Throughout the past several years of teaching and psychotherapy students and clients have taught me a great deal about their needs relating to mood management. One common need that has presented itself over and over with students and clients is a need for a purpose or a feeling of being purposeful. The benefits of having a sense of purpose are supported in the research.
A purpose can be something simple or complex. A purpose can be something in the short term, long term, or ongoing. Your purpose might be simply making a neighbor’s day by smiling when you see them. It could be knowing that you are good at a certain task or class with which you may be engaged. It is possible that your positive impact on another person may be bigger than you realize or your current efforts may be enrichening your life in subtle ways.
Instead of the new year’s resolutions that typically fade within the first couple weeks of the new year, why not choose a purpose for the next week, month, or several months.
If the idea of a personal purpose or of feeling purposeful seems too hard to find then maybe you want to talk about it with a friend or professional. The input from another can, sometimes, put you in a healthier mindset.
