Life Crafting: Find Your Purpose and Makeover Your Life

In her latest book, IT’S IN THE BAG, Gayle Martz, entrepreneur, pet-travel advocate, and lover of animals, refers to her raison d’être, or her reason for existing, which she found through applying her passion for both animals and travel to every aspect of her life. We all need a raison d’être, a true purpose, to be whole in mind, body, and spirit. Living a life rooted in purpose is linked to strong mental health, physical well-being, and even longevity. According to an article published by Frontiers in Psychology, having a strong sense of purpose helps reduce stress, depression, and anxiety. It has also been found to be “related to a decrease in mortality across all ages,” according to XX. Further, research published in the journal Health Psychology, also suggests that people with a strong sense of purpose make healthier choices. People living with purpose are happier, healthier, less stressed, and live longer. It’s kind of a big deal!

An article for Greater Good in Action, a resource offering science-based practices for a meaningful life published by the University of California at Berkeley, outlines how to practice life crafting. Here is the gist:

First, make a list of your values and passions. Write down what is most important to you, most meaningful, and what you most enjoy doing.

Next, reflect on what you want your future life to look like in all aspects, social, career, and personal (free time). When Gayle Martz lost her job as a flight attendant and simultaneously lost her fiancé, she had to do this very thing. Martz found a way to weave her passion for animals and travel into her career, her free time, her volunteer work, everything.

Read the full article on SilverDisobedienceRocks.