What does that actually mean? Purpose is a driving force in your life that connects you to values and ideals bigger than yourself, says psychologist Chloe Carmichael , PhD, a WH advisor and the author of Nervous Energy . Some prioritize crushing it in their careers. Excellence is a value, “so the drive to be excellent as a professional can be a purpose,” says Carmichael. But purpose can also take other forms—you may be motivated to devote yourself to religion, create art, or advocate for a social cause.