Happiness is a Worthy Goal

Happiness is a worthy goal—and one most people seem to be striving for. But contrary to common belief, you won't achieve it by pursuing it for its own sake, focusing on yourself, or achieving the traditional trappings of success.  

In reality, happiness comes from more than these, and one significant source of happiness is a sense of purpose.  

Purpose is often defined as the deeper reason behind our actions, decisions, and aspirations, giving meaning to our lives, work, and relationships. It's not just about goals but aligning our efforts with our values and the impact we want to create. Purpose is a guiding compass, keeping us focused, resilient, and fulfilled.  

It connects us to something greater, fostering a sense of contribution and significance.  

Defining your purpose is not just about setting goals; it's about understanding the core reasons behind those goals. This deeper comprehension fosters a sense of identity and belonging, essential for personal satisfaction and professional success. Purpose-driven individuals are often more engaged, creative, and proactive, leading to higher achievement and fulfillment. Moreover, organizations with a clear purpose tend to attract and retain talent better, as employees find greater meaning in their work.  

Discovering one's purpose can be as enlightening as the purpose itself. It involves introspection, self-assessment, and trial and error. This process helps individuals and groups uncover their true passions and strengths, enabling them to make informed and deliberate choices about their paths forward.  

The interesting thing about purpose is that it is not linear and can change.  The interesting thing about happiness is that it is not constant even when you have made good choices for your life.  So, how are these two transient and inconsistent priorities in life linked? 

The Purpose-Happiness Link 

According to Kaylin Ratner’s new study in the Journal of Happiness Studies, when participants in a study felt a greater sense of purpose, they tended to feel more positive emotions—specifically contentment, relaxation, enthusiasm, and joy. They also felt less angry, anxious, sluggish, or sad. They also reported greater satisfaction with life and overall well-being.   

Ratner’s is just one of many studies that have linked feeling a sense of purpose with all kinds of benefits, from reduced mortality and incidence of cardiovascular disease to less loneliness. Greater purpose also correlates with better company outcomes—like growth, market expansion, and successful product launches.  

Redefining How to Think About Purpose 

When we start to answer the question, “What is my purpose?” we first must evaluate commonly held myths about Purpose.   

Myth 1: Purpose is a thing you find. It is already in the universe, and we can search for and find it by making good choices and decisions in our lives.    

The Truth: Purpose is crafted. You have to mine and make it. Almost any activity can be meaningful if approached with intentionality and thoughtful consideration.  

Myth 2: Purpose is a single thing – One giant, great, big thing that will immediately bring meaning to your life.  

The Truth: Purpose is plural, and that plurality can be infinite.  You can find meaning in almost everything you do.  

Myth 3: Purpose is stable over time.  Only one Purpose will define your life from the time you are born.  

The Truth: Purpose changes over time.  Of course, there are long-lasting purposes in your life, and there are multitudes of ways in which we gain meaning that naturally shift throughout your life.   

The problem is crafting your purpose can be overwhelming and create a great sense of pressure because there is a generally accepted truth across cultures that purpose comes from solving huge global problems like solving world hunger or creating world peace. Of course, these are extremely worthy and noble goals. Still, it’s important to remember that it’s also purposeful to wake up every morning and do your best—making the contribution of your talent and skills uniquely your own.  

I use the example of building a spreadsheet containing data that others need to consume to decide. If I approach creating this spreadsheet as a tick mark on a to-do list, I will accomplish that task. BUT, if I approach creating this spreadsheet with the purpose of presenting the data in an easily consumable and comprehensible way, using my unique talents and skills and reveling in those talents and skills, I have created purpose around this task.  

You don’t have to save the world to craft a purpose that is meaningful and fulfilling for you.   

Building Your Purpose 

In 2000, Yale professor Amy Wrzesniewski did a study of hospital custodian staff.  The study's goal was to determine what helped certain staff members excel.  Wrzesniewski uncovered a practice among the happiest and most effective custodians she and others have termed "job crafting."  These custodians, "create the work they want to do out of the work they were assigned they found meaningful and worthwhile."    

One custodian rearranged artwork in patient rooms to stimulate patients visually.  Another examined the chemicals they used to ensure they avoided chemicals harmful to the patient's condition.  The happiest custodians pursued excellence in service to others and adapted their jobs to suit that purpose.    

In Wrzesniewki’s research with Justin Berg and Jane Dutton, she lays out three core elements of job crafting: 

• Tasks – The specific actions you take each day  

• Relationships – Your relationships with others at work  

• Perceptions – The way you think about your work  

If we consider what tasks we can do in the service of others every day, how we interact with those we work with, and how we think about our work, soon we will start to build our purpose in the most mundane tasks that we have to do. Most of us consider a custodian’s job to be quite frankly gross, yet creating a purpose to serve others unlocked the key to happiness for the custodians in Wrzesniewki’s study. 

As we’ve established, purpose contributes to happiness—when we feel a greater sense of purpose, we tend to feel more positive emotions—specifically contentment, relaxation, enthusiasm, and joy. Using the Harvard Business Review’s “Crafting Your Purpose Model,” we can further establish that having a stated personal purpose impacts our daily work life in the following ways:  

#1 - Focus  

Purpose provides crucial focus in a chaotic world overflowing with information, where attention is scarce. It guides your actions whether you work to support your family, source parts for elderly walkers, or prepare taxes for overwhelmed clients. Despite the noise, purpose helps you remember why you wake up each morning—to provide for loved ones, aid teammates, or support clients.  

#2 - Grounding  

A sense of awe is linked to happiness. Awe arises when you encounter something greater than yourself, like a sunset, a mountain view, or a child's laughter, reducing blood flow to the brain's self-monitoring area and fostering liberation and joy.  

Purpose also contributes to happiness. Knowing your work matters gives meaning and empowers action. Whether helping students in a cafeteria, assisting an upset customer, or guiding a struggling teammate, making a difference brings fulfillment.  

To find happiness with purpose, reflect on the bigger picture and how your role impacts others. Purpose is found in small, unique contributions of your talents.  

#3 - Connection  

Feeling socially disconnected is associated with an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. It can also lead to physical health problems. Conversely, happiness is correlated with a sense of community and purpose.  

Individuals often find the greatest sense of purpose when their work has significance for others. Standard corporate goals such as achieving a 15% annual growth rate or entering new markets are common; however, understanding how these goals benefit the community truly motivates and engages people. For instance, a new product might improve the quality of life for children or foster social connections among friends. Alternatively, a service could facilitate daily life for a particular population. Purpose is linked to positively impacting others through the work being done.  

Reflecting on how your work benefits others, contributes to your team, serves your clients, or connects you with like-minded individuals can enhance your sense of purpose. Personalizing this purpose can be effective in promoting overall well-being. 

When we evaluate how employees' stated purpose creates a better work environment and more successful companies, it becomes not just critical but urgent for leaders to encourage employees to begin crafting and expressing their purpose. The value of a workforce with a stated purpose is a company that benefits from better focus, connectivity, and grounding in the mission of the company. 

The Power of Purpose 

A clearly defined mission and vision are essential for a company’s growth and success—but what about individuals? Just as organizations need direction to achieve their goals, people also need a stated purpose to thrive. You gain clarity, focus, and a more profound sense of fulfillment when you have a crafted purpose guiding your daily life. It grounds you in your values, strengthens your connections with others, and fosters a greater sense of contentment. Ultimately, living purposefully enhances overall well-being, leading to a more meaningful and fulfilling life.