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• June 1, 2013 4:58 a.m.

  finding a "meaningful purpose" has been the continual goal of my life. but finding one is not the end of the problem. i found a true meaningful purpose working with kids in cambodia for almost a year when i found that the director of the organization was stealing nearly all the donations to the org. this created an internal contradiction which could not be resolved. my point is that sometimes we find a "meaningful purpose," we are lucky if it lasts a few years, and then, for reasons unpredictable, we must seek another meaningful purpose. for me, finding one is difficult. the criteria are many. thank you for raising the subject. it is great just seeing that other people are on the same page.

  - mark

• July 22, 2012 10:43 p.m.

  Consider requiring food vrdnoes to provide a significant portion of the items available to patrons of the mall meet independent health and wellness standards, e.g., Institute of Medicine, USDA 2010 guidelines. This could be made possible through specific language in contracts with the food vrdnoes. Incentives could also be made available for vrdnoes who limit calories/serving sizes, use fresh fruits and vegetables, organics, local produce, etc.

  - Mariela

• April 29, 2012 6:18 a.m.

  I dont think you're off base at all with your perception. I believe that it is usually only when there is a crisis that people then think of a "why" to live. I love Dr Viktor Frankl's book! I also think that it is mostly when people get a little older that they realise that their lives will have NO meaning if they were to die not having help/assisted/given to the rest of their generation in some meaningul way. Thanx for the thought provoking article Dr Edward. Merv

  - Merv

• September 18, 2010 5:13 a.m.

  I agree, many thanks to the author. Thanks for taking the time to share this,Great blog post. Thanks.. healthe trim review

  - James Amber

• January 2, 2010 9:04 p.m.

  Sometimes sacrifices have to be made in order to find purpose. What is more important, money, or the feeling of making a difference? As a musician, I find the statement wealthy music teacher to be an oxymoron. However, I am rich in purpose because I love what I do. I enjoy the light in my students' eyes when they appreciate a beautiful piece of music, when they perform well, or when an audience applauds them. No amount of money can replace that. On the other hand, I do charge enough to ensure that my financial needs are more than met. I also love money! Barbara A. "Cry Depression, Celebrate Recovery." - coming out soon.

  - Barbara A

• November 21, 2008 10:40 a.m.

  I'm a teen and i need to take a brek somtimes but i never have the time. :( what should i do?

  - meganh

• November 3, 2008 2:16 p.m.

  Regarding "finding purpose",and also relating to Diane's comment about wanting her own life. When events control us, such as our family and their demands, and other outside pressures, it is very easy to lose oneself. For the past 6 years, I've been a caregiver to my Mom, since the death of my father in 2003. Over this time frame, I too have battled depression, my own mental issues, and basically have given up on anything that I want to do. Caring for a Mom with full blown alzheimers or cognitive impairment has taken over my life. I,like Diane, feel that I also have no choices of my own. Yes, we've tried "assisted living" not once but twice. "Stress" is something I've had to learn to live with,and not all stress is bad. I too suffer "burn out",and understand those feelings of wanting my life back. Not that anyone asked for advice,but there are support groups online,and also in our towns. I seek the help of a therapist and a psychiatrist. Though I attend a church, I find that my therapist offers me much more constructive comfort. There IS a light at the end of a tunnel...get some help,and don't be afraid to admit that your needs are important. One book that has helped me is the book "Boundaries",as without them, I don't know where I would be. Good luck to Diane. Your time will arrive, I assure you. I understand "burn out"...as I've been a nurse for many years. I hope this helps..you are NOT ALONE.

  - cathy

• November 1, 2008 3:35 a.m.

  I have found it difficult to find the "happy" life. Even when I asked myself, if I could create the perfect life what would it be, I can come up with a concrete scenario. I don't think money and power are bad, in fact with them you have the ability to help others. But somewhere in there I believe relationships play a big part in fulfilling our lives.

  - barbie

• October 17, 2008 5:18 a.m.

  I found the comments as though provoking as your article. I have found it very difficult to find the "happy" life. Even when I asked myself, if I could create the perfect life what would it be, I can come up with a concrete scenario. I don't think money and power are bad, in fact with them you have the ability to help others. But somewhere in there I believe relationships play a big part in fullfilling our lives.

  - Ted

• October 15, 2008 10:52 a.m.

  Thank you for kind comments. We admire your faith and perserverance....Dr. Ed

  - Dr. Ed

• October 14, 2008 9:17 p.m.

  Dr Creagan, I've been subscribing to Mayo Clinic Newsletter ever since I became a Mayo Rochester patient 2 years ago. I came to Mayo because of the doctors, specialists and care offered and given and because they let me know I matter. From a tramatic injury 6 years ago, I've dealt with chronic pain, and many physical issues from multiple pelvic and shoulder fractures that didn't heal correctly. Your column always brightens my day, I appreciate your candor and humanness. The life stories you share reminds me that I'm not alone. It helps me to continue to be positive, have faith and perservere. Thank you and God Bless...

  - No name given

• October 12, 2008 12:09 a.m.

  I believe that you are on point with your interpretation of the bus riders story. Having a purpose provides drive and a reason as to why you are doing what you are doing. For some people money and personal gain just isn't enough. I can relate to the bus rider b/c I am a college student. I entered college thinking I would most likely major in business in hopes of living the good life and making tons of money. After awhile I realized no amount of money was going to make me happy if I wasn't helping others. Needless to say my major is now child development with an emphasis in social work. I went from aspirations of being the next CEO for a fortune 500 to caring so much about others and my community that now I volunteer on a weekly basis and I would rather have a thankless job making minor duckets if I can change someones life and better the world. Life is rough and sometimes I wish I would have choosen the big bucks but I know I wouldn't have been happy.

  - No name given

• October 10, 2008 12:42 p.m.

  We all know what's being talked about here -- it's just that it's hard to label. What gives life meaning? Hopefully, we could all say that life itself has meaning without having to add anything to that basic truth. One thing I do know is that it is not money and it is not power and it is not things that one acquires. I think that the only indicator that one has meaning in one's life is the satisfaction and integrity that you feel ongoingly. It's an indicator to direct your life -- if and action doesn't seem in line with the promotion of meaning in your life then you need to change that action. It's like a maintenance plan to guide you into your future.

  - vj

• October 8, 2008 1:31 p.m.

  I, too, read Frankl's book many years ago and it affected how I chose to live my life. I thought until recently that I doing very well in living my life with purpose and I was choosing my response to life's slings and arrows. As an educator and administrator I felt I was contributing to society in a positive way and even though I was working long hours and dealing with stressful situations, I was coping and even thriving. Then I got colitis and it has caused me to re-evaluate the cost of I "how" I was living my life on my health. Now I am taking a time out to focus on how I can listen to my body and still have the energy and drive to continue to make a difference for young people. Although I think we can "endure" just about anything when we find meaning and purpose, I think we also need to understand the toll of that endurance on our health.

  - Gail

• October 8, 2008 11:31 a.m.

  Like Connie, I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder in my early 40's, after a very successful career. The next few years were very difficult, but with the right doctor, medication, and spiritual advisor, I "recovered" and now live a wonderfully fulfilling life. In retrospect, despite my career, I realize that I had only been living half a life. A big factor in my healing was reading Pope John Paul II's "The Dignity and Vocation of Women" where he talks about the "feminine genius". This short book gave me insights into myself and others that enabled me to see how I could "live the gospel" as a woman of grace. I was so happy to read about Dr. Creagan's colleague and suspect that not only he is happier but his family as well - and his life will bear abundant fruits. And by sharing his story, it already has!

  - Sherry

• October 8, 2008 9:07 a.m.

  What struck me most about the story is the tremendous amount of effort and drive it would have taken the former CEO (or anyone) to make a change such as he made. Can you really boil it down to aquiring a purpose in life? As Frankl pointed out, purpose and meaning are powerful motivators, but I wonder what the rest of the story is here.

  - Deandra

• October 8, 2008 8:12 a.m.

  I have severe depression and was diagnosed four years ago with bi polar disease. I have tried therapy, every kind of medication possible, most of which I cannot take due to severe reactions. With the bi polar I have my highs, I really wish that I could stay at that level all the time. It's just not possible for me. It is a nice thought that you have control over your own life but I haven't figured out how to reign it in. I am in my late forties and feel life is slipping through my fingers. I do positive self talk, think of everyone worse off than myself and I am still stuck. I have my faith, but then I get to thinking how we are taught that "God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son" then I think he died for me, I know I am supposed to feel good about that but I feel to blame. Life, economics and our own weakness don't allow some of us the rational thinking to work out of these situations so easy. I know I am weak minded. I am very happy for those who can take these positive sayings and use them to dig out.

  - Connie

• October 8, 2008 12:08 a.m.

  If you read about Maslov's Theory of Self-actualization, you would know that work a person finds fulfilling is good for the person's overall mental health. People who hate their jobs are unhappy people. Elementary.

  - Alida

• October 7, 2008 1:48 p.m.

  I think you are on target for those who have the opportunity to do something different to support themselves. However, there are those of us, especially in the current economy, who don't have that freedom. Instead, we must try to make our current situation work no matter how hard it is. It would be so nice to have someone step up an support us, tell us it is all going to be OK and then lend a hand. That's not going to happen so in the meantime, stress is high with no end in sight.

  - Paulette

• October 7, 2008 12:18 a.m.

  Michael- it is not so much about moralistic superiority, a sense of amends and piety, but a drive to fulfill a personal aim. If leaving one's CEO job to become a MD makes the actor happier, more satisfied with their contribution to the world, why shouldn't they? Surely, not for fear of being better or worse than another version of themselves! Conversely, should the neuro-oncologist feel they'd be more fulfilled raking in millions as a Lehman Brother exec, regardless of what their mother would think, it would be right for them. First, do no harm, next, seek your bliss.

  - No name given

• October 7, 2008 12:12 a.m.

  Purpose-creating is our task, and its a great way to live. Sure beats a Kantian hell of indecisive ambivalence...

  - No name given

• October 6, 2008 10:36 p.m.

  I must say this has brought on a thought of true relevance for me. My husband and I own 3 very promising businesses. Both of our children and son in law work in the business and hope our 6 grandchildren will someday, so maybe we can can "retire", leaving them a legacy. My problem is until about 10 years ago I was a "type A", supermom, civic minded, award winning entrepeneurer and a very social butterfly to say the least. Then I seemed to be sick all the time and didn't or wouldn't work at the office. Thank goodness for my daughter. She took over as CFO of our company and I decided to be "grandma" for awhile. Since that time my father has past away, I now have 5 and 3/4 grandchildren and a mom who is slowing deteriating away. My point is I have CEASED to live MY life. I have had numberous surgergies and sicknesses, stay depressed all the time and don't care if I go anywhere near our businesses, let along a social gathering. My family has a meeting set up with my physchologist to see what is wrong with mommy. Well guess what folks mommy is burnt out and wants to be ME and do what I find fulfilling, without someone saying, "don't you think or hadn't you rather". HELL NO. I want to take control of my life back and do what I want. I have always been a highly motivated businessperson and I will again someday. Thanks for letting me vent.

  - Diane

• October 6, 2008 4:00 p.m.

  While agreeing with the philosophical/psychological standpoint of Michael's comment, I have to say I believe it to be besides the point. Whatever our true motivation, the fact remains that most of us have a need for a purpose in life. I have to endorse the comments of Alan and Kelly. We are not saints. A balance has to be struck in order to live a fulfilled life. I would urge Kelly to cutback on her caseload if at all possible and she might then find a renewed energy for her purpose.

  - Lynda

• October 5, 2008 10:56 p.m.

  Having a purpose and following that purpose is the only thing that allows us to surmount all barriers that come our way. The more defined the purpose the better. We've all heard the stories about the big Corp. Exec or businessman who was interested and excited about his purpose. Then retires and is dead a year later. No purpose. No reason to keep pushing through the barriers any more. So I think that you hit the nail on the head. Whether it's ensuring that our children or teens have a purpose that is actually meaningful to them or having one ourselves, it's vastly important to the quality of our lives.

  - Elizabeth Hunter

• October 5, 2008 10:01 p.m.

  If the "great purpose" or "meaning" of one's life actually reduces to that of simply feeling better about oneself, then the great mission is really one of self-centredness and self-promotion. The audience may be only the self, but act is still done for the applause. There is no reason to think that the CEO of a medical-appliance company is necessarily any less "good" ... or more "good" ... than the medical resident dependent on the sacrifices of his wife and children, in order to manage the next four years. The flagellants of medieval Germany made extreme physical amends, for their perceived wrongs; I suppose that the struggles and stresses of a residency, atoning for the emptiness of a lavish life style, might conceivably be a 21st century version of what may strike us as peculiar or extreme, from the vantage point of 600 years or so. A resolution of guilt is not a bad thing, of course. It certainly can reduce one's level of anxiety. To instantly assign any and all strategies to achieve such with transcendent or virtuous "meaning" could be unwarranted. More probing may be necessary, to unearth the real motivation.

  - Michael