Personal Sense of Meaning and Purpose Survey

Thanks for taking a few minutes to reflect on something big: what gives your life meaning. There are no right answers here — honest, in-the-moment thoughts are most useful. About 5-6 minutes.

Right now, how strong is your overall sense that your life has meaning and purpose?

Which of these best describes the biggest source of meaning in your life right now?

• Relationships (family, partner, friends)
• Work or career achievement
• Personal growth or learning
• Spirituality or faith
• Creativity or self-expression
• Community or helping others
• Health and personal wellbeing

In the last month, how often did you actively stop and think about what gives your life meaning?

• Never
• Rarely (once or twice)
• Sometimes (a few times)
• Often (weekly)
• Daily or almost daily

Rank these areas of life by how much they contribute to your sense of meaning, from most to least.

1. Family and close relationships
2. Career or achievement
3. Personal growth and learning
4. Spirituality or faith
5. Health and wellbeing
6. Community and contribution
7. Leisure and creativity

Thinking about a typical week, how do you actually split your time and energy across these areas? Distribute 100 points to reflect reality, not your ideal.

• Family and relationships
• Career and achievement
• Personal growth and learning
• Health and wellbeing
• Spirituality or faith
• Community and contribution
• Leisure and creativity

How much do you agree with each statement about your life as it is today?

From this list of values, which matters most and which matters least to your personal sense of meaning?

• Family
• Career success
• Freedom and autonomy
• Spiritual connection
• Adventure and new experiences
• Security and stability
• Creativity and self-expression
• Contributing to others

Anchor on the respondent's stated biggest source of meaning and their agreement ratings on the statement battery. Ask them to describe a specific recent moment when that source of meaning felt most real or alive, and, separately, a moment when life felt hollow or off-track. If they ranked a domain low but said they wished it mattered more, probe what's stopping them from investing there. If their answers seem contradictory (e.g., high overall purpose score but low agreement that daily activities align with what matters), gently surface that tension and ask them to reconcile it.

In one sentence, what do you feel you're here to do?

Which best describes your current life stage? (optional)

• Student
• Early career
• Mid career
• Parent of young children
• Established career / empty nest
• Retired
• Prefer not to say

What is your age range? (optional)

• Under 25
• 25-34
• 35-44
• 45-54
• 55-64
• 65 or older
• Prefer not to say

Thank you for sitting with these questions — that takes real reflection. Your responses will be combined anonymously with others to understand how people find and sustain a sense of meaning.