Do you have ‘purpose anxiety’? Psychologists explain how to find meaning in life
This is for everyone who has ever lain awake at night wondering what it’s all for.
Purpose anxiety is a term that describes the feeling of anxiety people experience when trying to find their life's meaning. Clinical psychologist Ellen Hendriksen often encounters clients who feel anxious about their career paths, especially when they feel they have made a wrong choice. Todd Kashdan, a professor of psychology at George Mason University, explains that purpose is crucial for organizing one's life and offers numerous benefits such as better physical health, higher levels of happiness, lower depression and anxiety, and even a longer life.
The concept of purpose anxiety is not new, but it became more common in 2014 when a psychology graduate student coined the phrase. People often misunderstand what purpose is and how it impacts their lives. While some believe that purpose should be a lofty goal like achieving a high leadership position or curing a disease, experts emphasize that purpose can be smaller and less ambitious. It can also change over time and a person can have multiple purposes simultaneously.
Finding one's purpose can be challenging. According to a survey of Gen Zers, 45% reported a lack of meaning or purpose in their lives. To overcome this, experts suggest actively seeking out purpose by trying different activities, reading about one's interests, and reflecting on what activities feel most meaningful. Another approach is to find inspiration from a transformative life event, such as an athlete who gets injured and decides to become a physical therapist to help others heal their bodies.
Tasha Edwards, a 51-year-old health coach from Madison, Alabama, found her purpose in teaching exercise classes and serving as a health coach for low-income people. She wanted to provide her clients with a sense of control in their lives and help them prioritize their health. Kashdan recommends "social learning," which involves observing and imitating the positive behaviors of others, or paying attention to negative behaviors that one wants to avoid.
By being curious and asking questions, people can experiment with different ways of living and find their sense of purpose more effectively.
Written by urgent.news from Channel News Asia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
