What does it mean to have purpose, and why do we need it?
I can’t believe more than a year has gone by since I have been able to blog! It was a crazy year, to say the least! In the last year and a half, I have seen so many new things. I have thought so many thoughts, but not expressed them. Our clinic has changed in so many ways. We still have not reverted to the way we did things before the virus. Will we ever look back and see this as just a blip in time? I think not. This last year will have a lasting effect on all of us.
But the virus is not what I really want to talk about today. Since my last blog, I have had a lot of time to grow and reflect. Just over a year ago, I experienced a series of severe thunderclap headaches which lasted for three months, and was one of the worst physical maladies I have ever gone through. That period of illness really made me think once it was over. Now, it does feel like a blip in time to me, but I have not forgotten. Additionally, experiencing Covid jail (quarantine) several times last year along with this illness, gave me a lot of time (and reason) to reflect. I am driven. But why? What is my purpose?
Most recently, I have been working on a course that discusses beliefs, purpose, vision, and strategy across 12 categories of life and it has caused me to think deeply about my purpose. The categories addressed in the course include health and fitness, (a subject near and dear to my own heart!), intellect, character, emotions, spiritual life, love life, parenting, social life, career and finances. The categories conclude with a section focused on determining both your quality of life and your life’s vision. I’ve found that most people have something that drives them, but not everyone realizes it.
Both the course I’m taking and the events and struggles of the past year, in my own life and in our community and the world at large, have brought up many questions for me. What matters to everyone? What do we think about the most? Do people feel that they have a goal in life? What makes people get up every day and get motivated? What types of activities give people motivation? Does everyone have a purpose, or do some people struggle to find theirs? Some might feel they don’t have one at all, or they may have lost theirs along the way, particularly if they have spouses who have passed away, children who are grown and are retired. And if we all do have our own unique purpose, does it even matter to others, or is it just something we do each day to survive? Do we have delusions about the importance of our own life’s goals in the grand scheme of things? I want these to be questions I ask myself, my patients and others when I see them. I want to know how other people find purpose in their lives so that I can more fully realize my own.
My intention is not for this to be a sad post- I want it to be hopeful! I want it to introduce how I view purpose, and the ways in which I want to leave a lasting positive impact on the world. I hope to inspire others to consider their life’s purpose, and then go for it! I desire to learn what others see as their own goals, objectives and personal motivation.
How do others on the internet define purpose? A quick Google search reveals that for some people purpose is connected to vocation; they find purpose by engaging in meaningful, satisfying work. For others, their purpose lies within their responsibilities to and the care of their family or friends. Others seek meaning through spirituality or religious beliefs. Some people may find their purpose clearly expressed in all these aspects of life. A sense of purpose (or meaning) is the motivation that drives you toward a satisfying future. It also helps you to get the most from the things you do and achieve – large and small – right now. What is it? Your sense of purpose is shaped by the things you believe in and value, in other words, your own personal code of behavior.
Why is purpose important? And why, as a physician, is it especially important to me? A book, previously on the New York Times best seller list, called Blue Zones: Lifestyle Habits of the World’s Longest Living Populations, which I read several years ago, addressed some of the habits that generally help people live longer. They looked at several groups of centenarians around the world. Most were gardeners, ate a lot of vegetables, and walked a lot. But most importantly, all groups had social connections that made them feel that they had purpose. One of the oldest men in the book was over 100 years old, lived in Costa Rica, and went every Saturday to buy a large pork roast to cook for his large, multi-generational family each Sunday. Because he brought his entire family together each week, his purpose was fostering familial connections, and his delight in seeing everyone together contributed to his overall health and longevity.
So, my personal purpose, as many reading this may already know, is to help people become the healthiest versions of themselves that they possibly can, and this includes improving general quality of life. I want to make Alabama one of the healthiest states in the country over the course of the (hopefully) next 40 years of my life!! I also want to help people discover their own purpose, expand their goals and personal motivation and teach people to share their purpose, because I think having a positive personal direction is one of the keys to good health and the ability to live long and prosper!
Finally, if you have a life purpose that you’d like to share, or have any ideas and goals for the future, or even if you are struggling after such a tough year, we’d love to hear from you. We love hearing new ideas, and want to form a network of uplifting information and support to help you improve your quality of life!