An article came out in JAMA open on Friday in which participants in a study were twice as likely to die within the study period if they lacked a strong sense of life purpose, than those who had a strong life purpose.

Fascinating, right? One more reason to really hone in on our own personal mission, values, and vision. It will actually help us live longer if we have this sense of purpose.

The latest version of my personal mission is as follows:

To draw awareness internally to one’s integral connection to all living creatures and through this awareness, end suffering for both humans and animals alike.

How I accomplish this changes moment to moment.

Yesterday, I went to a redwood forest where I watched my youngest child build a rock pile. He systematically brought each unique rock from widespread locations and carefully placed them into his pile within an old tree stump. His self-defined purpose for this activity was to be a pirate playing in the woods with his treasure. Most importantly for him, it was fun. We were in the woods playing and connecting with the nature around us, giving us both a sense of purpose: through play, drawing on the awareness that we are part of the magnificent environment that surrounds and nurtures us.