Why do you get up in the morning? What keeps you going when the world becomes kind of tough? Is there something you devote yourself to or financially support that gives your life meaning or purpose? It turns out the concept of having a “purpose” in life is valuable for your physical, cognitive, and emotional health, beyond whatever goods and benefits result from your actions. As we’ve previously pointed out in agebuzz, there’s research that suggests that having such a sense of purpose can extend the length of your life and is one of the best predictors of whether you’ll feel happiness and satisfaction. There’s even new research out of Florida State University that correlates having a sense of purpose with better memory skills.

For this new study tying purpose with memory, researchers in January/February 2020 asked close to 800 volunteers to describe their sense of purpose in life and followed up with these same participants in July of 2020 to ask them about their experiences during the pandemic, an event that significantly touched almost everyone. Those participants who earlier expressed a sense of purpose in their lives not only reported more positive experiences but also recalled their experiences much more vividly and coherently in contrast to those who previously said their lives lacked purpose. This trait of better and more vivid recall is in keeping with earlier research findings that report that people with a sense of purpose perform better on objective memory tests. 

So, given the brain and body benefits that correspond to a sense of purpose in life, can you articulate a sense of purpose that gives meaning to your own life? If not, you’re not alone: According to recent data, only about 25% of American adults claim they have a clear sense of purpose about what makes their lives meaningful. But never fear: your later years may be precisely the right time to explore and experiment with finding purpose in your life, at least according to Richard Leider, co-author of the recent book, Who Do You Want To Be When You Grow Old? The Path of Purposeful Aging. In a recent article in Mind Body Green, Leider suggests that as we reach our later years, and recognize that the time we have left is more limited, that can be the inspiration we need to commit to finding a purpose in life. To give you some helpful ideas of ways to approach this search, open your mind to new possibilities and click here.