Life Purpose and Well-being Therapy
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A study on the topic analyzing the emotional resilience and recovery of people with a sense of purpose found that having a life purpose makes you more likely to cope with stress, develop better mental resilience, gives you the capacity to overcome much greater challenges. In other words, having some greater meaning to pursue gives us strength.
But what is a life purpose? What does a life purpose look like? How do you go about finding your life purpose? And what roles do therapy and mental wellbeing have in your life purpose?
How Does Your Life Purpose Affect Your Wellbeing?
At some point in time, everyone has wondered about the meaning of life. Some people have an answer they’re satisfied with. Others go on wondering for the rest of time. But whether we pursue some greater meaning or try to decipher the truth about living, one thing is for sure – we all seek purpose. Having a life purpose can give you direction and give you a reason to push through any stressor.
Researchers on the topic of mental resilience and wellbeing define a life purpose as an element within a greater framework describing general mental wellbeing. One psychologist’s interpretation of mental wellbeing posits that there are six key dimensions:
1. Autonomy –
the ability to rely on yourself.
2. Environmental mastery –
control over controllable factors.
3. Personal growth –
continuing to develop in adulthood.
4. Positive relationships –
fostering healthy relationships based on mutual trust and respect.
5. Purpose in life –
having a greater goal to always work towards.
6. Self-acceptance –
ability to forgive oneself and accept oneself.
Studies on life purpose even found that people who reported that they felt they had a purpose in life usually had better heart health, better cholesterol levels, and lower secretions of stress hormones in their saliva. Another study on the biological effects of having a purpose in life even found that it tends to correlate with lower biological factors for inflammation, as well as greater longevity.
Mentally, a greater life purpose correlates with lower rates of depression, especially in aging populations. People who self-reported as having a purpose in life also felt less threatened by negative stimuli and were less likely to attribute any importance to negative pictures in visual stimulation tests. Furthermore, having goals in life correlated with greater grey matter in the brain, and healthier markers for memory and cognition.
By all accounts, having a greater life purpose improves your mental and physical health. The potential mechanism for this phenomenon could be explained by the placebo effect – because we have something important to do and intend to fulfill that obligation with a sense of purpose, we feel more mentally and physically able to stand up to life’s challenges and day-to-day stressors.
Mental and physical resilience are both subjective and can change in response to stress and mood. Depression, for example, can increase your perception of pain and result in symptoms of physical fatigue, chronic headaches, abdominal pain, and even increased risk of disease. The body can develop physical and mental symptoms through the power of the mind. On the flip side, the positivity and life-affirming qualities of a greater purpose can improve your mental and physical health.
Finding a Life Purpose
What defines a life purpose? According to research, a greater purpose in life constitutes a personal goal, or more specifically, the ability to ascribe meaning to life’s experiences, and possess feelings of intentionality. A life purpose is something that gives us direction in life, something we can align ourselves with, and something that helps guide our behavior.
Some people seek purpose in life through their professional calling, while others find purpose through religion, through parenthood, or through a moral code of conduct. A good place to start is to seek to align your behavior with a concrete goal.
This could be aiming to pursue a completely different direction in your professional life, seeking to spend more time volunteering within the community and playing an active role in local politics, spearheading a charity event, or dedicating more time to your personal development through study.
Therapy and Mental Wellbeing at Coastwise
At Coastwise, we find that it is important to treat clients as individuals. This specifically refers to addressing mental and physical health problems through a biopsychosocial lens and realizing that psychological health issues are often the result of a combination of physical, mental, and even social risk factors.
Our treatment plans utilize several concurrent modalities to address these factors, helping improve a client’s mental wellbeing through individual talk therapy, lifestyle changes, and skills training.
Working with us means addressing your mental health holistically, through traditional and alternative treatment therapies that aim to address mental health symptoms while striving to improve your wellbeing through a healthier, more positive outlook on life.
Psychotherapy and mental wellness are not always focused on treating an acute condition. Therapy can also be a crucial element in leading a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Professional counseling or individual talk therapy can help you address the daily stressors that might be holding you back, or give you an outlet to discuss your fears, worries, and motivations with a mental health professional.
Seeking emotional support and guidance is healthy, and a normal necessity for all of us. And when we don’t feel comfortable discussing our problems with a friend, a therapist is an excellent option.
Get Started with Coastwise
Finding one's life purpose involves aligning your behavior with your personal goals. Our therapy and mental health support at Coastwise can play a crucial role in this journey.
By addressing mental health issues through a holistic approach, incorporating individual talk therapy, and lifestyle changes, we help clients achieve a more positive outlook, and pursue mental and physical wellbeing through a life purpose.
Ultimately, seeking emotional support is a vital aspect of maintaining mental wellbeing and achieving a fulfilling life. Therapy at Coastwise serves not only to address acute conditions but also as a pathway to personal growth and self-discovery. Embrace the journey to find purpose and mental wellness with Coastwise.