Why we need a purpose
Scientific evidence on the benefits of purpose in life
I recently wrote about a simple method of how to find purpose in life, based on what I learned from the a Coursera course by the University of Michigan. The question “What is my purpose in life?” sometimes seems so basic and common that it doesn’t require us to ask “Why do I need a purpose in life?” in the first place. However, knowing that you should do something is different from having good reasons to do something, as the latter gives us more motivation. That is why in this article I will present a range of benefits that you gain from having a purpose in life, which will hopefully give you more concrete reasons why you should think about your purpose in life. Broadly speaking, a sense of purpose is beneficial in two ways: It buffers the effects of negative events, and helps us make better decisions for our future.
Purpose in life buffers negative events
Negativity is an integral part of life. It is unavoidable, but having a purpose life can help us face it better. For example, even in the daily activity of commuting, we can feel stress and negative mood in trains crowded with different people. Studies have however showed that having a purpose in life in general (e.g., rating on questionnaires items like “My life has a clear sense of…
