The Power of Purpose

The connection between purpose, emotion and success.

  

The question “What is your why?” has become a common part of our everyday language. And there’s a good reason for that. The idea of having a purpose is appealing. It helps us find meaning amid the chaos, keeps our attention on the goal, and provides a substantial amount of motivation when we need it the most. In fact, researchers are now discovering that having purpose leads to a longer, healthier, and wealthier life.

As human beings, we’re wired to connect, and part of purpose is serving others or serving the greater good - something outside of us that allows us to feel more connected to each other. We have an inherent desire to be part of something that’s bigger than ourselves, and when we can see the impact that we have on others and on our community, it gives our lives meaning.

Purpose opens opportunities. This information can awaken us to define goals and ideals that are personally meaningful and reach beyond ourselves in some way to progressively define our existence. Purpose can also be a powerful tool for the regulation of emotional disruption, ensuring that we stay on our chosen path towards personal and professional success and achievement.

Anthony Burrow is a developmental psychologist and director of the Purpose and Identity Processes Laboratory at Cornell University. His work contributes to a growing body of research on the benefits of developing a sense of purpose. In a study published in 2018 in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine, Burrow and his colleagues documented some of these benefits. They tracked nearly 2000 adults for eight days to find out if having a sense of purpose helped them cope with life’s daily stresses.

Participants completed daily interviews where they were asked about stressful experiences, any physical symptoms, and their emotions each day. No matter how participants rated their sense of purpose, they tended to report a similar number of stressful events (from three to four over the eight-day period). However, those who reported feeling a stronger sense of purpose in their lives were significantly less likely to experience negative emotions, such as being nervous, hopeless, lonely, or irritable, as a result of the daily stress. They were also more likely to report feeling positive emotions such as being calm and peaceful, cheerful, active, and confident. In addition, they were significantly less likely to report physical symptoms, such as fatigue or having a headache or cough.

The conclusion: People who feel a sense of purpose in their lives may be better able to handle daily stress and regulate their emotions. The most interesting discovery about these findings is that daily life is not necessarily easier for purposeful individuals, as they too commonly report stressful events. Instead, the key difference between them and those with less purpose appears to be in their response. Stressful days are simply less emotionally disruptive to individuals with greater purpose.

To understand the disruptive nature of emotions, let's start by exploring the fundamental differences between emotions, feelings, and mood. Emotions are an instant response to a specific trigger. Our brain releases emotion chemicals in half a second. The whole body experiences this instinctive reaction that lasts just six seconds. Feelings, on the other hand, play out in our heads as we start to process the chemical reaction. They are mental associations. In other words, only once our body processes the emotion chemical, do we experience feelings. A mood is an emotional state. It’s less specific, less intense and less likely to be provoked by a particular event. Moods affect the way we respond to stimuli. Our mood creates a bias in favour of reacting negatively or positively to our outside world.

Emotions are complex and nuanced, and most people can’t really understand what causes their pain or their comfort. While primary emotions are our first emotional reaction, they’re often followed by a more defended secondary emotion. Sometimes, we are only consciously aware of the secondary emotion: the anger that covers up feeling hurt, the embarrassment overpowering our sadness, or the anxiety masking a deeper fear.

Emotions are created by incorrect perceptions; there is a gap between appearance and reality. Most of us are unaware as to just how disruptive our emotions can be for our productivity and success, and understanding how emotions affect our productivity requires practice. While self-awareness is key, focusing on your "why" is paramount. Success without significance - purpose, service, and meaningful relationships - is not really success at all. It’s important to accurately reflect on how you can live a life imbued intensely not just with the superficial trappings of success but with deep purpose and joy in all that you do. Ask yourself:

• What is the core purpose of my work and the ways in which it makes the world better?

• Who are the key relationships in my life, and how can I deepen them?

• What more can I do at work, at home, and in my community to serve others?

• How am I becoming better each day?

People generally don’t wake up one day and have a “eureka” moment, and suddenly know what their purpose is in life. We usually have to discover our purpose by trial and error.

Actively try new things.

You definitely won’t find your purpose in life by simply waiting for it to fall on your lap. You find it by actively trying new things and taking action. If you haven’t yet discovered your purpose, then you will not find it by trying the same things repeatedly.

Know that your job is not necessarily your purpose, and that's okay.

It’s important to know that your purpose in life and your job are not always the same. Too many people look for a job that pays the bills and that simultaneously makes their lives have a purpose. A very small percentage of people find actual purpose in the work they do. In fact, according to a 2013 study by Gallup, only 30% of all American employees feel engaged at work. The takeaway here is that your career doesn’t necessarily have to be your life's purpose. Rather, it can provide you with the means to actively carry out your life's purpose.

Develop a growth mindset.

When we stop growing, we plateau. And we all know a plateau is a nasty place to be. Fireworks and magic don’t happen on a plateau. Unfortunately, many people don’t realise that they have the internal power to expand their knowledge, develop their emotional intelligence, and become better versions of themselves. It starts with you. No-one is going to do it for you.

Understanding your own personal “why” and what drives you to do what you do, is a critical component of your overall happiness and success. From improving your health, to reducing your reactivity to everyday stressors, to predicting wealth and longevity, purpose emerges as your most valuable asset. And by not harnessing it, you are doing yourself and the world around you, an injustice.