Optimal Being

People in their sixties who experience their lives as purposeful have fewer inflammatory factors such as CRP in their blood than people in their sixties who think that their lives have no purpose. Because high CRP levels are bad for just about every facet of your health, living a purposeful life makes you healthier. Canadian psychologists at Concordia University followed 129 adults aged 63-91 for 6 years. The researchers used questionnaires every 2 years to determine how meaningful the study participants thought their lives were. The researchers also determined the concentration of the inflammatory protein CRP in the blood of the study participants. A  lifestyle   that lowers the concentration of inflammatory proteins such as CRP reduces the risk of premature death or chronic disease. The researchers wondered whether psychological factors also play a role in the activity of inflammatory proteins. They suspected that experiencing meaning and purpose in life reduces CRP con...

It involves complex mental engagement; a wide range of deep, intense emotions; and diverse, novel and interesting experiences. “I do not accept any absolute formulas for living. No preconceived code can see ahead to everything that can happen in a man’s life. As we live, we grow, and our beliefs change. They must change. So,  I think we should live with this constant discovery. We should be open to this adventure in heightened awareness of living. We should stake our whole existence on our willingness to explore and experience.”—Martin Buber What does it mean to live a good life? This question has been  debated and written about  by many philosophers, thinkers and novelists throughout the course of humanity. In the field of psychology,  two main conceptualizations  of the good life have predominated: A  happy life  (often referred to as “hedonic well-being”), full of stability, pleasure , enjoyment and positive emotions, and a  meaningful life...