The longest-lived people on the planet have a secret weapon. It’s not veggies or how many steps they took in a day. It’s not a lack of stress (though this helps). It’s not more sleep, and it’s not a sunny outlook (not to be overlooked either!).

What thriving individuals in their 70s, 80s, 90s, and beyond all have in common is a strong sense of life purpose. It informs how they spend their time, and indeed, it’s why they get up in the morning.

Life purpose is not an addendum to existence, it’s a central tenet of how contented people go about their day.

Research Taps the Potential of Purpose

Breaking evidence from a study conducted by the Journal of the American Medical Association has linked a strong sense of purpose with a lower risk of all-cause mortality after age 50.

Astoundingly, this study found that participants who had the lowest life purpose scores were TWICE as likely to have died within a five-year period than those with the highest scores!

Scientists are beginning to back our hunch that seniors who’ve found their raison d’etre rock retirement better than those who check out.

Dr. Robert Butler, a former director of the National Institute on Aging, conducted a recent study which found individuals who expressed a clear goal in life lived longer and were sharper than those who did not.

Finding Your Purpose

If you’re now thinking, “OMG! What’s my purpose??”, you’re in good company.

Finding that special sauce is not nearly as daunting as it may seem. Purpose, after all, is entirely individual. It doesn’t mean you have to find the cure for cancer. Meaning can be found in gardening, art, volunteer work, photography, sports, your career, or in raising excellent human beings. It can be anything under the sun that fills your cup. In a nutshell, it’s what YOU are here to offer.

According to Richard Leider, author of “The Power of Purpose”, it comes down to a simple formula:

Gifts + Passions + Values = Purpose

Gifts are your talents, but more importantly, what you LOVE to do.
Passions can be anything you’re drawn towards. What do you care deeply about?
Values are what is meaningful to you.

Start with jotting down a few ideas. Don’t overthink it. What are you good at? When are you happiest? What activities echo your values? The answer to these questions resonates with your life purpose.

Living your life ‘on purpose’ opens a world of possibilities. And as the research shows, meaningful activities sprinkled into your regular routine may be akin to a magic bullet for your well-being.

A strong sense of life purpose adds years to your life, but perhaps more importantly, living it will be that much richer.