Something to Live For?

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

That’s a worthwhile question for anyone to ponder – but especially a parent. Your answer has a tremendous impact on your health, your happiness, and the legacy you leave behind for your kids.

That was the conclusion of a coalition of doctors who conducted a study to determine just how important “happiness” and “a sense of meaning” were to a person’s overall well-being. Their discoveries surprised them.

They studied a group of people whose lives fit into a category labelled “meaningless happiness.” These were people who created shallow, self-absorbed lives. Every need and desire was easily satisfied, and difficulties were avoided at all costs. The researchers found that people who live carefree lives are generally less healthy than those who have a sense of purpose and feel they have something meaningful to live for.

Purpose in parenting is equally valuable. In numerous ways, we devote our lives to our children. We give them our best – our values, our wisdom, our love. In the process, we reap a host of unexpected benefits, like connection, happiness, and – according to the research – the prospect of longer, healthier lives.

Living well takes more than fun, it takes significance. Parenting provides that in abundance!