Scientists have discovered that finding positive meaning in life is closely related to one’s health. The more purposeful one’s life is, the stronger the immune system.

We know that the grief from losing a loved one can cause the release of stress hormones and decrease immune function and the body’s ability to fight viruses and cancer. Thus, these participants were at an elevated risk of breast cancer.

The study found that the probability of one getting breast cancer is related to one’s thoughts. Those who started to actively search for the purposes of life had stronger natural killer (NK) cell functions, leading to a decreased risk of breast cancer.

A strong sense of life purpose is defined as having a purpose in life and being responsible for one’s own actions. Experts in psychosomatic medicine recommend it as an important factor in promoting mental health and increasing one’s resilience.

The meta-study showed 17 percent lowered risks of cardiovascular events and various cause deaths in people who led a more purposeful life. The results varied with factors, such as age and baseline cardiovascular diseases.

The first author of the study, Randy Cohen from Mount Sinai St Luke’s and Roosevelt hospitals and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, concluded that “possessing a high sense of purpose in life is associated with a reduced risk for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events,” and that nurturing and perfecting one’s sense of responsibility can improve cardiovascular health and save lives.

The study showed people with a higher sense of purpose in life have a 51 percent lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease compared to those with a lower purpose in life. The relationship is drawn after adjustment for age, gender, and education level.

This association is independent of risk factors and isn’t influenced by other confounding factors such as depression, neuroticism, social size, and chronic illness.

First, an overall increase in immunity has a positive impact on the prevention of chronic inflammatory states, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.

We have already described how a purposeful mindset helps to maintain good antiviral, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory functions in the body.

The concept of an eudaimonic view of happiness includes the pursuit of life goals, autonomous living, and positive thinking (living in the present moment), kindness, and altruism.

Secondly, as mentioned in the opening of this article, NK cells’ functions are stronger in women with a stronger purpose in life.

People with a sense of purpose in life tend to be goal-oriented in their daily activities, and this mindset contributes to longevity.

People who have a higher purpose in life use preventive health care services more often and are hospitalized less often. People who value life pay more attention to the prevention of disease triggers, care more about health care, and are less likely to do things or act in ways that harm their health. Naturally, this worldview leads to healthy outcomes.

Frankl has received honorary doctorates from 29 universities around the world and has published 39 books. His book, “Man’s Search for Meaning,” has sold 9 million copies.

Frankl was imprisoned four times in Nazi concentration camps, but survived. During his experience, he discovered that some of his fellow prisoners were more likely to survive than others.

He believes that “people who feel that life is meaningless and that there is no purpose in life are usually pessimistic and disappointed. Without the belief that life has a purpose to support him, he will soon lose the confidence to live.”

He founded logotherapy (meaning therapy) based on his own experience, which is to help patients understand the meaning of life, change their outlook on life, face reality, and live a positive and optimistic life.

In Greek, “logos” means “meaning.” Logotherapy emphasizes “the meaning of existence” and the “pursuit of such meaning.”

Logotherapy is a psychotherapeutic approach that focuses on guiding people to find and discover the meaning of life, establish clear goals in life, and face or master life with a positive attitude. It is different from psychoanalysis in that it takes a broader perspective and explores life in-depth, and through the diagnosis of life problems, it enables the client to gain meaning in life.

I was once seriously ill and was told I had a critical condition, but at that time I had a firm belief that I had to live and that there were many important things for me to fulfill. With such a simple belief, I survived.

Frankl described his “miserable life” in the concentration camps and how he once forced himself to turn to another topic. Suddenly, he had a vision of giving a speech about the psychology of concentration camps.

He used this method to overcome the harsh environment. He regarded all the suffering he experienced as history, as if he was examining history. This way, all the suffering became the subject of his psychological research.

Therefore, if one can set a more ambitious goal in life, the hardships one suffers and the suffering one endures may become one’s unique life experience and lead to greater brilliance.

Just now we looked at some positive examples, but of course, there are also negative examples.

During the pandemic, many people were forced to take vaccines or risk the loss of their job, education, or freedom of movement. This coercion deprived many people of their free will. From the perspective of meaningful treatment, it is harmful to people’s health, for example suppressing immunity and NK cell function.

Thought determines behavior, behavior determines character, and character determines destiny. Frankl’s favorite quote from German philosopher Nietzsche is “Those who know the ‘why’ of life can endure almost ‘any’ pain.”

Let’s find the meaning of life with our hearts and minds, and gain the true meaning of health.

Spirituality or mentality is not far away from us, but rather has a practical implication in our health, well-being, and quality of our daily life.