Do you have a reason to get out of bed?
Having a sense of purpose could give you an extra 10+ years of life and greater overall health–if you choose yours well. Read on to find out how.
Across cultures and ethnicities, people with a deep sense of purpose are over 15% less likely to die than those who don’t, based on research from Boston University’s School of Public Health. That’s not surprising. But a life purpose that increases your longevity may not be what you imagine.
If you want a healthier, longer lifespan, don’t just make your mark on the world. Give back to it.
So what does that mean?
In America, we generally see life purpose as an individualistic endeavor. Saving up for a trip. Getting a promotion. Pursuing a hobby. These are all positive and fulfilling goals. However, in so-called Blue Zone Communities–social groups worldwide with the longest lifespans–purpose is defined differently. The best way to explain this is with the Japanese concept of ikigai.
Ikigai describes the intersection of four key elements:
- What you love
- What you’re good at
- What you can be paid for
- And what the world needs
According to Dan Buettner, an author who has spent 20 years studying Blue Zone Communities, this last element makes all the difference.
People who regularly work to improve their communities have greater longevity than those who don’t. This can take on many forms:
- Mentoring a young person
- Planting a neighborhood garden
- Advocating for a global cause you are passionate about, such as human rights
Improving your community can be something you do as a volunteer or as part of a paying job. You reap the benefits either way. Why is this?
Helping others on a small or large scale actually releases chemicals in the brain that promote happiness and can even help fight depression and anxiety.
And it has other positive consequences, such as increased mental stimulation and stronger social connections, that have been tied to greater longevity as well.
Of course, there’s no guarantee you will live to 100. You can’t control your genes, or even what happens around you from minute to minute. But deciding to leave the world even a little better than you found it is an easy way to increase the likelihood that you’ll live a longer life. And you’ll definitely live a happier and more fulfilling one.
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