Mapping to Meaning: Aligning Your Life with Your Mission, Aspiration, and Purpose

Viktor Frankl was a man who had every reason to give up. A psychiatrist and neurologist, he was imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps for three years, losing his parents, brother, and pregnant wife. Everything familiar—his work, his home, even the manuscript he had spent years writing—was stripped away. But Frankl discovered something powerful in the midst of unimaginable suffering: those who found meaning, even in pain, had a reason to survive. He later wrote Man’s Search for Meaning, showing that meaning is not just a luxury—it’s a survival tool.

What does this have to do with your health journey? Everything.

Many people approach their well-being with a fix it mindset. They focus on what’s wrong—illness, stress, fatigue—rather than what matters most to them. The traditional healthcare system is built around solving problems: treating symptoms, prescribing medications, and diagnosing disease. While these are critical, they don’t tell the full story of what makes a person thrive.

Whole health coaching offers a different approach: Instead of asking, “What’s the matter with you?” we ask, “What matters to you?” The answer to that question comes from your MAP—your Mission, Aspiration, and Purpose. It’s what gets you out of bed in the morning. It’s the thing that makes prioritizing health feel worth it.

But what if you don’t know your MAP?

It’s Okay to Not Have It All Figured Out

If you’ve ever felt lost in your health journey, you’re not alone. Many people struggle to articulate what gives their life meaning and purpose. That’s because some cultures tend to push external markers of success—weight loss, productivity, high achievement—over deeper fulfillment.

But here’s the good news: You don’t need to have a grand life purpose to benefit from whole health coaching. Meaning isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about asking the right questions.

Instead of focusing on what you should do for your health, start by reflecting on:

• What activities make you feel most alive?

• Who are the people or causes that matter most to you?

• What small moments bring you the greatest joy?

Maybe it’s hiking with your dog, volunteering at an animal shelter, or feeling strong enough to play with your kids. Whatever it is, that’s your seed of meaning—the foundation for a whole health approach.

Meaning isn’t just about what you do; it’s about why you do it.

Why Meaning Matters in Your Health Journey

Research shows that a strong sense of meaning and purpose is a great predictor of overall well-being. People with a clear sense of meaning and purpose:
✔ Experience lower levels of stress and anxiety
✔ Are more resilient when facing challenges
✔ Make healthier lifestyle choices
✔ Report greater overall happiness

But let’s make this practical.

Imagine two people trying to build an exercise routine:

• Person A wants to lose weight because they feel pressured by social standards.

• Person B wants to stay active because they love hiking and dreams of climbing Machu Picchu one day.

Who do you think will stick with it longer?

Person A is focused on fixing something they perceive as a problem, while Person B is connected to a deeper aspiration. When we tie health goals to something personally meaningful, motivation shifts from something we have to do to something we want to do.

This is why whole health coaching works: It connects wellness to what truly matters to you—not what society tells you should matter.

How to Apply Meaning to Your MAP

Once you identify what’s meaningful to you, the next step is aligning it with your daily choices. This is where the MAP framework—Mission, Aspiration, and Purpose—comes in.

Think of your MAP like a GPS for your well-being.

Mission: Your overarching “why.”

✅ Example: “I want to live a long, healthy life so I can take care of my grandchildren.”

Aspiration: Your long-term vision.

✅ Example: “I aspire to hike the Grand Canyon when I turn 60.”

Purpose: Your larger life ambitions that shape your goals.

✅ Example: “I will walk 30 minutes each day and focus on strength training to keep my body strong.”

When you focus on your MAP, your health journey stops feeling like a chore and starts feeling like an adventure. You’re not just checking off boxes—you’re building a life that reflects what truly matters to you.

Whole Health Coaching: Mapping to the MAP

Whole health coaching isn’t about prescribing one-size-fits-all solutions. It’s about helping you uncover your unique MAP and making sustainable changes based on what gives your life meaning.

• Instead of forcing yourself into a restrictive diet, you might focus on eating foods that make you feel energized and strong.

• Instead of exercising to shrink your body, you might move in ways that bring you joy—dancing, yoga, swimming.

• Instead of seeing stress management as just another “to-do,” you might frame it as a way to protect your energy for the things you love.

The shift from fixing to aligning is powerful. You’re not just trying to avoid disease—you’re creating a life that feels deeply fulfilling.

Final Thoughts: Find Your Why and Let It Guide You

Viktor Frankl’s story reminds us that meaning is the fuel that keeps us going, even in the hardest moments.

Instead of asking, “What’s wrong with me?” start asking, “What matters most to me?”

That’s the foundation of whole health. That’s how you map to the MAP.

Would you like help clarifying your MAP? A whole health coach can help you uncover what matters most and create a sustainable path forward. You don’t have to figure it out alone—start your journey today!

Are you ready to stop chasing quick fixes and start building a life that truly reflects what matters to you? Let’s map your MAP together.

REFERENCES

1. Bushkin H, et al. Searching for Meaning in Chaos: Viktor Frankl's Story. Eur J Psychol. 2021;17(3):233-242.

2. Boyle PA, et al. Purpose in life is associated with mortality among community-dwelling  older persons. Psychosom Med. 2009;71(5):574-579.

3. Mitchell AM, Christian LM. Repetitive negative thinking, meaning in life, and serum cytokine levels in pregnant women: varying associations by socioeconomic status. J Behav Med. 2019;42(5):960-972.

4. Ryff, C. D., & Singer, B. (1998). The role of purpose in life and personal growth in positive human health. In P. T. P. Wong & P. S. Fry (Eds.), The human quest for meaning: A handbook of psychological research and clinical applications (pp. 213–235). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.