Running Head: SANCTIFICATION OF STRIVING A Higher Purpose: The Sanctification of Strivings.

This study extends empirical research on the intersection between personal strivings and spirituality by applying the concept of sanctification to personal strivings. A randomly selected sample of 150 adults (ages 25-56) was studied. In general, participants perceived their top ten personal goals as being connected to God and as having sacred, transcendent qualities. However, strivings focused on religious or spiritual issues, family relationships, altruistic endeavors, and existential concerns were more likely to be sanctified than other strivings. Greater sanctification of strivings was related to higher levels of psychological investment in strivings, as indicated by by self-reported importance, commitment, longevity, and other attributes of strivings (social support, confidence, internal locus of control) that facilitate their pursuit. Based on a series of five phone call interviews about the previous 48 hours, people invested substantially greater pragmatic resources (time and effort) in their two most highly sanctified strivings relative to their two least sanctified strivings. In addition, the sanctification of strivings was related to a greater sense of life purpose and of meaning and joy derived from the pursuit of striving. However, greater sanctification was not linked to fewer psychological or physical health difficulties