Give yourself time and be kind to yourself. Trust that when the time is right, you will know. Surrender to the natural process. Persevere and don’t quit. Keep trying. Be open to the possibilities. Let serendipity and synchronicity emerge. Make it easy for your purpose to find you.
	TAKE ACTION. Create a list of your values and gifts, and the needs of the world. Look for an intersection and you will find your passionate purpose. Experiment. Say affirmations such as, “I easily find my purpose in life.” Explore. Try new things. Volunteer.
	CONNECT. Reach out to your support system. Ask the proper people for feedback, suggestions, advice, and more connections.

My Path

In addition to my other work, I just became a volunteer with the U.S. Digital Response, as an intake lead and advisor. It’s a non-profit organization that helps governments quickly deliver critical services and infrastructure to support the needs of the public. I am meeting new people, learning, and using my technical and management skills to make a difference. It feels good and is helping me stay open to the possibilities.

Summary

What is the purpose of purpose? It provides meaning and satisfaction in life. It feels good and delivers results. It reduces stress and promotes longevity. How can you find purpose? Commit to live a meaningful life and to find meaningful work. Prepare by doing things that will build your true self. Be patient and make it easy for your purpose to find you. Take Action. Connect with people for advice. Then allow the pursuit of your purpose to help you come alive.

Upcoming Events

February 23, 2022. Theresa speaks about “Government Relationships” on behalf of Visionlink, a provider of disaster recovery and emergency management IT platforms used by people to give and get help, to connect assets to needs, and to build connections between organizations, volunteers, staff, and clients. (by invitation only)

February 23, 2022. Theresa is a guest lecturer at the University of Colorado, Leeds School of Business, helping graduate students understand how to create a life with purpose, passion, and profit. (by invitation only)

Theresa M. Szczurek, Ph.D.
C-Level Global Executive, Corporate Director, and Colorado CIO of the Year

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