Part 1 of Well-Being: Driven Purpose

Driven Purpose covers Pillars 1-3:

Pillar 1 – Finding Meaning – Journey Inward

Feeling like your life is filled with Meaning and Purpose promotes Well-Being. Being enthusiastically involved in something bigger than yourself, with passion, energy, focus, in a flow state, feeling a connection to a “oneness,” and being involved with meaningful work even after “retirement” all are part of maintaining a sense of Meaning and Purpose. In his book, Viktor Frankl, the famous concentration camp survivor, says we need to identify a purpose to feel positive about and deeply imagine that outcome to enhance our longevity.

In the book, The Passion Test, you find meaning and passion by picturing your ideal life and answering the questions: What am I doing? Who am I with? Where am I living? How do I feel? Take this test at least a couple times a year. Listen to your inner voice. See the books here: Man's Search for Meaning;  The Passion Test 

Pillar 2 – Cultivating Connections – Journey Outward

Having robust social connections across a broad network of friends, family, co-workers, community, among others promotes Well-Being. So does having a new and exciting social circle, and spending time with people younger than you. “A robust body of scientific evidence indicates that being embedded in high-quality close relationships and feeling socially connected to the people in your life is associated with decreased risk for all-cause mortality as well as a range of disease morbidities.” See this paper here: Holt-Lunstad, Robles, Sbarra. For an outstanding TED talk discussing the role of relationships and Well-Being see this link: Harvard Happiness Study, Robert Waldinger

Pillar 3 – Financial Security

Financial freedom promotes psychological well-being, reduces anxiety, gives you opportunity for bigger dreams, and improves resiliency, self-esteem, and self-confidence. Figuring out this pillar creates calmness. There are a lot of resources available to help you navigate this important area of Well-Being. See these to analyze your Financial Security: AARP Retirement Calculator;  Schwab Intelligent Income. A good starting point is to carefully assess your assets, liabilities, income, and expenses.