
Having a
sense of purpose has been scientifically proven to help people find
happiness, longevity, and health. But lots of us are also worried about
purpose―having purpose anxiety―estimated to affect as much as 91% of
people. That purpose anxiety is the fear of not knowing your purpose in life.
“Most people understand
the term purpose but have no idea how to take action to discover what it
means in their lives,” says hospice medical director Jordan Grumet,
author of the new book, The Purpose Code: How To Unlock Meaning, Maximize Happiness, And Leave A Lasting Legacy.
Furthermore, explains
Grumet, “It turns out that we fundamentally misunderstand purpose and
the role it plays in our lives. In fact, there are two distinct types of
purpose. One will lead to anxiety and disillusionment; the other will lead to
connection and legacy.”
Grumet uses personal
anecdotes and examples from years of his hospice work to illustrate that true
contentment comes from filling our lives with enriching activities that lead to
connection and, ultimately, legacy, in a time when we all need it more
than ever.
According to Grumet,
there is Big P purpose and Little P purpose. Big P leads to
disappointment. Little P leads to happiness. Big P is characterized by grand
audacious goals, anxiety, and disillusionment. Little P is process oriented and
involves simple small steps and incremental gains toward purpose.
As you read the book you
will learn how to:
- Chart a
course for you to reach happiness through understanding purpose and human
truths behind the concepts of meaning and purpose (including life
review therapy and simple ways of healing generational trauma).
Use practical and proven framework for unlocking your real purpose and show
you the life-changingly enjoyable way to climb to goals, regardless of your
situation in life.- Embrace
that true purpose is created, not found. - Conduct a life review
to use a structured list of questions to help assess the important
moments, regrets, and themes in your life. This will help you develop a plan
for the future. - Use the art of subtraction
to help find life’s positives. How to start with a comprehensive list of your
current daily duties and slash out the parts that do not bring joy or fulfillment. - Get experimental with
the spaghetti method. How to be open to trial-and-error, say yes to
people and activities that you normally would not. How to step into potential discomfort
to unlock new levels of self-discovery, even if it may look foolish.
“Finding
happiness has never been about creating big audacious goals that we may or may
not be able to achieve. True contentment comes from filling our lives with
enriching activities that lead to connection and, ultimately, legacy,” shares
Grumet.
Finally,
Grumet states that if you are authentic and intentional about living a
purposeful life, you will attract like-minded individuals who will nourish and
support you. He adds, “When we connect with other people around our sense of
purpose, we are much more likely to affect them in profound ways that create a
long-lasting legacy.”
The
Purpose Code is a compelling self-help book, terrific for leaders to read
as we start the 2025 new year.
Thank you
to the book’s publisher for sending me an advance copy of the book.