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| Finding purpose and meaning in life |
Finding purpose and meaning in life
Having a purpose in life gives meaning to a person’s recovery efforts. Twenty-six first-person accounts, eight consumer articles, and all eight qualitative studies described finding meaning or purpose in life as a task of the recovery process.
Mary (1994, p. 45) found that her work giving in-service training to nurses gave her a reason to get out of bed in the morning: ‘. . . sometimes I don’t feel confident. I just have to push myself. I don’t allow myself to give in to that. If you’re working you’re expected to turn up’ (p. 19). Often a person’s previous life-goals are no longer available to them, and they face the task of reassessing their goals in life. As well, the non-availability of previous goals can lead one to reassess one’s values and decide on different goals.
It took several years to realize that I wasn’t going to pick up the pieces and go back to graduate school. I did know what its like to have schizophrenia, though, and was willing to give presentations whenever asked. I wanted to prevent what happened to me from happening to others and started going into the high schools with a friend who has bipolar disorder. (Chovil, 2000, )
However, it must not be assumed by others that a person’s prior goals are no longer attainable, as occurred for Bjorklund (1998):
The treatment team and my family and friends adjusted their expectation accordingly . . . my medical records at age 15 revealed cautiously optimistic recommendations for vocational rehabilitation and assisted living. I was far too young to have the rest of my life predestined by one diagnostic label. The danger in this is illustrated by Frese (2000), who tells how, for a year, he was unable to write a single sentence of his dissertation proposal. Nonetheless, three years later he was awarded his PhD, and became a registered psychologist. Similarly, Deegan (1997), who was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teenager and spent years without hope, successfully attained a doctorate in clinical psychology. Both of these consumer advocates have been working in a professional capacity for decades, although still experiencing symptoms from time to time.
However, paid employment, often used as a measure of functioning, is not the sole provider of meaning. A person may find other ways of expressing their core values. Leete urged that personal growth be facilitated by ‘discovering what makes life valuable and enriching to us as individuals’ (Leete, 1994, cited in Schmook, 1996, ). For example, Fox, while living ‘a simple life, but a good life’, embraces life to the full, and is grateful for ‘my second chance to enjoy my family and pursue my dreams’ (Fox, 2002, p. 365). For others, creative pursuits provide a sense of meaning or purpose (e.g. McQuillin, 1994). Moreover, the work of recovery can be meaningful in itself: ‘I learned that I want to dedicate myself to this recovery process for myself and others . . .’ (Armstrong, 1994, ). Betty (cited in Davidson and Strauss, 1992), who had been about to commence a degree in art before her first psychotic episode, came to value the efforts she had made. Betty was ‘too proud of the work she has had to do in improving to see herself simply as a failure in other, formerly important, areas of her life such as art’ (Davidson and Strauss, 1992, ). The work of recovery can also lead to other meaningful roles. Offering peer support or involvement in advocacy work is frequently mentioned, for example, Alexander (1994), Berman (1994), Chovil (2000), Unzicker (1994) and Weingarten (1994). As Lynch (2000) illustrates, ‘I continued to start new self-help and advocacy organisations, investing my time and energy to help others regain their health. It all seemed so strange, my life’s suffering led to my life’s work’. Koehler (1994) explains, ‘We ourselves are finding surprising depths of compassion and heights of inspiration in helping our peers. Demonstrating solidarity with others’ suffering
redeems our own suffering and turns it to good purpose .
For some, spirituality gives meaning to the struggle. Watson (1994) believes God’s love ensures that ‘. . . our courage will not be wasted or in vain. As we are strengthened by our courage, we shall ultimately emerge victorious to a life richer in joy, peace and love’ (p. 75). Murphy (1998) captures the essence of finding meaning:
An integral part of my recovery has been my search and discovery of meaning for my life. This is a philosophical and psychological issue that goes beyond mere chemical imbalances in the brain. In this search, I have developed a new world view.
These quotes illustrate that, while finding meaning in life is integral to recovery, the source of that meaning can vary greatly between individuals, and possibly over time.
The review of the consumer literature highlighted the commonalities in the experience of recovery in the form of four psychological processes. However, there were also a number of points of disagreement, and these needed to be considered in formulating a definition of recovery that would be universally acceptable.
Having a purpose in life gives meaning to a person’s recovery efforts. Twenty-six first-person accounts, eight consumer articles, and all eight qualitative studies described finding meaning or purpose in life as a task of the recovery process.
Mary (1994, p. 45) found that her work giving in-service training to nurses gave her a reason to get out of bed in the morning: ‘. . . sometimes I don’t feel confident. I just have to push myself. I don’t allow myself to give in to that. If you’re working you’re expected to turn up’ (p. 19). Often a person’s previous life-goals are no longer available to them, and they face the task of reassessing their goals in life. As well, the non-availability of previous goals can lead one to reassess one’s values and decide on different goals.
It took several years to realize that I wasn’t going to pick up the pieces and go back to graduate school. I did know what its like to have schizophrenia, though, and was willing to give presentations whenever asked. I wanted to prevent what happened to me from happening to others and started going into the high schools with a friend who has bipolar disorder. (Chovil, 2000, )
However, it must not be assumed by others that a person’s prior goals are no longer attainable, as occurred for Bjorklund (1998):
The treatment team and my family and friends adjusted their expectation accordingly . . . my medical records at age 15 revealed cautiously optimistic recommendations for vocational rehabilitation and assisted living. I was far too young to have the rest of my life predestined by one diagnostic label. The danger in this is illustrated by Frese (2000), who tells how, for a year, he was unable to write a single sentence of his dissertation proposal. Nonetheless, three years later he was awarded his PhD, and became a registered psychologist. Similarly, Deegan (1997), who was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teenager and spent years without hope, successfully attained a doctorate in clinical psychology. Both of these consumer advocates have been working in a professional capacity for decades, although still experiencing symptoms from time to time.
However, paid employment, often used as a measure of functioning, is not the sole provider of meaning. A person may find other ways of expressing their core values. Leete urged that personal growth be facilitated by ‘discovering what makes life valuable and enriching to us as individuals’ (Leete, 1994, cited in Schmook, 1996, ). For example, Fox, while living ‘a simple life, but a good life’, embraces life to the full, and is grateful for ‘my second chance to enjoy my family and pursue my dreams’ (Fox, 2002, p. 365). For others, creative pursuits provide a sense of meaning or purpose (e.g. McQuillin, 1994). Moreover, the work of recovery can be meaningful in itself: ‘I learned that I want to dedicate myself to this recovery process for myself and others . . .’ (Armstrong, 1994, ). Betty (cited in Davidson and Strauss, 1992), who had been about to commence a degree in art before her first psychotic episode, came to value the efforts she had made. Betty was ‘too proud of the work she has had to do in improving to see herself simply as a failure in other, formerly important, areas of her life such as art’ (Davidson and Strauss, 1992, ). The work of recovery can also lead to other meaningful roles. Offering peer support or involvement in advocacy work is frequently mentioned, for example, Alexander (1994), Berman (1994), Chovil (2000), Unzicker (1994) and Weingarten (1994). As Lynch (2000) illustrates, ‘I continued to start new self-help and advocacy organisations, investing my time and energy to help others regain their health. It all seemed so strange, my life’s suffering led to my life’s work’. Koehler (1994) explains, ‘We ourselves are finding surprising depths of compassion and heights of inspiration in helping our peers. Demonstrating solidarity with others’ suffering
redeems our own suffering and turns it to good purpose .
For some, spirituality gives meaning to the struggle. Watson (1994) believes God’s love ensures that ‘. . . our courage will not be wasted or in vain. As we are strengthened by our courage, we shall ultimately emerge victorious to a life richer in joy, peace and love’ (p. 75). Murphy (1998) captures the essence of finding meaning:
An integral part of my recovery has been my search and discovery of meaning for my life. This is a philosophical and psychological issue that goes beyond mere chemical imbalances in the brain. In this search, I have developed a new world view.
These quotes illustrate that, while finding meaning in life is integral to recovery, the source of that meaning can vary greatly between individuals, and possibly over time.
The review of the consumer literature highlighted the commonalities in the experience of recovery in the form of four psychological processes. However, there were also a number of points of disagreement, and these needed to be considered in formulating a definition of recovery that would be universally acceptable.
