Find Purpose Using Science! the Humanist Hour Interview With Dr. Gleb Tsipursky

Columbus, USA, July 27, 2015 (Newswire.com) - ​​Can science really help people understand the purpose of their lives and teach them how to live a meaningful life? The Humanist Hour (http://thehumanist.com/multimedia/podcast/the-humanist-hour-138-intentional-insights-with-gleb-tsipursky-phd) conducted an interview on this topic with Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, the author of Find Your Purpose Using Science. Dr. Tsipursky is a tenure-track professor at Ohio State University. As a historian of science, he researches the intersection of history, psychology, and cognitive neuroscience, focusing on meaning and purpose, decision-making, emotions, and agency. He is also a science popularizer, a best-selling author, and president of the nonprofit organization Intentional Insights (www.intentionalinsights.org). His workbook combines an engaging narrative, stories from people’s lives, and research-informed exercises designed to help people cultivate a rich sense of meaning and purpose.

The interview with Dr. Tsipursky focused on whether science really can answer life’s big questions, such as “why am I here” and “what is the purpose of life for me?” These questions, as Dr. Tsipursky describes, have become answerable due to a recent wave of research in psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and medicine.

The findings reveal three science-informed strategies for finding purpose and living a meaningful life. The first set of strategies stems from the work of Victor Frankl, a Viennese psychiatrist who lived through the Holocaust concentration camps. In his research and work, both in the camps and afterward in private practice, he found that, in order for individuals to survive and thrive, it is crucial for each to self-reflect on their sense of purpose and meaning in life. The second set of strategies stems from studies showing that people have a greater sense meaning and purpose in life when they are part of a community and have strong social bonds. The third comes from extensive research that demonstrates how opportunities to serve others, whether in civic, charitable, private, or professional settings, results in a stronger sense of purpose and meaning in life. This sense of purpose, in turn, leads to better mental and physical well-being.

The workbook describes these strategies in much greater depth, with a free book version available at the Intentional Insights website, a nonprofit devoted to inspiring people to refine and reach their goals. This nonprofit provides research-based content to help improve thinking, feeling, and behavior patterns. Intentional Insights also offers free online classes, videotaped workshops, blogs, and other content on meaning and purpose, as well as in a variety of other topics.

Watch the interview and read the book to learn more about the three scientific strategies that can help people find their purpose!