inMotion Magazine

Finding Purpose 3 What gets you out of bed in the morning? Other than earning money, what is the real reason you do what you do? If you have to struggle to come up with an answer, you might want to think about your life’s real purpose. But there’s no need to worry if you can’t answer right away – finding purpose is rarely an epiphany. It can be a long process that involves introspection and conversation before an ultimate commitment to act. Research increasingly indicates that purpose and meaning are connected to well-being. The search for purpose can be a vicious circle or a positive, self‑sustaining one – whether our expectations are positive or negative, we tend to live up to them. The common answer to what gets you out of bed is often: “My job.” This is no surprise. Access to employment is a fundamental right for everyone, including the 2 million Americans living with limb loss or limb difference. A job can provide financial stability, help maximize your potential and allow you to achieve your dreams. But for some individuals, disability or chronic health problems can make it difficult or impossible to maintain their jobs. Subsequently, unemployment not only has a negative effect on finances, it can also lead to depression and a lowered sense of well-being. Without a job, they may feel lost, without purpose. Of course, unemployment isn’t the only culprit in a lack of purpose. If you’re not engaged in a job that you enjoy, you may feel like you’re simply passing time at your desk, rather than doing something that makes a difference in your life, or someone else’s. And not having a purpose can affect not only the quality of your life, but perhaps even the length of it. A sense of purpose improves physical and mental health in several ways. For example, positive well-being is linked to lower cortisol output, which plays a role in brain function and immune regulation. Feeling good can reduce disease and other health ailments. Feeling better about life changes an individual’s behavior. People who have a sense of purpose are more likely to exercise and eat healthy, which is likely to prolong their lives. A greater sense of purpose can also provide a buffer against stress. A sense of purpose doesn’t have to be world-changing or complicated. It can be as simple as loving your family or sharing your joy. For others, a sense of purpose could involve raising money for a charity or pursuing a passion. It all depends on what gives your life true meaning. The key to a deeper, healthier life isn’t about discovering the meaning of life – it’s about building meaning into your life. My advice to other disabled people would be: Concentrate on things your disability doesn’t prevent you doing well, and don’t regret the things it interferes with. Don’t be disabled in spirit as well as physically.” ~Stephen Hawking, physicist, cosmologist, author Editor’s Message FINDING PURPOSE ~ Bill Dupes, Editor-in-Chief Building Meaning Into Your Life