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Meet The Dynamic Duo That Will Change Everything About Your Encore

03/01/2026

Part #1 in a 3-part series Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

At-a-Glance

When women ask why intention and purpose, community and connection, and cognitive wellness and mental health form the foundation of Beyond The Glass Slipper™, the answer is mostly rooted in research. These three pillars, when woven together with the wisdom we have accumulated over time, become protective factors that support longevity, brain health, and life satisfaction.

This is the first in a three-part series exploring the pillars of your Encore. Today, we focus on purpose and intention, and how finding yours may be more rewarding than you think.

What Research Says About Purpose

What so many women already know intuitively is that how we age matters less than how we engage with life as we age. Engagement matters. Having a purpose provides motivation and can elevate that engagement in meaningful ways.

The Positive Effects of Purpose:

  1. A strong sense of purpose is associated with a 15 percent reduction in the risk of death from all causes. This impact is comparable to well-known health behaviors such as eating a Mediterranean-style diet and maintaining a regular exercise routine.
  2. Those reporting a strong sense of purpose had significantly lower mortality rates, regardless of income, education level, or existing health conditions. This study, conducted over four years with 7,000 adults aged 50 and older, was published in JAMA Network Open.
  3. Individuals with a greater sense of purpose were also more than twice as likely to remain free of Alzheimer’s disease, even in cases where physical signs of brain pathology were present. Overall, those with purpose experienced slower rates of cognitive decline. This research from Rush University Medical Center especially resonated with me. Having worked with many patients with dementia and being a primary caregiver for my father, who lived with this disease for nearly seven years, these findings truly warmed my heart.

Based on the research and my personal experience, it made perfect sense that purpose had to be one-half of Pillar #1.

Your purpose in life does not need to be grandiose or dramatic. If you understand that having a purpose can make a difference, here are some things you may want to think about:

  • You are never too old to do something you truly desire. Time has not passed you by.
  • Whatever it is, it is for you. It is not meant to impress or please others.
  • It should be accessible, realistic, and sustainable, however you personally define those terms.
  • And yes, it can absolutely be a reinvention, if that excites you.

Purpose will look different for each of us. The range is wide and far too extensive to list.

The important thing is to notice how you feel when an idea keeps returning. Does your body respond with energy or resistance? Does the thought of having this in your life feel expansive, or does it feel heavy?

Many women can point to an event or moment that opened their eyes. An “a-ha” moment that stopped you in your tracks. Did it feel comfortable or provide clarity? A quiet but definite yes response. That is exactly what happened to me.

At 66, I experienced what I would call a major life change, one that required a quick pivot. It was heartbreaking and left me questioning how best to deal with the situation, heal, and move on.

In addition to therapy, I spent time researching, reflecting, and looking inward. I discovered new things about myself and gained insights into relationships that I was previously unaware of.

Recalling what I had learned years ago from ancient philosophy about wisdom was helpful. It is something we all possess. I paused to listen to myself, and through that process, my purpose came to me.

The realization that I was not alone surfaced. Women everywhere are navigating similar experiences as they age. There was a need to be filled, and I was ready. I felt called to build a community of like-minded women seeking genuine connection.

This journey continues to bring meaning to my life. Waking up with purpose has changed everything for me, including my sense of contentment and happiness.

There are moments, and sometimes entire days, when I think, “At 67, what the hell am I doing?”

And then I remember that my purpose enriches everything that is already wonderful in my life.

I could be golfing or spending more time with my grandchildren. I do enjoy the rounds of golf I get in, and I am often on the sidelines cheering my grandchildren on at their sporting events. I am always present when they need me. And, in the spaces in between, I have a fulfilling purpose.

Enter Intention

Intention supports cognitive health. It engages the brain regions responsible for attention, working memory, and executive function. This kind of engagement matters. It keeps us from drifting through life on autopilot.

The Positive Effects of Intention:

  • Intention provides stimulation. When you decide to be present or choose how to spend your time, you activate areas of the brain responsible for focus and decision-making. These same areas help regulate emotion, reducing the likelihood that your thoughts will spiral.
  • Intention replaces rumination with direction. Negative thoughts tend to loop without resolution. Intention introduces movement. Even a small choice, such as taking a walk, calling a friend, or focusing fully on one task, gives the mind somewhere to go.
  • Intention creates a sense of ownership. Many negative thoughts are fueled by a sense of feeling out of control. Intention restores the sense that you have a say in how you live your life, which can reduce stress and emotional heaviness.

Intention does not eliminate negative thoughts entirely. It simply keeps them from taking over.

The Dynamic Duo

When purpose and intention align, the brain enhances connectivity, reduces cortisol, and boosts dopamine. This fuels motivation and supports focus, emotional regulation, resilience, and even physical benefits such as better sleep and heart health.

I think you agree that purpose and intention are perfect together.

Give-It-A-Thought Journal Prompts

  • What idea or activity keeps coming back to my mind? What do I notice in my body when I imagine giving it more space in my life?
  • When was the last time I carried out a task with intention rather than on autopilot? What did I notice or learn from that experience?
  • Have I ever had a strong sense of purpose in my life, in the past or more recently? What was my purpose, and how did it make me feel? Is it something I would welcome back into my life now?

Coming Up in This Series: Pillar #2: Community & Connection and Pillar #3: Mental Health & Cognitive Wellness

Stay curious! See you next week, my friend,

Cindy

A Voice for Women in Their Encore.

If this resonated with you, stay a little longer. Listen to a podcast, explore the Encore Brain Center, try a Brain Spark, join the conversation, and share with a friend who may need it too!

References:

15% reduction in mortality risk / comparable to diet and exercise / 7,000 adults over 4 years: Alimujiang, A., et al. (2019). Association Between Life Purpose and Mortality Among US Adults Older Than 50 Years. JAMA Network Open.

Twice as likely to remain free of Alzheimer’s disease / slower cognitive decline — Rush University Medical Center: Boyle, P. A., et al. (2012). Effect of Purpose in Life on the Relation Between Alzheimer’s Disease Pathologic Changes on Cognitive Function in Advanced Age. Archives of Neurology.