Gratitude and Purpose: 3 Keys to Unlocking GAP

After 4 ½ years of interviewing women over 70 for our award-winning podcast, Women Over 70-Aging Reimagined, it has become eminently clear that these two attributes, Gratitude and Purpose, are major drivers in creating and maintaining a vital, vibrant life as we age.

And this is not only true for older women. Look around you. At every stage of life, there are women whose vitality literally seems to shine when she enters a room. It isn’t only her smile or her clothes. It’s her whole way of being. Every person she encounters feels singled out for special notice. When she’s asked, “What are you up to?”, her answers are full of excitement, verve and importance. She exudes purpose and gratitude as a natural part of her vocabulary, without ever using those two words.

How Gratitude Works

Gratitude is more than just saying “thank you.” It’s a profound appreciation for the people, experiences, and blessings in your life, no matter how small they may seem. And it only does its work if you share how you feel with the people, experiences and blessings in your life. Send a note, express your thoughts in a journal or find a meaningful way to show your delight. The response you’ll receive reinforces the gratitude you feel. Even if there is no response, you’ll feel good for having made the effort.

In the August 2021 issue of Harvard Health, the author states: “In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”

Marcia Ross (Ep. 122) and Nancy Fuhrman (Ep. 93), good friends of each other, and Women Over 70 guests, are beautiful examples of women who live every day in service of others. After fulfilling careers, each found new purpose in organizations that exist to make others’ lives better, and this value extends equally to how they treat their family and friends. Still, if we were to question them, we would find that in their individual lives, each has experienced her share of loss, illness and difficult times. Their practice of daily gratitude overrides the negatives we inevitably encounter in life.

You might say, gratitude comes naturally if we live into our 70’s, 80’s and beyond in good health, can travel, are welcomed into the homes of friends and family and have a (mostly) sound mind. Yet, so many of the women we interview say that aging offers them a remarkable opportunity to embrace gratitude and purpose as guiding lights in their lives. By practicing gratitude daily, seeking out new purposes, and living a balanced and reflective life, they find fulfillment and contentment. The journey will continue, smooth or not, and we have the power to shape it with gratitude and purpose.

The Importance of Purpose

According to The University of Minnesota, Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing purpose offers definite emotional and psychological benefits. “Perhaps you have experienced moments when you felt truly connected, like you were performing a task you were made for—maybe when you were organizing a grassroots campaign, comforting a sick grandchild, or creating a piece of art or music. It is likely that this was a moment of being in harmony with your purpose. Living on purpose feels alive, clear, and authentic. You may also experience “flow” which is a state of total absorption in which time seems to disappear and you feel content and fulfilled. In short, purpose offers definite emotional and psychological benefits.”

We believe in ‘flow’ and the importance of finding your passion. Living it is an essential guidepost for happiness in later life.

Ed Diener’s extensive research on the science of well-being has found that “people with a strong sense of purpose are better able to handle the ups and downs of life. Purpose can offer a psychological buffer against obstacles-thus, a person with a strong sense of purpose remains satisfied with life even while experiencing a difficult day. This kind of long-term resilience can lead to better cardiovascular health, less worry, and greater happiness over time.”

3 Keys to Unlock GAP in Your Life

The research is clear: a life without gratitude and purpose often results in poorer health, less fulfillment and dissatisfaction, and the inability to recover when things go wrong. What would it take for you to up your gratitude and purpose quotient?

Gratitude, like a habit, often derives from conducting a daily practice. This might be a daily gratitude moment, a sharing of words of kindness, writing in a journal or finding gratitude during meditation. We’d like to hear from you – how do you capture gratitude on a daily basis?

Transitions such as career changes, divorce, loss of loved ones or moving to a new community, can temporarily leave you feeling without purpose. If you are stuck in a state of discontent, you may need help in unlocking the underlying reason. You can do this on your own. Perhaps it’s time to investigate new pursuits as hobbies, first. Art, writing, photography and dance are possibilities. Are there social causes that excite you? Try volunteering as an easy way to try on different ideas. Using wisdom gained while still working, or in later years, is a solid way to feel purposeful when you share it with others in your field or with those following in your path. Mentoring opportunities abound. When you encounter one that sticks, see if you can work it into your life. None of this will walk up to you. In order to find and live your purpose, you must be proactive.

The third way to unlock GAP is to see what gets your attention. Ask yourself, “What am I doing that creates a sense of flow? Is there a disconnect between how I spend my time and my personal values and interests? Do I sense a persistent knot in my gut? What is it telling me?” We must follow our instincts.

Finding purpose often leads to gratitude and identifying what you are grateful for might help you notice where your purpose lies.

If you need a nudge to become clearer and unlock GAP, we are here to help you. Contact us at info@womenover70.com.