By Ahsan
“The two most important days in life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Mark Twain
Are you in search of the elixir of life? Something that would cause you to live a long, happy, and healthy life? Have you considered diet as one key aspect? What about regular exercise, fasting, or proper sleeping in a blacked-out room?
One thing you may not have realized is how having a clear purpose in life can help you live longer and better. A famous Japanese word is floating around the internet to capture this idea and it’s called “ikigai” pronounced as Icky-Guy. The Oxford English dictionary defines ikigai as "a motivating force; something or someone that gives a person a sense of purpose or a reason for living".
If living longer, happier, and healthier is your goal, then keep reading to find out what you can do. In this super short article, I will explain three reasons you might live longer if you have a significant motivation to get up each morning and live your best life.
The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.”
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
One famous person who had a long life and a sense of purpose was the catholic nun, Mother Teresa. She started a relief mission to help the poorest of the poor in India and lived to be 87 years old! Good in terms of this purpose/life-long theory.
But what if you are not Catholic or not Mother Teresa? It doesn’t really matter. Just think about having a personal and vivid purpose in your own life. That’s better than trying to adopt someone else’s reason for living. You have to find your own reasons and mission in life. If you really concentrate and reflect on your life, there should be many ways to develop something that floats your boat. I’m sure you can find something that gives you strong reasons for getting out of your comfy bed and pajamas each morning. What is that for you?
“You were put on this earth to achieve your greatest self, to live out your purpose, and to do it courageously.”
Steve Maraboli
Once you define your reason for being and living, you are on your way to living a fabulous, happy, healthy, and longer life, God Willing! That is my wish for you and myself. We must at least try, right? It’s better than just saying you are ‘trying to make it through the day’ or that ‘survival’ is your goal today. That’s just not enough for our minds to accept.
Let's start with the following belief: a purpose-driven life can positively impact both physical and mental well-being, potentially leading to a longer and more fulfilling life. Everyone is seeking these things and for some, it’s their purpose in life. This is the wrong way to pursue longevity and health.
Having a sense of purpose in life has been associated with various health and longevity benefits. Better health and longer life are a RESULT of living with a purpose. We need to pursue worthwhile goals and have a meaningful mission for our time on earth. While the exact mechanisms behind this phenomenon are still being researched, here are three reasons why having a purpose may contribute to living longer and being happier.
1. Reduced Stress: Individuals with a clear sense of purpose tend to experience lower levels of chronic stress. Temporary stress is still there but it doesn’t build up and become larger over time. Chronic stress can harm physical health, including increasing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses. Chronic stress is also a risk factor for mental health and emotional well-being so everyone needs a way to deal with this issue.
2. Healthier Lifestyle Choices: People with a strong sense of purpose often engage in healthy habits and make better decisions as a result. They are more likely to choose physical as and mental well-being over cheap thrills and risky behaviour. These better choices do significantly impact overall health and can lead to longevity.
3. Enhanced Resilience: Adversity is part of life. This is just a fact of being a human being. When people have a clear reason to get up in the morning and move toward their goals, they are more likely to persevere through tough times with a positive outlook. This determination can help to reduce mental health issues like depression and anxiety. As a result, such people also have better physical health and overall longevity.
So, there you go. I know I haven’t provided all the various studies or exact scientific reasoning, but I think you can still appreciate what I’m saying. I am totally sold on this concept of a purpose in life and I hope you are too.
The purpose of life is to live a life of purpose!
Think. Ponder deeply. Make a plan to act on this advice! That was the purpose of this post!
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