THUNDER BAY – LIVING WELL – In an era dominated by quick fixes and wellness trends, one timeless truth continues to emerge from scientific research and lived experience alike: having a clear purpose in life is one of the most powerful tools for improving overall health and well-being.
From reduced risk of heart disease to sharper cognitive function, studies show that people with a strong sense of purpose not only live longer but also thrive physically and emotionally.
For residents of Northwestern Ontario—where geographic isolation and seasonal affective challenges can affect mental health—connecting to a personal purpose may be more crucial than ever.
An observation over my lifetime is that having some structure in your life helps you in finding your path, and in keeping to that path.
Boredom is the bane of success. Growing up, I spent time on my grandparents farm during the summer holidays. My cousin and me found out very quickly from my grandfather that telling him there was “nothing to do” or that we were “bored” was a path to work we would far rather not do. Mucking out the barn with the cow patties was NOT a cherished task.
Over time I have come to wonder if some of the problems we see in our region are not systemic, and almost quietly pursued to maintain a status quo.
🧠 A Science-Backed Strategy for Health
Research from institutions such as the University of Michigan and Harvard Medical School has linked a sense of purpose with significantly lower risks of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and even Alzheimer’s.
A 2020 meta-analysis published in JAMA Network Open concluded that individuals with a higher sense of life purpose had a 17% reduction in early death from all causes.
Purpose acts as a biological buffer against stress.
When individuals have a reason to get out of bed in the morning—whether it’s a job they believe in, a commitment to family, or service to their community—they’re more likely to practice healthy behaviours, maintain strong social networks, and seek preventive care.
Thinking of this in my world, ever since I was younger, I was always up early, and ready to get my day started. A favourite saying that comes to mind is the line in the movie Cowboys where the character played by John Wayne, “We’re burning daylight”.
Nowadays, my days start early, I am woke up by my German Shepard who likes to start his day with a walk and with coming to work at the Vault. Instinctively Behzhig seeks routine, its part of his world.
So usually its off to the office at 5 am, where I get more done by 9 am usually than often the rest of the day. However it is having that purpose, get up, getting going and keeping going.
It isn’t always easy, but setting goals and working toward reaching and completing them helps make a difference.
Mental Health and Emotional Resilience
Purpose doesn’t just protect your heart—it fortifies the mind. Studies have found that people with purpose suffer fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression, cope better with trauma, and demonstrate higher levels of optimism and life satisfaction.
“When you know why you’re doing something, life’s inevitable challenges feel more manageable,” says Dr. Emily Laurier, a clinical psychologist based in Thunder Bay. “Purpose gives people emotional grit—it’s a resilience framework.”
Often I wonder why so many people seem to live lives without what to me looks like direction. Sometimes in the downtown seeing the same people sitting around, often passing a bottle, it makes me sad, it also makes me angry too. Not angry at the people who are sitting around, but at the realization that it is a systemic failure by many of the very agencies that are supposed to be helping.
Building a pathway to a purposeful life could start with a complete revision of Ontario Works. First questions at the intake level could be of helping the individual seeking help to find a baseline.
Finding out the root causes of the problem should be a starting point to solving them.
If a person were abused as a child, or adult, seek counselling, and provide counselling options is a start. If the issue is addiction, wouldn’t it make sense to start there with detoxing and treatment for the addiction?
Instead it often seems that the system just shuffles people along and then wonders why nothing changes.
Grounding Purpose in the Local Landscape
For people in Northwestern Ontario, purpose might take many forms: stewardship of the land, contributing to Indigenous revitalization, supporting local arts, mentoring youth, or leading environmental initiatives.
Organizations like the Thunder Bay Good Food Box and Roots to Harvest offer local volunteering and leadership opportunities, while Indigenous communities across the region are reclaiming cultural purpose through language revitalization, land-based education, and intergenerational learning.
How to Discover Your Purpose
Finding your purpose doesn’t necessarily mean overhauling your life. Instead, it can start with reflection and small steps:
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Ask what energizes you: What activity makes time fly?
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Examine your values: What do you stand for? What matters most?
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Identify your strengths: How can your skills serve others?
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Engage with community: Purpose often flourishes in connection.
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Consider legacy: What do you hope to be remembered for?
Purpose as Preventative Medicine
In Thunder Bay and beyond, cultivating purpose can be seen as a preventive mental health tool, just as important as exercise or a balanced diet. It helps individuals focus on long-term goals, maintain hope during adversity, and build a meaningful narrative even during times of loss or uncertainty.
Final Thoughts
If you want to change things in your life, start with setting goals, now, my advice would be not to set some massive and huge goal that will be hard to reach or even measure the level of success as you work to it.
The journey to the moon, it started with small steps.
As you work toward setting off on a purposeful life, remember one thing, a little progress every day is important. It is equally important to make the decisions on what you do, who you do it with, and why are all part of your daily routine.
As you work to change, chances are there will be people around you who will put down your efforts, mock you and some might try hard to get you to quit trying.
Those are the people to leave behind on your quest forward.
Those are my thoughts, as always your mileage may vary.
