Achieving Purpose or Feeling Purposeful?

They say that keeping active and having a purpose is the key to a long, happy life. But what if well-being is less about achieving a purpose and more about feeling purposeful?

We talk a lot about the importance of finding a purpose as we age, as it has a negative effect on our mental and physical well-being if we no longer feel needed or contribute in one way or another. Without a purpose, there is no zest in life and no reason to get up in the mornings.

But what is purpose? In our achievement-oriented society, we have gotten used to thinking that existential meaning is found in our jobs. Having a purpose is often associated with being successful in achieving something—and usually, it is not enough to simply achieve it; we often want to be the best at what we do. But what if purpose and meaning are not only about achievement? As we age—especially after retirement—we suddenly have the opportunity to step off the societal pressure to achieve. Yet when we look for new ways to find purpose, we still seek something that will give us that nice hit of dopamine in the body and brain that we get every time we accomplish a task. Every time we can hold something up to the world and say, “Look what I did!”

But what if well-being is less about achieving a purpose and more about feeling purposeful?

Purpose can also be found in other places. Learning new things, for instance, gives me great purpose. Purpose can also be found in pleasure (the pleasure of tasting good food, breathing fresh air, or making love, for instance) or by connecting and being part of something bigger than ourselves. This could mean feeling part of a community or a spiritual pursuit. The difference here is that it is not the outcome itself that is important, but more the process and being present in the moment.

Until recently, psychological research on happiness and subjective well-being was dominated by either a happy life that aims for personal satisfaction in terms of comfort and joy facilitated by money, time, and relationships, or a meaningful life that aims for social contribution, purpose, and meaning built on moral principles. Basically, the choice was between finding pleasure or meaning. In 2021, researchers Shigehiro Oishi and Erin C. Westgate suggested a third dimension for what constitutes a good life: psychological richness. Here, the aim is to gain wisdom through a life lived with variety, interest, and curiosity, facilitated by time, energy, and spontaneity. Maybe this is a purpose that is especially worth pursuing as we age? Because let’s not kid ourselves—our ability to achieve some grand purpose diminishes with age. Luckily, we will always be able to feel purposeful.

The bottom line is that there is not only one recipe for a good life. Each one of us will benefit from making time and space to explore what is important to us—and do so regularly during different periods of our lives. Purpose can be found in many things, and it often comes down to our mindset and what we choose to focus on. Purpose can be found in outwardly visible achievements, but it can also be found in inward ponderings, learnings, appreciations, and simply being present. It is not a matter of choosing one over the other; it is about finding a balance. Sometimes we need to achieve something, and sometimes we need to find purpose or pleasure in what we already have and do.

Throughout life, we need to find a balance between doing and being. My advice, as you age and perhaps start to plan your retirement, is to remember that purpose comes in all shapes and forms—and it is up to you to find your personal way to feel purposeful.