To have a “higher purpose” in life means that you believe you serve a function in this world that is bigger than just your own self.
To have a “higher purpose” in life means that you believe you serve a function in this world that is bigger than just your own self.
A good amount of research over the past few years has shown the benefits of having a “higher purpose” to identify with.
The basic idea is that by finding this “higher purpose,” we can motivate and inspire ourselves in ways that we wouldn’t be able to do if we were just thinking about ourselves.
Many people try to find this “higher purpose” through religion and spirituality, but there is an even simpler and secular way to connect with a higher purpose: just by helping others.
For example, one area in life where people frequently search for a “higher purpose” is when trying to overcome drug addiction.
When people suffer from addiction, they feel that they are helpless and powerless, but by being able to tap into a “higher purpose” they find the power to make positive changes in their life.
They feel that they aren’t just overcoming addiction for themselves, but that they are overcoming addiction for something even bigger than themselves. And that’s motivating.
In a 2013 study published in The American Journal on Addictions, it was found that one of the single most influential factors in individuals finding the power to overcome drug addiction was “service to others” (ie, volunteer work).
When we spend time focusing on the well-being of others, we realize that our influence on the world is much broader than just ourselves. Consequently, our desire for self-improvement isn’t just about “me” anymore, it’s also about the role I play in other people’s lives.
And this isn’t just about addiction. That’s just one example of a “higher purpose” motivating people to make drastic changes to their life.
The truth is when you identify with a “higher purpose,” when you see yourself playing a function in this world that is bigger than just your own self, you can begin to tap into motivation and inspiration that you couldn’t before tap into.
It’s amazing some of the things people can achieve when they are serving something bigger than themselves.
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