Why we need a goal?
It is not an original question: What gives life meaning? Philosophers, poets and scientists have all tried to answer it, to shine light on what makes life worth the effort. In recent years, psychological research and neuroscience have begun to uncover how meaning affects our brains, our behaviour and our sense of wellbeing. What was found and proven is that having a goal, feeling that desire to achieve something, gives us a reason to wake up in the morning. And it matters so much for our mental health, for a balanced brain function and our ability to flourish.
Meaning is a Psychological Anchor
Having, even a vague, idea of why we are here on this planet is not just a nice to have. Most of the modern theories describe it as a psychological necessity. Viktor Frankl, the Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, proved that the search for meaning is the primary motivational force in humans. In his classic work Man’s Search for Meaning, he shows that those who had some sense of purpose were far more likely to survive extreme hardship. Frankl’s message may seam simple, but it is the answer to many of going through challenging times: meaning helps us endure suffering and motivates us toward life.
Decades of research since have supported his insight. Psychologists have found that people who report a strong sense of meaning in life also show greater resilience to stress, higher life satisfaction and lower rates of depression and anxiety. For example, studies using large-scale surveys have shown that meaning in life is consistently associated with lower psychological distress across different age groups and cultures. In contrast, people who feel their lives lack purpose are more prone to symptoms of depression and a sense of emptiness.
Goal-Oriented Brains
What does neuroscience add to this picture? In simple terms: the brain likes goals.
Modern neuroscience shows that reward-related regions of the brain are deeply involved in motivation and the pursuit of goals. These regions respond not just to immediate pleasures (like good food or social praise), but also to anticipation of meaningful achievements. When we set a goal, these circuits help us plan, focus attention, build habits and sustain effort over time.
A groundbreaking concept in neuroscience is the idea of predictive coding: the brain is essentially a prediction machine. It constantly anticipates future states based on experience, then seeks to minimise surprise or error and goals simply help structure those predictions. When we have something we’re aiming for: an ambition, a project, a skill to master, our brains align motivation, learning and emotional regulation around that future state. In psychological terms, this is way more valuable than simply wanting something; it is a meaningful engagement with the world.
Depression, Meaninglessness & Motivation
One of the most powerful demonstrations of the importance of meaning comes from research on depression. Depression is no longer perceived as feeling sad or having a bad mood. We are aware that it involves drastic changes in motivation, energy and reward processing. Neuroscientific studies show that people with clinical depression often have blunted responses in key brain circuits that signal reward and positive anticipation. In other words, the brain stops responding as strongly to things that used to matter. Later, they may stop wanting anything at all. This is why depression is often experienced not just as sadness, but as a loss of purpose.
Psychologists have found that interventions that help people reconnect with meaningful goals, whether through psychotherapy, behavioural activation or structured life planning, can be powerful parts of recovery. Even in the absence of immediate pleasure, working toward something that matters can increase activity in the neural systems that sustain motivation and mood regulation.
Meaning in Everyday
It’s easy to associate meaning in life with grand achievements: huge career success, major achievements in creative work or doing something with a global impact. But research suggests that meaning can also be found in the ordinary. Relationships, learning new skills, contributing to others, even hobbies and personal rituals can all function as meaningful goals. What matters isn’t the scale of the goal, but the degree to which it resonates with our internal values and sense of identity.
A longitudinal study of adults found that people who regularly engaged in activities they perceived as meaningful, whether volunteer work, nurturing relationships or creative expression, had better mental health outcomes across decades. Purpose wasn’t something achieved once; it was a combination of small steps, a collection of efforts in daily choices.
Balancing Goals with Being Present
Meaning does not require living in a state of constant sprint forward, unrelenting ambition or pushing the bar higher and higher. In fact, part of having a meaningful life is knowing when to redefine goals, rest or let go of pursuits that no longer fit who we are. Neuroscience suggests that the same brain systems involved in reward and motivation are also key to evaluating when a goal is no longer adaptive. This is why people who can reflect on their goals, adjust expectations and recover from setbacks tend to have more sustainable wellbeing.
Mindfulness, self-reflection and periods of quiet are not antithetical to meaning, they are tools that help us align our goals with our evolving selves.
A Life Worth Living
So what’s the takeaway?
Psychological research shows that having a sense of purpose correlates strongly with mental wellbeing and resilience.
Neuroscience reveals that goals shape our brain’s reward and motivational systems, guiding attention and behaviour toward future states.
The absence of meaning is a hallmark of depression and motivational decline. Reconnecting with purpose is often part of healing.
Meaning doesn’t have to be monumental, or important and valuable in the eyes of others. It can emerge from simple everyday life, consistent with our own personal values and engagement.
In the end, meaning isn’t something you find, it’s something you build. It is woven into the goals you choose, the challenges you take on and the relationships you nurture. And as both science and experience show: that’s a pursuit worth having.
