Meaning and Purpose

How are meaning and purpose similar and at times different? We have the M in PERMAH providing the pillar of meaning. We also have the folks at Character Lab listing purpose as a character strength. One can see meaning as the broader more spiritual and possibly philosophical approach to making the most of one’s life. Purpose is used interchangeably at times with this approach. Yet, it can also provide a more focused and grounded construct. An example of this is using the phrase “how can I be more purposeful today in my teaching, my parenting… my general approach to how I live my day?”

Here are a few of “takes” that hopefully help with this unpacking process.

“Religion and spirituality provide many people with meaning, as can working for a good company, raising children, volunteering for a greater cause, and expressing ourselves creatively.” – Positive Psychology

Meaning refers to how we “make sense of life and our roles in it,” while purpose refers to the “aspirations that motivate our activities” (Ivtzan et al., 2016). – Positive Psychology

“From a literal stand point of the word “meaning” we can find words and phrases such as: to bring, to produce, intent, purpose, the significance of something, importance, and probably a few more. So gathering all these up and looking at meaning, the general notion is that it is something in life that one produces of personal worth or importance that is of significance.” – The Positive Psychology People

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Here are a few resources to further your understanding of meaning and purpose:

• Four Ways to Cultivate Purpose from the Center for Healthy Minds

• How to Increase Motivation by Finding Life Purpose from Six Seconds

• Meaning descriptor by The Positive Psychology People

• Positive Purpose literature review from Geelong Grammar

• “Realizing Your Meaning: 5 Ways to Live a Meaningful life” from Positive Psychology

• “The Philosophy of Ikigai: 3 Examples About Finding Purpose” from Positive Psychology

• Unpacking meaning and purpose from Rewire

• “What Brings Purpose and Meaning in Life?” by Dr. Tyler VanderWeele of The Human Flourishing Program

Sunset Image> Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash

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