Work & Purpose
I am just now realizing how much of my identity was tied to work. When first got the call 1 week after getting out of the hospital, I was not very happy. Initially it felt like I was written off without anyone ever talking to me. No one ever asked what were my plans even if they weren’t going to take them into consideration. I gave 35 years to a company that just decided I wasn’t worth anything anymore. The more I thought about it, I realized I was more upset because my identity was tied into the job. I now had to discover what was now my purpose. What do I value.
After a stroke, many survivors realize how much of their identity was tied to their work. Losing the ability to work, or feeling “written off” by an employer, can be deeply upsetting—not just because of the job itself, but because it challenges one’s sense of value and belonging.
When work is lost or changed after a stroke, survivors are often faced with the need to discover new sources of purpose and meaning. This process can be difficult but is crucial for emotional recovery. This search for new meaning helps survivors move forward and adapt to their new reality.
Having a sense of purpose—whether it’s returning to work, engaging in meaningful activities, or contributing to family and community—can be a powerful motivator during rehabilitation. Purpose gives survivors a reason to persist with challenging therapies and daily routines, even when progress feels slow.
Purposeful activity, whether paid work, volunteering, or hobbies, supports mental health and overall well-being. It helps combat feelings of isolation, depression, and loss that are common after a stroke.
Work and purpose are central to stroke rehabilitation because they shape identity, provide motivation, and support emotional and psychological healing. Rediscovering or redefining purpose after a stroke is a key part of rebuilding a fulfilling life.
Ways to Rediscover Purpose After a Stroke
1. Reflect on Values and Identity
After a stroke, many survivors realize how much of their identity was tied to work or previous roles. The process of rediscovering purpose often starts with asking, “What is now my purpose? What do I value?” This self-reflection helps survivors move forward and adapt to their new reality.
2. Engage in Meaningful Activities
Purposeful activity—whether paid work, volunteering, or hobbies—supports mental health and well-being. Engaging in activities that bring joy or a sense of accomplishment can help combat feelings of isolation and loss.
3. Contribute to Family and Community
Finding ways to contribute, even in small ways, to family or community can provide a sense of belonging and motivation. This might include helping with household tasks, supporting others, or participating in community events.
4. Set Small, Achievable Goals
Recovery is not just physical, but also about rebuilding confidence and independence. Setting small, achievable goals—like mastering a new skill or completing a daily routine—can help survivors feel progress and regain agency in life.
5. Connect with Others
Relationships often reorganize around new needs and strengths after a stroke. Building or rebuilding connections with family, friends, and support groups can foster a sense of purpose and help prevent isolation.
6. Explore New Interests
A stroke may limit some activities, but it can also be an opportunity to explore new interests or hobbies that fit current abilities. This could be creative pursuits, learning, or gentle physical activities.
7. Seek Support and Guidance
Joining support groups, working with therapists, or seeking counseling can help survivors and care partners navigate the emotional and practical challenges of recovery, and discover new sources of meaning. Rediscovering purpose after a stroke involves self-reflection, engaging in meaningful activities, connecting with others, and setting achievable goals. It’s a gradual process that supports emotional healing and helps rebuild a fulfilling life.
Here Are Some Examples of Meaningful Activities After a Stroke
1. Volunteering: Helping others in your community, such as volunteering at local organizations, schools, or support groups, can provide a sense of accomplishment and connection.
2. Hobbies and Creative Pursuits: Engaging in hobbies—like painting, gardening, music, crafts, or writing—can bring joy and a sense of achievement. Exploring new interests that fit your current abilities is encouraged.
3. Physical Activities: Participating in gentle exercise, such as walking, stretching, or group fitness classes designed for stroke survivors, supports both physical and mental well-being.
4. Learning and Personal Growth: Taking up new learning opportunities, such as online courses, reading, or attending workshops, can stimulate the mind and foster a sense of progress.
5. Family and Household Contributions: Helping with household tasks, supporting family members, or caring for pets can restore a sense of usefulness and belonging.
6. Support and Peer Groups: Joining stroke survivor or caregiver support groups—either in person or online—offers social connection, shared experiences, and emotional support.
7. Setting and Achieving Small Goals: Working toward small, achievable goals—like mastering a new skill, completing a daily routine, or gradually increasing independence—can provide daily motivation and a sense of accomplishment.
Meaningful activities after a stroke can include volunteering, hobbies, gentle exercise, learning, helping at home, joining support groups, and setting small goals. These activities help rebuild confidence, foster connection, and support emotional healing.
Conclusion
Instead of being ashamed of failure we must acknowledge it, accept it, learn from it and in some cases celebrate it. This is how we pave a pathway to success. This blog forms an integral part of my rehabilitation and recovery process. My way forward because the more I reflect, I realize, something we all have in common: Every ending brings a new beginning; we all experience a Life After.