Meaning: Having a Reason to Get Up in the Morning
- Claire
- Jun 3
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 4
This article is part of our series exploring the pillars that help people flourish. Our approach draws on the PERMA model developed by Professor Martin Seligman, a leading psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania and former President of the American Psychological Association.
Introduction
When people think about support at home, conversations often focus on practical needs. Has Mum had lunch? Is Dad taking his medication? Is the house safe?
These questions matter, but there is another question that can be just as important:
"What gives this person a reason to get up in the morning?"
This question sits at the heart of one of the most powerful elements of wellbeing: Meaning. Within Martin Seligman's PERMA model, Meaning refers to feeling connected to something bigger than ourselves. It is the sense that our lives matter, that we have purpose, and that our experiences have value.
For many older people, maintaining a sense of meaning can become more challenging following retirement, bereavement, declining health, or changes in independence. Yet research consistently shows that purpose remains one of the strongest contributors to wellbeing throughout later life.
At Thrive Homecare, we believe support should not simply help people stay safe. It should help people continue living a life that feels worthwhile, fulfilling and uniquely their own.
What Do We Mean by Meaning?
Meaning looks different for everyone.
For one person, meaning may come from family and helping to shape younger generations.
For another, it may come from faith, community involvement, creativity, learning or supporting a cause they care about.
Psychologist Martin Seligman identified meaning as one of the five core elements required for flourishing. He argued that people experience greater wellbeing when they feel connected to something beyond themselves.
Importantly, meaning is not dependent on age.
The things that gave someone's life purpose at 40 may continue to matter at 80. Equally, new sources of meaning can emerge later in life.
A grandmother who once found meaning through her career may now find purpose in sharing stories with her grandchildren. Someone who can no longer volunteer physically may still derive meaning from mentoring others or contributing wisdom gained through experience.
Why Meaning Matters More Than We Sometimes Realise
Meaning influences far more than mood.
Research suggests that people with a strong sense of purpose often experience:
Higher life satisfaction
Greater resilience during difficult times
Better emotional wellbeing
Lower levels of depression
Improved physical health outcomes
Stronger social connections
Purpose can act as an anchor during periods of uncertainty.
When someone experiences illness, bereavement or changing circumstances, a sense of meaning can help them navigate those challenges with greater resilience.
This does not mean difficult experiences become easy. Rather, purpose provides a reason to keep moving forward despite them.
The Challenge of Maintaining Meaning in Later Life
Later life can bring many changes.
Retirement may remove a role that shaped someone's identity for decades.
Children may move away.
Friends and partners may pass away.
Health conditions can make previous hobbies more difficult.
Gradually, opportunities to contribute and feel needed can begin to shrink.
Sometimes families focus so heavily on keeping a person physically safe that opportunities for purpose are unintentionally lost.
For example:
A former gardener may stop spending time outdoors.
A passionate cook may no longer be involved in meal preparation.
A lifelong teacher may have fewer opportunities to share their knowledge.
A community volunteer may lose contact with groups they once supported.
While these changes may appear small, they can have a significant impact on wellbeing.
How Thrive Supports Meaning
At Thrive Homecare, we believe wellbeing begins with understanding who someone is, not simply what support they need.
This is why we place such importance on getting to know each person's story.
What matters to them?
What are they proud of?
What has brought them joy throughout their life?
What would they still like to achieve?
Our Health & Wellbeing Associates look beyond tasks and routines to understand the person behind them.
Sometimes supporting meaning involves helping someone reconnect with a lifelong passion.
Sometimes it means facilitating a visit to a place that holds special memories.
Sometimes it means simply taking time to listen to stories that deserve to be heard.
Often, the smallest conversations create the greatest sense of purpose.
A Real Example
This case study featuring Geoffrey highlights the importance of staying connected to what matters most. Geoffrey's love of books is more than a hobby, it provides him with a gateway to history, the natural world and the thrill of discovery. Geoffrey has always had a thirst for learning, particularly about the natural world and he finds a great deal of meaning in being able to continue learning and understanding the world around him. We support Geoffrey by helping him have access to and choosing his books whilst also facilitating conversations around what he has read.
Supporting Meaning as a Family
Families can play an important role in nurturing meaning.
Simple ideas include:
Asking about life experiences and achievements
Encouraging storytelling and reminiscence
Looking through photographs together
Involving older relatives in family decisions
Seeking their advice and perspective
Supporting hobbies and interests
Helping maintain community connections
One of the most powerful things we can do is remind people that they still have value, wisdom and contributions to make.
Living Life In Colour
Meaning is not something we leave behind as we grow older.
In many ways, later life offers an opportunity to reflect on a lifetime of experiences, relationships and accomplishments while continuing to discover new sources of purpose. Because when people have a reason to get up in the morning, they are not simply existing. They are continuing to live life in colour.
Explore the rest of the PERMA(H) pillars:
If you would like to learn more about our companionship, visiting care, live-in care or dementia support services, contact us today for a no obligation chat.
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