This is the finding of a new longitudinal study by Frank Martella of Aalto University, a public research institute in Finland, and co-researchers from Helsinki University and hospital.

Martella and his colleagues hypothesised that “purpose in life could be a more direct prospective predictor of longevity, overshadowing any effect of life satisfaction” because “purpose in life involves a more active engagement with life and can help to cope with suffering.”

The researchers conducted a follow-up study of data from the 1994 Midlife in the US Survey (MIDUS). When longevity factors such as demographics and health risks were stripped away, a person’s purpose in life was revealed to have more influence on longevity than their satisfaction with life.

In other words, having a purpose in life can lead to a longer life than simply seeking life satisfaction.

Is prosperity important, too?

In its broadest sense, prosperity encompasses health (including longevity), happiness, spirituality and financial wealth. The original MIDUS study found a correlation between social status and longevity, social status being a by-product of economic (rather than holistic) prosperity.

The purpose and prosperity combination

Purposeful Prosperity aims to combine purpose and prosperity. Purpose and prosperity don’t always go together. It is possible to imagine a person growing financially prosperous without a real purpose in life. However, it is more difficult to imagine someone with a purpose in life who is not also prosperous in the broadest sense.

Purposeful prosperity should be an aspiration for everyone. It does not mean you have to be financially wealthy. Still, it conjures up an image of someone calm, confident and clear about life’s direction.

The virtuous circle is a way of aligning your life’s mission with your wealth in all its forms

The virtuous circle of wealth, impact and meaning

Photo attribution

Photo by Shlomo Shalev on Unsplash

Audio link

https://audio.com/jeremy_deedes/purpose-and-longevity/

Other attributions and references

Martela, F., Laitinen, E., & Hakulinen, C. (2024, February 15). Which Predicts Longevity Better: Satisfaction With Life or Purpose in Life?. Psychology and Aging. Advance online publication. https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pag0000802

Related posts

https://wordsnotdeeds.co.uk/purposeful-prosperity/

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