Purpose in Life Quiz

What’s your purpose in life?

It’s a daunting question. But your answer may say a lot about your well-being. Studies link a sense of purpose to better physical and mental health. But your purpose isn’t just about you. According to researchers, a true purpose is one that is both personally meaningful and also makes a positive impact on the lives of other people—your family, friends, neighbors, city, country, or even the whole world.

How strong is your sense of purpose? To find out—and discover steps for strengthening it—take this quiz, which is primarily based on the Claremont Purpose Scale developed by psychologists Kendall Bronk, Brian Riches, and Susan Mangan.

Please answer the questions below as honestly as possible; there are no right or wrong answers. The last seven questions are about you, and will be used to explore how purpose relates to factors like age and gender. Individual responses to this quiz are anonymous and will not be shared.

When you're done, you'll get your score, learn more about the benefits of purpose, and find resources for identifying and cultivating your own life goals.

Any responses submitted here will never be shared with any organization outside the Greater Good Science Center under any circumstances, ever. All responses are anonymized and only used in aggregate for evaluation purposes.

Take The Quiz

1. I am usually
I am usually:
2. Most of what I do seems trivial and unimportant to me
Most of what I do seems trivial and unimportant to me.
3. I know how I can use my talents to make a meaningful contribution to the larger world
I know how I can use my talents to make a meaningful contribution to the larger world.
4. How well do you understand what gives your life meaning?
How well do you understand what gives your life meaning?
5. How confident are you that you have discovered a satisfying purpose for your life?
How confident are you that you have discovered a satisfying purpose for your life?
6. How clearly do you understand what it is that makes your life feel worthwhile?
How clearly do you understand what it is that makes your life feel worthwhile?
7. How much effort are you putting into making your goals a reality?
How much effort are you putting into making your goals a reality?
8. How excited are you about carrying out the plans that you set for yourself?
How excited are you about carrying out the plans that you set for yourself?
9. What portion of your daily activities move you closer to your long-term aims?
What portion of your daily activities move you closer to your long-term aims?
10. How often do you learn something new so that you can help others?
How often do you learn something new so that you can help others?
11. How often do you hope to leave the world better than you found it?
How often do you hope to leave the world better than you found it?
12. How often do you hope that the work that you do positively influences others?
How often do you hope that the work that you do positively influences others?
13. How often do you volunteer to contribute to the welfare of others?
How often do you volunteer to contribute to the welfare of others?
14. How well can you describe your purpose?
How well can you describe your purpose?
15. What is your age?
What is your age?
16. Please select your ethnic background (if you identify with more than one ethnicity, select the one you identify with the most, or select multiethnic).
Please select your ethnic background (if you identify with more than one ethnicity, select the one you identify with the most, or select multiethnic).
17. In terms of your gender identity, do you see yourself as:
In terms of your gender identity, do you see yourself as:
18. What describes your highest level of education?
What describes your highest level of education?
19. Which best describes the neighborhood in which you live?
Which best describes the neighborhood in which you live?
20. Which category best describes your work?
Which category best describes your work?
21. How would you describe your political views?
How would you describe your political views?

Source:

Adapted mainly from the Claremont Purpose Scale, with a question from the Purpose in Life Test and a question from the Life Engagement Test.

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