Throughout history, our sources of purpose have shifted.

First, our purpose was simply to survive.

Then we built families and embraced religion.

A young man leans against a colorful wall

People hang out at The Bricks Ybor on Sunday, September 2, 2018. Chris Zuppa/The Penny Hoarder

But now, we increasingly look to our jobs as a source of meaning.

And who could blame us?

Its really that simple.

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Most employment is conditional.

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But in most cases, theyre not finding it.

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Those opportunities are few and far between.

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He warns against putting too much emphasis on one element.

Well-being is more about life evaluation, he says.

Here are a few.

Cultivate Meaningful Relationships

Social well-being is something Americans struggle with.

And he isnt referring to romantic relationships.

This spans the gamut.

Friendships, families and partnerships are all areas we need to actively cultivate a more meaningful connection.

Social well-being is not about a number of friends you have.

Its about the quality of friends you have, he says.

So the next time youre socializing, think twice about immediately responding when your phone buzzes.

I promise, the notification will be there later.

Cleaning up beaches helped him find a greater sense of community.

And suddenly his world was a little bigger.

The boring days at work didnt mean so much.

But sometimes its hard to find time to volunteer.

To combat your scheduling woes, Dvorak proposes double dipping, i.e.

combining multiple aspects of well-being into one activity.

So dont just volunteer alone.

Join a Professional Group

Smith makes a clear distinction between your job and your work.

Jobs are temporary, he says.

Even if youre lucky enough to have the same one for 40 years, its still temporary.

But your work is a greater cause.

It allows him to pursue the creative side of advertising, and it sharpened his videography and photography skills.

Theres also the hugely important social aspect of professional organizations.

They actually increase the human capacities mentioned above.

And writing, especially about your own experiences and life, can help you find a sense of meaning.

That can allow you to project your story out into the future.

Ive been on both ends of the spectrum.

By the time I put my laptop down, its bedtime.

Neither example is a good place to be consistently.

As long as you have enough to eat and a roof over your head, theres hope.

Similar to writing about your life story, this mindset can help bring a bigger perspective to your life.

Why do we have jobs?

We have jobs so that we can make money and pay the rent and eat, Smith says.

Unhitch… your self-esteem from your job.

Practice Mindfulness

Research shows that mindfulness has several benefits.

Sometimes those benefits are exaggerated.

But Smith warns against self-destructive perceptions of mindfulness.

Even monks who take a vow of silence for decades have a connection to a monastery, he says.

That path to enlightenment is oftentimes connected to a larger religious organization.

These are merely examples of activities to increase your chances of overall well-being.

So get creative and come up with activities of your own that fit your schedule.

Theres not a certain amount of boxes to check on your road to purpose.

People can take many different paths, Smith says.

The important thing is youre really listening to your life… listening and responding to it.

Adam Hardy is an editorial assistant on the Make Money team at The Penny Hoarder.

He lives off a diet of stale puns and iced coffee.

Read hisfull bio here, or say hi on Twitter@hardyjournalism.

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