Why Purpose?

WhyPurpose?

When individuals identify and commit to a purpose, they lead happier and more fullfilling lives.

When youth identify a purpose they make better life choices and avoid many of life’s challenges such as depression, crushing anxiety, substance abuse and suicide.

For too many young people today, apathy and anxiety have become the dominant moods, and disengagement or even cynicism has replaced the natural hopefulness of youth.

Professor Bill Damon, Director of the Stanford Center on Adolescence

HOW TO HELP

Purpose Changes Everything

Purpose is grounding. A commitment to purpose creates an emotional steadiness that our youth greatly need. Study after study has proven the pervasive impact that purpose has on our well-being.

purpose

Inspire. Learn. Contribute. Transform.

"Purpose endows a person with joy in good times and resilience in hard times, and this holds true all throughout life."

Professor Bill Damon,Director of the Stanford Center on Adolescence

Purpose’s Many Benefits

Emotional Benefits

Less anxiety and depression. More happiness, hope and life satisfaction.

Mental Benefits

Increased resilience, perseverance, cognitive health and engagement at school/work.

Physical Benefits

Less substance abuse and heart disease. Better sleep and increased longevity

How do we help our youth discover purpose?

There are many ways to discover purpose. After extensive study and testing, Discovering My Purpose has developed a curriculum to help youth discover their purpose through classroom study.

  • We invite students to get to know themselves.

    Self-discovery includes studying the brain, how it is both our protector and – at times – our greatest challenge. How we think wires our brains, for good or bad. Strategies on how to break the negative self-talk cycle are worked on throughout the program.

  • We help students develop self-control.

    We harness the power of mindfulness practices, training our brain, growth mindset, intrinsic motivation and independent self-esteem. Together these help ground participants. Without self-control it is hard for youth to achieve their goals.

  • We encourage students to dream big.

    Purpose lives at the intersection of what we love to do, what we are good at and what the world needs. By understanding their strengths and how they have thrived in the past, youth build their vision for the future on this foundation.

  • We help them turn dreams into success.

    Participants come to understand the power of goals and how to build out kaizen (incremental) action to move themselves forward. By the end of the program, students have a plan in place and an understanding of how to seek support so that they can make their vision happen.

STUDENT FEEDBACK

73% of Discovering My Purpose grads said that they found the program to be “highly relevant” in helping them create a life of purpose

BECOME A DMP TEACHER

How You Can Help

Thanks so much for your interest in supporting this important work. Here are the ways that you can make a difference.

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