How to Inspire a Sense of Purpose Using Neuroscience (5 steps)
The concept of purpose is reflected in plenty of research on resilience and character, such as from Dr. Robert Brooks, as well as from Angela Duckworth and David Yeager who use the term “Self-Transcendent Purpose”.
However you want to call it, this is the idea that when someone is aware of a purpose they serve that is larger than them – and generally includes service to other beings (including people, animals and the planet), they tend to persevere longer and are more willing to put in effort, even on tedious or boring tasks.
- persisted longer on a boring task rather than giving in to a tempting alternative and, many months later, were less likely to drop out of college.
- improved high school science and math grade point average (GPA) over several months.
- increased deeper learning behavior on tedious test review materials and sustain self-regulation over the course of an increasingly boring task.
Here are 5 neuroscience-supported ways we can inspire a sense of purpose:
learn more in this mini podcast episode: How purpose and transcendent thinking affect the brain
and in this full podcast episode: Season 1, Episode 4- A sense of purpose
#1 - Don't make it grandiose
Rather than search for it as a sudden aha moment, we can view our purpose through how we show up in each moment and how we add value to each system we are connected to.
#2 - Feel the emotional juice of a problem or issue you care about
Pay attention to what brings you joy AND what makes you feel frustration, anger and other feelings. This activates the Salience Network.
#3 - Build related building block skills and information
Learn about various skills and information that relate to the issue, and seek to apply them. This helps us activate our Executive Control Network (ECN).The ECN helps us pay attention, shift strategies, regulate emotions, and control impulses.
#4 - Go beyond the Here-and-Now
Connect the information and skills you’re building to big ideas related to systems and processes in the world. This helps light up your Default Mode Network and connects it with other systems.
#5 - Honor Your Sensitivities and Experiences
These help us to see patterns others may not. How can our experiences help us notice things that could better explain and improve an issue?
By seeing the value of our sensitivities and experiences, and how we play a role in multiple interconnected systems, we increase our sense of purpose and what we mean to the world. This has a powerful and positive impact on our brain and nervous system.
learn more and get all the brain research about this at stefaniefaye.com/podcast
or listen to the Mindset Neuroscience Podcast, Season 4 Ep 8 on spotify, Apple Podcasts
