How To Cultivate Purpose In Mental Health Recovery

By Kimberly Nelson and Emma Lovejoy, with Becky Shipkosky

What does purpose mean to you? Honestly, many of us don't think about it much, but it's a big deal (Leonard, Kreitzer, 2024).

The most basic definition of the word is “a reason for existence.” That's why we get up in the morning and keep going when the going gets tough.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) considers purpose one of four key dimensions of mental health recovery. To put this into context, the recovery model of mental health services is the standard paradigm alongside the medical model. Person-centered, patient-centered, and holistic, it helps patients live a full and fulfilling life that is not defined by their diagnosis (Lyons, 2023).

The role of goals in mental health recovery

Along with the other three dimensions of SAMHSA's recovery model – health, home and community – its goals provide the following benefits for mental health recovery patients:

• A platform that goes beyond basic survival thoughts and actions (Jacob, 2015).
• A reason to get up on days when your emotional or mental state requires something different.
• A sense of power and freedom that the patient may not have had before.
• Building blocks to create the structure for the life they want to live.
• Reduction of symptoms of depression and anxiety (Boreham, Schutte, 2023)

Nearly all recovery-based mental health programs include a strong goal-setting component and can help clients set their own goals. But what if you or your loved one doesn't have access to an inpatient, partial hospitalization, or therapist-directed program? How can you start to develop a sense of purpose for yourself or support someone you love in this way?

DIY: Boot Target

It may seem impossible to set goals that may not exist, but there are some proven methods used successfully in recovery programs that you can do at home:

• What kind of work? Start with a list of what worked and what didn't. What needs to change in your life and what do you want to keep?
• Practice mindfulness regularly. Take 10 to 30 minutes each day, or even several days a week, to simply sit and cultivate mindfulness. Use at least some of this time to decide what you want to do today.
• Daily performance. What can you do every day to improve your life? Ideas include: doing crafts or arts and crafts for at least 30 minutes, writing 500 words, playing Legos with your child for at least 45 minutes, talking to one person, laughing three times, washing the dishes or taking a shower No matter where you you find in your process, these everyday things can add up to a greater purpose in no time.
• Dream Interpretation How would you like your life to be in the next three years? Basically it could be: "I want to be happy and stable." Or it can be more detailed and specific: “I want to buy a house and start renovating part of the house for short-term rentals.” When I graduate, I want to "work 20 hours a week at my job and spend 10 hours a week writing novels." Review your dream statement from time to time and revise it if necessary.
• Screws and nuts. Make a list of the steps you need to take. What small goals can help you be happy and increase stability? For example, if you want to buy a house, how do you save for the down payment or mortgage? Break it down into as many small steps as you need and work on them one at a time.
• Join a cause. Some ideas include parks in your neighborhood, literacy programs, church outreach, local political efforts, or community events like a local carnival or holiday parade.

There will always be challenges in life and you may miss your daily writing session or dream statement discussion. Remember, you can always start again tomorrow or next month, because some things are better than nothing!

Support your loved ones in achieving their goals

You may not personally suffer from mental illness, but your child, parent, partner, or loved one does. There are several ways to help them achieve their goals:

• Open question. When your loved one is ready to talk, ask open-ended questions about what they want to do today, in the near future, in the long term. What changes do you want to make in your life? How can they start making these changes?
• He confirms. When your friend or family member talks about what they want, verbally identify the strengths that can help them achieve that goal.
• Active listening. Repeat what you heard. Paraphrasing and interpretation can open up new perspectives, but it is important not to introduce your own ideas. It's important to have a conversation about them and their desires.
• Support their vision. What else can you do to help your loved one realize their vision? You may be able to provide material support such as money or other resources. But it can also be very important to encourage them, help them plan and demonstrate a sense of responsibility. Only faith can change everything for someone.

The process described above borrows heavily from a method called motivational interviewing; You can find out more here.

CLOSED

Many of us don't have a purpose in life, or maybe we do, but a psychological challenge throws us off course and changes everything. When it comes to the basics, like why we get up in the morning, recovery can feel like starting over. The steps outlined here can help you or a loved one restore (or establish for the first time) important aspects of good mental health.

And if you've read this far but don't have any major mental health issues, you might think you can use some of these methods to improve your life too. And you would be right! Much of the work that helps professionals support their clients in mental health intersects with the fundamental philosophy of life coaching. So make sure you develop your goals!

Create a recovery-based mental health system with the Dr. Marco Ragins