What is the purpose and meaning of your life?

This week in my positive psychology course we have been looking at the meaning of our life, our sense of purpose, what gets us out of bed every day?

What gives your life meaning? It may be contributing or working on something important – it may be work, society, a mission, or your family, spirituality, creativity, adventure, or your legacy.

Having a sense of purpose gives us something to aim for. If you put effort into something meaningful, it leads to fulfilment. Those with a stronger sense of meaning show greater wellbeing.  We still need meaning as we age, maybe even more so, but I see many people almost shutting down as they age; socialising less and wanting to retire.

I am a huge fan of vision boards.  Making a vision board makes you reflect on the previous year which will help you determine what makes you happy and what gives you a sense of meaning. Then you can decide what your sense of purpose is for the following year.

I make two boards; one for work and one for home.

This year my home board includes creativity, wellbeing, adventure/challenges and fun. This is definitely where I see my sense of purpose for this year.

For most of us, work is an important part of our lives. But it worries me how many people cannot wait to retire. This most likely means that they are not in the right job.  Meaning at work is much easier if it is aligned with our core values and if we are working with our strengths.

Miriam who runs the positive psychology course explained three types of job. One that is a necessity, which we most likely do only for the wages – this is a job. Second is a job that is enjoyable but is not one we expect to be in in 5 years time – this could be defined as a career. And lastly, a job which is an important part of our life and is vital to who we are, and is often how we identify ourselves. This is a calling and few people want to retire from a calling as it gives meaning to our lives.

I had a major change at work last year as I handed over a role I had done for 25 years. It has given me time to reflect on my meaning at work and to decide where I want to take this. I am totally focusing on educating women about their fertile years.

Yesterday I travelled to London when there was a tube strike, which was very difficult, so I could give a face to face lecture to the women on the Chief Rabbis Ma’ayan programme (see image). This is a programme that trains women to become high-level educators for the Jewish community, as well as advisors in the area of Taharat Hamishpacha (laws of family purity) and women’s health issues. I helped developed the women’s health module for the Ma’ayan programme, with colleagues from the Institute for Women’s Health. The session was so interesting – to hear the issues affecting women in the Jewish community.  And I spent the day reading the essays they had written. It certainly gave my day meaning.

If you are struggling to find your goals, you may find inspiration from friends. You might want to revisit goals that you had when you were younger that may have fallen by the wayside. It is really important to reflect on your life to decide what will make you happy. And ideally play on your strengths.

Martin Seligman said – “A meaningful life is one that joins with something larger than we are – and the larger that something is, the more meaning our lives have”

Miriam Akhtar MAPP is a leading practitioner of positive psychology and one of 100 global experts invited to contribute to The World Book of Happiness and The World Book of Hope.