Can having a meaningful life make you healthier? Several studies have shown that there is indeed a link between a sense of purpose and a longer and healthier life. This boils down to the fact that if you have something meaningful to live for, chances are you will live longer. This is also why many retirees, who do not have a strong sense of purpose beyond their careers, see a rapid decline in their health in the first decade after retirement.
In fact, this study concluded that purpose was more closely associated with longevity than any other, including gender, race, and economic background. Researchers suggest that people who have a strong purpose feel a need to live longer, and this motivates them to seek well-being. For example, an elderly person who is a grandparent wants to be healthy and live longer to see their grandchildren grow up. To this end, they might start engaging in some daily physical activity, or eating more nutritionally.
It's important to actively explore what this means for our purpose in life, but whether it's family, a passion project or a deeper sense of spirituality—we can do the right thing for our health in the long run.
Health Hack: Community Eating
Eating meals together is something most families did until recently, and it turns out it's not only good for conversation, but also good for health. Families who eat together make healthier dietary choices, are less likely to be obese and, in general, experience more well-being and happiness.
