Dietitians and lifestyle medicine practitioners can ask simple questions to enhance their own health and that of their clients. Surprisingly, these questions focus on what gives individuals a sense of meaning, purpose, or significance in life. Understanding your own sense of meaning and purpose is crucial, as it can help clients find their own sense of fulfillment.
Having this awareness of what brings meaning and purpose allows one to lead a well-lived and healthy life. Struggling with these existential questions can have serious health ramifications. It is a spiritual inquiry for everyone; none of us will live on Earth forever. We all have limits, and we want to make a difference while we can. If we are not conscious of our contributions, we may experience increased inflammation and struggles with metabolic illness.
A strong sense of personal meaning and purpose helps us set goals that guide our life choices and fosters positive relationships built on intimacy and trust. When we lose sight of these aspects, we may question our existence, which can lead to poorer health outcomes and increased mortality.
Research indicates that individuals who feel they matter have lower levels of inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, heart disease, and diabetes (Kim,Delaney & Kubzansky, 2019)[1]. This correlation is especially evident in men with increased CRP levels. Additionally, a ten-year follow-up study by Berkowitz (2023)[2] found that normal-weight adults with a strong sense of purpose scored higher on the healthy eating index, had smaller waists indicating lower abdominal obesity, and likely consumed healthier foods.
To address this aspect of well-being, reflect on questions that elicit your feelings. This self-awareness will make you more emotionally present for clients experiencing pain or dashed hopes, which can affect their metabolism and immune systems. Consider asking yourself: What matters most to you today? What motivates you to get up in the morning? What is your most significant goal or meaningful relationship?
[1] Kim ES, Delaney SW, Kubzansky LD, 2019 Sense of purpose in life and cardiovascular disease: underlying mechanisms and future directions, Curr Cardiol Rep, 21,135
[2] Berkowitz L, Mateo C, Salazar C, Samith B, Sara D, Pinto V, Martinez X, Calzada M, von Schultzendorff A, Pedrals N, Bitran M, Echeverria G, Ruini C, Ryff C, Rigotti A, 2023 Healthy Eating a Potential Mediator of Inverse Association Between Purpose in Life and Waist Circumference: Emerging Evidence from US and Chilean Cohorts, Int J Environ Res Public Health, 20, 7099
