Having meaning and purpose in life plays a vital role in our emotional wellbeing.
Without it, you may find yourself slipping, sometimes without realising, into a low emotional space of unhappiness, chaos and unpredictability.
In his book The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren captures this truth powerfully:
“Without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance.”
Having meaning and purpose in life helps us develop:
- Focus- a clear sense of direction
- Discernment- recognising what deserves your attention and energy
- Motivation- the drive to keep going
- Hope- something to hold onto
- Resilience- the ability to recover from setbacks
- Identity- knowing who we are and what matters
All of the above helps boost and strengthen our emotional wellbeing.
So, if you are feeling emotionally low, it might be coming from living without a clear sense of meaning and purpose.
Let’s go deeper…
What is it to Have Meaning in Life?
Having meaning in life is about knowing and feeling that your life matters. It is having reasons to live that go beyond producing or simply surviving.
Meaning gives depth to our existence.
It reminds us that we are here for more than just getting through the day.
Psychiatrist and holocaust survivor, Viktor Frankl, who devoted his life to studying meaning, taught that meaning is not something we create and it is not something that is given to us, it is something we discover.
Meaning is personal to each person.
For some people meaning is found in family, in community, in creativity, or in service. For others, meaning is rooted in spiritual belief, healing or personal growth.
Meaning can even be discovered through pain and loss, Baroness Doreen Lawrence is a powerful example of this.
Through the devastating loss of her son, Stephen Lawrence, and the injustice that followed, Doreen Lawrence transformed grief into meaning and purpose, dedicating her life to challenging institutional racism and seeking justice.
From unimaginable pain, meaning emerged.
Having meaning becomes especially important when we face life’s biggest challenges. Meaning helps us cope. It allows us to rise above suffering rather than be consumed by it.
For some people, frustration and concern becomes the catalyst for change; using that frustration to fight a cause, change laws, or raise awareness.
I suppose that is what ‘We are Strength’ is to me.
We are Strength exists because knowing that Black men and women experience emotional distress at high rates, became meaning for me. My desire to support, uplift, and create space for healing is how We are Strength was born.
Because meaning is discovered at different moments and stages of life, we don’t uncover just one meaning that lasts forever.
Meaning can be lived out and new meaning discovered. As we grow, change, and heal, new layers of meaning and purpose in life can reveal themselves.
To have meaning is to know that your life matters because there is a reason for your life- there is something you need to do.
However, some people discover meaning, but they don’t always pair it with purpose or action. Having both meaning and purpose in life is important for emotional wellbeing.
𓋹 Make a change: Have you discovered your meaning for this season of your life?
If so, write it down. Look at it. Reflect on it.
Reminding yourself of your meaning is a powerful and intentional act to increase emotional wellbeing.
If you haven’t yet discovered or clearly identified your meaning, answering these simple questions can be a good place to start:
- Does anyone rely on you right now?
- Are you involved in work or roles that support or uplift others?
- Is there something in the world that causes you pain, that you feel strongly about changing?
- Is there a skill or talent you have (or are developing) that brings joy, healing, or relief to others?
Meaning doesn’t arrive all at once. It unfolds as we pay attention and give intention to discovering it.
What is it to Have Purpose in Life?
While having meaning in life is about knowing why life matters, having purpose is about, how we live out that meaning.
Just as people’s meaning in life may change through different seasons and for different reasons, so it is for purpose. People can have a different purpose at different stages in their lives, as well as more than one purpose at any given time.
Having purpose is the doing- it is action-orientated. Purpose is how your meaning moves from being an idea into real life. It therefore gives direction, shaping how you use your time, energy and gifts.
“Without a clear purpose you have no foundation to base your decisions, allocate your time and use your resources.“
(Rick Warren)
Purpose sits above your goals, it’s the mission statement you have for a particular season of your life. It defines what you’re working towards, the destination you want to reach, or the experience you want to have.
Our goals are informed by our purpose. It is through purpose that we decide what to prioritise, which goals to set and which habits to develop.
For example, if your purpose is to be a positive role model for your children, your goals might focus on everyday choices, like reducing time on your phone and increasing meaningful time spent with them.
When you lack purpose, you may find yourself making significant decisions based on your temporary mood, circumstances or experience at that time. This can create unnecessary distress, conflict, and regret, costing you energy, time and sometimes even your relationships.
Having purpose helps us live with greater focus, intention and organisation. It brings structure to our lives and increases our emotional wellbeing and life satisfaction.
Now, lets not get it twisted, having purpose in life isn’t always comfortable or pleasurable.
Purpose can stretch you.
It can be painful.
Damn. I’ve experienced a lot of pain and upset in the pursuit of my purpose. But in the words of Viktor Frankl:
“He who has a why to live for, can bear almost any how”
Having purpose in life doesn’t mean having everything figured out or living a grand calling.
Purpose simply enables us to move forward; it gives us something to wake up for, something to work towards and something that anchors us when life feels uncertain.
𓋹 Make a change: If identifying or defining your purpose feels overwhelming or unclear, start by focusing on what matters in this season of your life:
Ask yourself:
- What feels most important for me to focus on right now?
- Where do I feel a sense of responsibility or calling?
- What would I regret not giving attention to at this point in my life?
Why Meaning and Purpose in Life is Necessary for Emotional Wellbeing:
Research shows that people with a strong sense of meaning and purpose in life are better able to manage stress, cope with adversity, and maintain hope during difficult times.
When life has meaning and purpose, dealing with emotional challenges can feel more manageable, not because they disappear, but because we are better resourced to face them.
You may have heard sayings like these (or some variation of them):
- “The devil finds work for idle hands”
- “Idle minds are the devil’s workshop”
- “Boredom breeds trouble”
They all point to the same truth:
When you have a lack of meaning, purpose and intentional direction in life, you are more likely to drift into behaviours and patterns that lead to trouble, distress and unhappiness.
From a spiritual perspective, the devil/the enemy (or whoever you understand that to be) hates love, wellness, happiness and productivity. So, if the enemy is finding work for your hands, it is not exactly going to be work that supports your emotional wellbeing, is it!
Without meaning and purpose in life, you become more vulnerable to negative influences, and that vulnerability often sits at the root of emotional distress.
One of my favourite books, Outwitting the Devil by Napoleon Hill, explores the importance of purpose. Although written as a fictional dialogue with the devil, the book offers powerful life lessons. Hill outlines seven principles for success, and the very first is Definiteness of Purpose.
Definiteness of purpose means having a clear, intentional direction for your life. According to Napoleon Hill, when your purpose is defined and precise, it becomes harder for the enemy- fear, distraction, negativity, or destruction to take control.
Purpose closes the door of the mind to those influences that cause emotional and distress.
Of course, having meaning and purpose in life does not eliminate emotional pain, that isn’t what I’m claiming here. Life will still bring challenges, losses and difficult seasons. But having meaning and purpose significantly increases our ability to recover.
Having meaning and purpose help us to bounce back, stay focused, and avoid getting caught in cycles that don’t serve us or support our emotional wellbeing.
Without meaning and purpose, you may experience:
- Struggles that feel endless
- Lower resilience when facing life’s challenges and setbacks
- A lack of focus, jumping from one thing to another
- Reduced motivation
- Living on autopilot- existing, but not truly living
- Feeling controlled by fear, habits, or other people’s expectations
Having meaning and purpose in life helps prevent, interrupt, and reduce these experiences. However, it doesn’t mean an easy life.
And it certainly doesn’t mean being happy all the time.
Having meaning and purpose in life supports people spending less time emotionally lost, and more time emotionally well.
Signs you Have Meaning and Purpose in Life:
You will not always feel purposeful every day.
Meaning and purpose are not necessarily loud emotions; they can be quiet undercurrents that shape how you move through life. But there are signs that indicate when you have meaning and purpose in life:
- You feel aligned with your values, even when life is hard
- You have a sense of fulfilment with what you are doing
- You are excited about the future
- Your decisions are guided by intention rather than pressure
- You feel connected to something bigger than yourself
- You can say no to distractions that don’t serve you
- You recover more quickly from emotional setbacks
When you have meaning and purpose, life feels less like something happening to you and more like something you are consciously participating in.
Having meaning and purpose in life doesn’t remove pain or struggle, but it gives them context, helping you move forward with greater resilience and motivation
Meaning, Purpose, Goals and Habits- The Four Essentials For Living Emotionally Well:
So, having meaning in life is when you’ve discovered the thing that makes your life matter- the thing which gives you reason for living.
Having purpose is knowing what you need to do and what direction you need to take to fulfil your meaning.
But, there are two other essential aspects that are needed to complete this structure and support you with your emotional wellbeing, you need:
- Goals- to focus you on what you need to do to fulfil your purpose.
- Habits- the actions you need to take in order to achieve your goals.
Meaning, purpose goals and habits all work together, forming one structure.
When one is missing, the whole structure can start to wobble, along with your emotional wellness.
Meaning gives your life significance, it answers the question, “Why does my life matter?”
Purpose gives your life direction, it answers the question, “What am I focusing on in this season?”
Goals give your purpose shape, they answer the question, “What am I working towards?”
Habits enable your goals to be fulfilled, they answer the question, “What do I need to do consistently everyday to get there?”
Lets look at this through an example- I will use myself:
My meaning is to support wellness in others, (why my life matters)
Therefore, my purpose is to share information that encourages emotional wellbeing, (what my focus is)
To live out my purpose, I have goals to create meaningful emotional wellness content and resources (what I am working towards).
To achieve my goals, the habits I need to commit to are:
1) Reading relevant books everyday to broaden my knowledge
2) practising stillness and meditation each day so I do not become stuck
3) praying everyday for guidance, direction and to give gratitude for life.
The last element, habits, are just as important as meaning and purpose, they are the foundation. Without consistently practicing certain habits we cannot live out our meaning and purpose.
Some people are able to glide through their meaning and purpose in life without issue. They discover their meaning, work out their purposes and set goals and habits to achieve them with ease.
Other people, for lots of different reason, become quite stuck. They struggle to understand their meaning and purpose in life. Consequently, these people may be more vulnerable to emotional distress and unwellness.
Is this you?
𓋹 Make a Change:
Find a quiet place, where you will not be disturbed, with a pen and a pad.
Allocate at least 1 hour for yourself to do this this simple exercise, really reflect on the following statements in silence.
Do not rush to write down an answer- sit with it, let the statements flutter softly around your mind before answering:
• My meaning in life right now is…
• My purpose to live out my meaning in this season is…
• One goal that will supports this purpose is…
• One habit I can practise consistently to achieve this goal is…
Final Words:
Living without meaning and purpose comes at an emotional cost.
It often shows up as restlessness, low motivation, dissatisfaction, or a sense of emptiness that lingers even when life looks “fine” on the outside.
Without meaning, it’s easy to feel invisible in your own life and without purpose, days can blur into each other, decisions feel reactive, and energy gets spent surviving rather than truly living.
Over time, this can erode self-worth, strain relationships, and leave you feeling disconnected from yourself and from what truly matters.
When your meaning is clear, your purpose is defined, your goals are intentional, and your habits are supportive. You are no longer drifting.
You are living consciously.
This doesn’t make your life perfect or without struggle, but living consciously is one of the most powerful acts of emotional self-care there is.
Salute to the Sources:
Deep gratitude to the thought leaders, writers, and cultural voices who inspired this reflection:
- Main image by Sherman Trotz on Pexels
- Rick Warren, for his book The Purpose Driven Life, which captures the importance and urgency of having purpose.
- Viktor Frankl, whose work and lived experience teaches us that meaning can be discovered even in suffering.
- Napoleon Hill, for his book Outwitting the Devil, which speaks to the power of having definiteness of purpose.
- Salute to Doreen Lawrence, whose life reminds us that meaning and purpose are not always found in comfort; sometimes they are forged in grief, courage, and the refusal to let pain have the final word.
- Father and Son Photo by Photo by Lawrence Crayton on Unsplash
- Fuzzy Head Photo by Ezechiel Kouassi on Unsplash
