When the on button of a computer is pressed, an arrangement of plastic, glass, metal, and silicon is suddenly transformed into one of the most sophisticated machines ever invented, capable of instantly transmitting the near-sum of human knowledge, connecting billions of people in real time, and managing spacecraft on their voyages to the furthest reaches of our solar system.

What the on button does for computers, a clear and activated sense of purpose does for human beings, elevating us to become much more than a collection of genes, cells, tissue, instincts, and inclinations.

Once we discover and actuate our unique purpose, all of our disparate parts and potentials coalesce, transforming us into the most powerful force in creation—an unstoppable engine of creativity, connection, and possibility that is immeasurably more alive and potent than the sum of our individual parts.

Without purpose, we merely exist—like an instrument sitting on a shelf.

But once our Divine purpose is switched on, we become truly and magnificently alive in the fullest sense.

Indeed, a clear sense of purpose dramatically elevates our well-being in every way. Emerging research shows that having purpose in life increases life satisfaction, improves mental and physical health,1 lowers the risk of cognitive decline,2 betters sleep,3 enhances resilience and self-esteem, and decreases chances of anxiety and depression.4 5 6

In fact, a sense of purpose increases the longevity, not just the quality, of our lives.

For example, a meta-analysis of ten studies involving more than 136,000 people found that people with the highest sense of purpose displayed the lowest risk of death (15.2%), while those with the lowest observed sense of purpose died at more than twice the rate of their purpose-driven counterparts (36.5%).7

This might explain why, according to Neil Pasricha, bestselling author of The Happiness Equation: “The two most dangerous years in your life are the year you’re born (because of infant mortality) and the year you retire.”8

The connection between purpose and life expectancy is seen in the pioneering work of Dan Buettner, a National Geographic fellow and longevity researcher who studied regions around the world known as blue zones—unique communities defined by high concentrations of people who have lived for more than one hundred years.

Buettner’s research revealed that a strong sense of purpose was a defining characteristic among those who had lived for more than a century.

The connection between purpose and longevity is not just found in blue zones. A number of additional studies have demonstrated that people with a clear sense of purpose live longer, regardless of where they may live. Incredibly, those who embrace purpose and meaning as a driving force in their daily lives added an average of seven years to their life expectancy.9 That makes living with purpose an even greater contributor to longevity than regular physical exercise, which at best contributes 6.9 years!10

Of course, the benefits of living a life of purpose extend well beyond the confines of self-interest and personal well-being. By actualizing our Divinely endowed purpose, we take our place at the epicenter of a radiating chain of blessings that we were uniquely designed to bestow upon the world.

But finding our unique purpose is a difficult and overwhelming affair in today’s ever-expanding, hyper-connected reality, with mobile technologies putting the world, with all of its problems and possibilities, into our hands at every moment.

As a point of contrast, a weekday edition of The New York Times contains more information about the world than the average person was likely to come across during an entire lifetime in seventeenth-century England.11

The dizzying, exponential proliferation of information and opportunities makes choosing any direction in life daunting, let alone one that is uniquely ours. As our awareness of the world dilates faster than most can keep up with, the question of our individual purpose and contribution can become paralyzing.

The disheartening result of these difficulties can be seen in statistics that show only about a quarter of American adults say they have a clear sense of what makes their lives meaningful, while forty percent say they don’t have a sense of purpose at all.12

The potential consequences of living without a clear sense of purpose are that the person remains aimless and adrift, burdened with numbness, emptiness, regret, and unfulfilled potential.

This brings us to the most critical question of our time: In a world beset by distraction and inundated with countless causes, how do we discover our own unique purpose?

Helping you find answers to that question is the objective of this book, which draws on the living wisdom, teachings, and example of one of the greatest spiritual leaders and teachers of our time.

R. Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory (1902-1994), known universally as the Rebbe, spent a lifetime guiding countless people toward their purpose in life, mobilizing everyone he encountered to share their unique light with the world. He saw every human being as a soul on a mission from on high to bring hope and healing to the world, and he helped all he met see themselves as such.

The Rebbe’s philosophy on purpose is predicated upon several core spiritual principles from Jewish tradition that compose the basis of our search for purpose, summarized in the foundational axiom:

The day you were born is the day G‑d decided that the world cannot exist without you.

Indeed, Jewish mysticism teaches13 that before your soul descended to earth, you were appointed to cultivate, elevate, illuminate, and transform a specific portion of this world into a welcoming home for the Divine. Your part of this precious mission is one of a kind, crafted by G‑d for you—and you alone—to contribute to history, humanity, and the world.

As pioneering Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl summarized in Man’s Search for Meaning:

“Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated.”14

This perspective, in turn, imparts every life with monumental significance, and can be summarized in the Rebbe’s life-changing teaching that birth is G‑d’s way of saying you matter.15

Put simply: You don’t matter because you exist. You exist because you matter.

Drawing from hundreds of the Rebbe’s letters, talks, lessons, and encounters with people from all walks of life, this book was crafted with the aim of helping you discover why and how you matter, and what to do about it.

The first section, Perspectives on Purpose, addresses some of life’s most urgent, essential, and existential questions:

Do I have an essence? Does my life have intrinsic value and meaning?

In a vast world made up of billions of people, do I truly matter?

Am I here for a reason?

If so, how do I discover my purpose in life?

The second section, Purpose in Practice, offers practical wisdom and a set of empowering tips, tools, and guidelines to help you discover where your unique purpose lies.

Based on the premise that every element in your life is Divinely appointed and orchestrated, from your inner makeup to the people, places, circumstances, and events you encounter in life—this section offers a bespoke toolkit for the monumental task of discerning and activating your unique Divine design and purpose in creation.

The third section, Reflections on Purpose, aims to help you crystallize and concretize the focus and locus of your journey toward personal meaning and purpose.

This section offers profound spiritual and psychological insights into the benefits of living with purpose, coupled with a variety of time-tested practices to help you design a life of intentionality and purpose.

Ultimately, it is our hope that the wisdom presented in this book helps you ignite, internalize, and actualize your blessed mission in life so you can reap the ever-unfolding joy and benefits of living with and on purpose.

Mendel Kalmenson

Rosh Chodesh Kislev I 5785

London