“The great courageous act that we must all do, is to have the courage to step out of our history and past so that we can live our dreams.”
― Oprah Winfrey
The benefits of living a purposeful life are many. Everyone has a calling in life. We are here for a reason and the dreams we hold inside us give us direction. But so often we push those dreams to the background, afraid to make a change. But when you have the courage to live according to your passions and purpose, you live a more meaningful and joyful life.
Here are some of the many benefits of knowing your life purpose:
1. Purpose gives you clarity
Knowing your purpose gives you a clear direction in life and what your
values are. It’s easier to make choices about how you want
to spend your time and where you want to focus your attention
because you are clear on what matters most to you.
2. A purposeful life leads to better health
Science has shown that people who have a life purpose are happier,
healthier and live longer than those who don’t. They are more
resilient to stress and have a better outlook on life. The parts of the
brain that control fear, anger, anxiety and depression are damped down
and the parts of the brain that produce positive emotions are turned up.
The brain produces the “feel-good” chemicals like dopamine,
endorphins and oxytocin, which also support the immune system.
3. Better relationships
When you are loving life and feeling good, your relationships improve.
And, when you are living in balance, you have the time to attend to
them.
4. Spiritual connection
When you are living in alignment with your life purpose, you are connected
to your higher self and more easily live in the higher flow of life. After all,
this is what you came to do! When you are in the flow of life, you allow
more to come to you rather than work so hard to make things happen.
People who are aware of their purpose often report an increase in
surprising synchronicities and serendipity in life.
5. More enjoyment of life
Living “on purpose” creates a life you love! You have more control over your life because you’re living your dreams, not someone else’s idea of what you “should” be doing. When you are motivated by purpose, even challenges or tasks that are less appealing can be approached with creativity and a sense of curiosity that allows you to find beauty and joy.
6. Purpose creates a sense of contribution
Your purpose will benefit others in some way—whether solving a problem for them, offering a service or uplifting them. You could uplift others by simply being happy and positive yourself! And that feels really good.
If you’ve been on purpose, but now you’re not feeling excited, it may be time to reassess. Life is fluid and your interests or circumstances may change. You can get some help in my article, Reassessing Your Purpose. If you’d like more personalized help, schedule your Life Purpose Strategy Session here.
