Does Finding Purpose Have Health Benefits?

The Takeaway

What if the old “apple-a-day” approach to health is wrong? Normally, we’re completely focused on the details of a prescription for a healthy life – an apple a day, eight hours of sleep, 30 minutes of exercise, no cigarettes, no saturated fats, limited sodium, and so on.
But what if you started with the big-picture instead – like, your purpose in life? It sounds a little ambitious, but  Vic Strecher, director for innovation and social entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan School Public Health, says that’s the kind of approach we should take to see meaningful, healthy behavior change.

Less than .05% of listeners will donate. Can we count on you?

Our coverage reaches millions each week, but only a small fraction of listeners contribute to sustain our program. We still need 224 more people to donate $100 or $10/monthly to unlock our $67,000 match. Will you help us get there today?