Goal!

August 17th, 2024| Topic: RaMbLeS | 0

There was always (or seemingly always) the “purpose-driven” life by Rick Warren & Co. But a search of Amazon also revealed other p-d books relating to God himself, youth ministry, legacy, church, leadership, retirement, organization, branding, marketing, pricing, achievement, school, work, teacher, husband (didn’t find a p-d wife, but there is a p-d woman, a p-d relationship, a p-d marriage, and even a p-d teenager), as well as a p-d physician’s assistant, power couple, social entrepreneur, project manager, side hustle, etc., etc., etc.

Now scientists say there may be something to all of this purpose-drivenness. This is in “Purpose in Life and Associated Cognitive and Affective Mechanisms,” published recently in the Journal of Happiness Studies (yup, I ain’t kiddin’!) by researchers at Edith Cowan University and University of Western Australia, both in Perth.

This was a review of other studies:

Using search terms related to cognitive and/or affective mechanisms (CAMs) and purpose in life, we conducted a comprehensive search across five databases (Web of Science, Medline, Pubmed, Scopus, and psycinfo) to identify those examining the relationship between these constructs. Ninety-nine manuscripts were selected for inclusion.

Though research consistently has shown that increased purpose in life is associated with an extensive range of benefits such as increased life satisfaction, psychosocial and physiological well-being, and reduced risk of psychological distress and mortality, this was a first examination of how this might actually work. And our scientists affirm that this happens because purpose in life positively affects CAMs like sense of autonomy, self-control, relational trust and stability, compassion for others, flexible thinking, openness and curiosity, turning to religion, critical thinking, perseverance, and tenacity, hopefulness, etc. More and defined purpose in life = more stronger CAMs. All that to say, one way to maintain good cognitive and affective mechanisms (i.e., one way not to lose it all) is to be … purpose-driven!!!

The researchers conclude:

The strong connection between purpose in life and a vast range of wellbeing benefits can be attributed to its role as a comprehensive, ubiquitous framework that guides people in their understanding and engagements with themselves, others, and the world.“

But there always was good reason to be purpose (= fearing God)-driven:

Come, children, hear me;
the fear of Yahweh I will teach you.
Who is the one who desires life
and loves [many] days to see good?
Preserve your tongue from evil,
and your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
The eyes of Yahweh are toward the righteous,
and His ears to their cry for help.
The face of Yahweh is against those who do evil,
to cut off their memory from the earth.
The [righteous] wail, and Yahweh hears,
and from all their distresses He rescues them.
Yahweh is near to the brokenhearted,
and those crushed in spirit He delivers.
Many are the troubles of the righteous,
but from all of them He rescues him—Yahweh.
He keeps all his bones,
not one of them is broken.
Evil shall slay the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be guilty.
Yahweh redeems the soul of His servants,
and none of those who take refuge in Him will be guilty.
Psalm 34:11–22

Yes, He does. And no, they will not. Best purpose ever—fearing God:

Taste and see that Yahweh is good;
blessing [upon] the one who takes refuge in Him.
Fear Yahweh, you His holy ones;
for there is no lack to those who fear Him.
The young lions want and hunger;
but they who seek Yahweh shall not lack any good thing.
Psalm 34:8–10

SOURCE: Journal of Happiness Studies