How our sense of purpose affects our wellbeing

We’re all unique: what we like, what we dislike and what gives our lives meaning. For some a sense of purpose comes from their family. For others it’s work. It could even be a morning ritual like watching the sunrise, or the smell of a French Press coffee in a quiet kitchen. 

Regardless of where you source your sense of purpose, it’s a key reason for getting out of bed in the morning. It also contributes to your overall sense of wellbeing. 

The importance of a sense of purpose

People who feel they live meaningful lives have stronger personal relationships, fewer physical health problems, improved mental health and overall healthier lifestyles.  

Conversely, when we lack a sense of purpose, it affects our mental health. We can feel stuck, or stagnant—which can lead us to feelings of depression or anxiety, a lack of motivation, or general dissatisfaction with our situation.

The Australian Unity Wellbeing Index—a more than 25-year study into the wellbeing of Australians, conducted in partnership with Deakin University—considers a sense of purpose, or “achieving in life”, to be one of the seven key life areas of wellbeing. The other six important areas include relationships, standard of living, community connectedness, personal safety, health and future security. In fact, it goes one further, identifying a sense of purpose as part of the “golden triangle of happiness”, along with relationships and standard of living. 

Dr Kate Lycett, lead researcher of the Wellbeing Index, puts it this way: “Sense of purpose has been a key pillar of wellbeing throughout the eras and across cultures. If you ask more collective societies, it’s probably one of the core elements: connection to spirit, connection to land, and that sense of purpose. We often talk about it as what gets people out of bed in the morning.” 

As the Australian Unity Wellbeing Index is a subjective measure—meaning it’s based on personal interpretations, feelings and experiences—for some people the answer can be whether or not they are achieving what is expected of them (by others or society). 

So, if we can come to an understanding of which factors or successes bring purpose and meaning to our lives, can we really become happier? 

Reconnecting with purpose during life transitions: Anna’s story 

A sense of purpose can mean different things to different people. For some, it’s about chasing dreams and constantly reaching for new goals. For others, it’s working through the challenges to find satisfaction and fulfilment. It can even be the simple things in life, fresh snow on the ground or the smile of a baby. But for Anna it was possibly the biggest feeling of them all…a sense of freedom. 

Anna is 73 and has a very active family life. Most people will agree she has “achieved” a happy life, finding a sense of purpose and wellbeing through her children and now her grandchildren. But in retirement, a new goal came calling, allowing her to find a sense of purpose later in life. 

“I am actually at a stage in my life where I can say that I like my life. And it’s got nothing to do with where I live, it’s got nothing to do with money. I’m going back to uni full-time,” she explains. “I’m doing what I want to do, how I want to do it, when I want to do it. I’ve got a purpose in life.”

This renewed sense of independence is one of the benefits of living a purpose-driven life. By “chasing” something that’s just for her, Anna is building a renewed sense of wellbeing and it’s helping her to thrive. 

How can we harness our sense of purpose to benefit our wellbeing? 

Feeling that we’ve got a reason to get out of bed each morning—or that we’ve achieved something useful or important—keeps life moving in a positive direction. It provides us with motivation and a feeling of contentment, which supports our overall wellbeing.

This doesn’t mean that traditional depictions of “achievement” are the be-all and end-all. We don’t have to go out and get a new degree, or a new job, or “win” something to feel a sense of achievement. Achievement stems from purpose, and when we find purpose, our sense of self and strength naturally improve.  

Kate uses the pandemic to illustrate this: “During COVID-19, some people realised what actually gave them that sense of purpose—what were those little things they really enjoyed in their day that were taken away from them? For me, it was going into work, but also just going to talk to the barista every morning. When you lose those routines, you realise: ‘That was something. That really mattered’.”

James Elmani, a mental health counsellor at Australian Unity, believes purpose and meaning are inextricably linked. “When I look at people with high levels of wellbeing, they have a deep sense of both—and they’re usually contributing to other people’s wellbeing. People in altruistic positions, people who feel like they’re helping others.”

If you don’t get a sense of purpose from your career or family, however, there are still plenty of ways to find meaning in life. Consider taking up a hobby that challenges you, following Anna’s lead to learn something new, or volunteering for something that’s important to you. What matters most is that you feel connected to the source that’s providing meaningful engagement and it doesn’t always have to have an altruistic outcome.  

A sense of purpose gives us the foundation for a healthy approach to life. When our world feels meaningful, and we feel like we are achieving, we’re empowered to take greater responsibility for our lives. And that, in turn, supports our Real Wellbeing.