Purpose-In-Life Test

Dr. Melanie Cabrera Image

By DR. MELANIE CABRERA

The Purpose in Life Test (PIL)

Write the number (1 to 5) next to each statement that is most true for you right now.

Items  

Rate each item from 1 to 7  

1. I am usually: 

1—-2—-3—-4—-5—-6—-7

bored                   enthusiastic   

2. Life seems to me: 

completely routine; 

always exciting.

3. In life I have: 

no goals or aims;  

clear goals and aims.

4. My personal existence is: 

utterly meaningless, without purpose 

purposeful and meaningful.

5. Every day is: 

exactly the same; 

constantly new and different.

6. If I could choose, I would: 

prefer to never have been born; 

want 9 more lives just like this one.

7. After retiring, I would: 

loaf completely the rest of my life 

do some of the exciting things I’ve always wanted to

8. In achieving life goals I’ve: 

made no progress whatever 

progressed to complete fulfillment

9. My life is: 

empty, filled only with despair 

running over with exciting things 

10. If I should die today, I’d feel that my life has been: 

completely worthless 

very worthwhile

11. In thinking of my life, I: 

often wonder why I exist 

always see reasons for being here

12. As I view the world in relation to my life, the world: 

completely confuses me 

fits meaningfully with my life

13. I am a: 

very irresponsible person 

very responsible person 

14. Concerning freedom to choose, I believe humans are: 

completely bound by limitations of heredity and environment 

totally free to make all life choices

15. With regard to death, I am: 

unprepared and frightened 

prepared and unafraid 

16. Regarding suicide, I have: 

thought of it seriously as a way out 

never given it a second thought

17. I regard my ability to find a purpose or mission in life as: 

practically none 

very great

18. My life is: 

out of my hands and controlled by external factors 

in my hands and I’m in control of it 

19. Facing my daily tasks is: 

a painful and boring experience 

a source of pleasure and satisfaction 

20. I have discovered: 

no mission or purpose in life 

a satisfying life purpose

 

 Scoring: Add up all the scores for each item (20-100). A score of less than 50 may indicate that you are experiencing significant “existential concerns” in your life.*