Palliative care physician and author of “The Purpose Code,” Jordan Grumet, believes that placing purpose at the center of life is one of the most valuable lessons a person can learn, despite the fact that many people spend years searching for their true calling without fully discovering it.
A 2019 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that individuals with a strong sense of purpose had lower overall mortality rates and reduced risks of cardiovascular disease.
Another study conducted in 2021 showed that people with a strong sense of purpose were 24% less likely to experience physical inactivity and were significantly less likely to suffer from sleep difficulties compared to those who lacked a clear sense of purpose.
Research involving university students also found a strong positive connection between purpose and happiness, with students who reported a stronger sense of purpose experiencing lower levels of depression and higher levels of psychological wellbeing.
Despite these benefits, experts warn that constantly searching for a “grand purpose” can sometimes become a source of stress, anxiety, and frustration, a condition referred to as “purpose anxiety,” which studies suggest affects up to 91% of people at some point in their lives.
Grumet explains that the problem lies in how many people define purpose solely through massive achievements and ambitious milestones, such as building billion-dollar companies or changing history, goals that can often feel distant and dependent on factors beyond personal control.
In contrast, he highlights another form of purpose that is more sustainable and psychologically rewarding: finding meaning and joy in small daily actions and activities that create a sense of energy and fulfillment without requiring extraordinary achievements.
Experts believe that focusing on small, everyday goals can increase life satisfaction and reduce emotional pressure because it creates a continuous sense of meaning independent of major outcomes that may never materialize.
Ultimately, researchers describe the “paradox of purpose” as the idea that purpose can simultaneously become a source of both happiness and frustration. The key, they suggest, lies in balancing big ambitions with the ability to appreciate the small daily moments that give life its true meaning.
