Core to our mission is helping our audience and community reach their full potential and the most important part of reaching your full potential is starting to find your purpose. Below, we’ve shared stories and insights from the community around how various folks found their purpose and we hope it helps you in your journey.
Shelby Rouse
My journey to discovering my purpose as a mental health therapist has been shaped by personal experience and a deep commitment to helping others. Having struggled with anxiety and OCD from a young age, I have personally witnessed the transformative impact that therapy can have in developing coping strategies and resilience. Additionally, the loss of several loved ones to mental health challenges has further fueled my passion for supporting individuals in crisis. Preventing others from experiencing the devastation of suicide and helping families navigate mental health struggles is not only important to me, but serves as a guiding force in my work. Read more>>
Tammy Adams
My purpose has remained the same throughout my many lifetimes on Earth: to guide others toward their life’s purpose and help them align with their true potential. This journey began early, as I grew up with the ability to speak with God, Angels, and people who had passed away. While this gift has always been a blessing, it wasn’t always easy. Read more>>
Jackie Murphy-kahn
Finding Purpose: My Journey of Art, Nature, and Connection
I’ve always been a dreamer, a “head in the clouds” and “off the beaten path” type. From as early as I can remember, I felt like an outsider in the popular culture of my time. Each day, I left my house for school wearing a metaphorical mask —just enough to blend in and avoid being picked for my “otherness.” Whenever I let my true self show—my love for art, for nature, for wanting to emotionally connect deeply with others—it made me a target. Individuality and sensitivity weren’t considered “cool.” Read more>>
Danielle Mihai
Finding my purpose in wedding planning with Of Elegance, Weddings & Events has been a journey shaped by my experiences in large-scale event management. Coming from a background as an Executive Assistant and Operations Manager, I was no stranger to the complexities of orchestrating events. After years of working on large scale events, I helped manage thousands of people and seamless operations for massive crowds. Over time, I found that my true passion was in intimate and personalized weddings. Transitioning from overseeing monumental productions to focusing on weddings of 50-250 guests, I realized that my skill set in managing large events—attention to detail, time management, and coordination—perfectly complemented the wedding planning process. Read more>>
Judith Diaz
I found my purpose through a profound healing journey, emerging from a background marked by trauma. As I ventured into the depths of my experiences, I learned to close the chapters that no longer served me, embracing the lessons they imparted. This process of healing my inner child transformed my perspective on the world; I began to see not just the pain, but also the beauty and potential for growth in every moment. With each step forward, I discovered a seed of resilience blooming within me, equipped with the tools to help others navigate their own struggles. My purpose crystallized in the realization that I could break generational cycles of toxicity, not only for myself but for my family as well. This journey taught me that we all deserve healing and that, through this transformation, we can become a better version of ourselves—one filled with hope, dreams, and a renewed sense of purpose. It’s a powerful gift, one that no one else can provide but ourselves, through healing and a connection to something greater. Read more>>
Tracy Campbell
Although I have a day job as a clinical research coordinator that I love, my purpose and passion is doing Reiki and teaching others how to work with the Universal Life Force Energy. How did a find that purpose? A psychic told me to do it— yeah for real, a psychic. Several years ago, my coworker and I went to a metaphysical shop to get readings, just for fun. We weren’t really looking for any guidance. One of the things Mary, the psychic, asked me was if I had ever had Reiki done on me. My answer, “Nope, I’ve never heard of it.” Mary suggested I research it and get a session. She said I was a great healer in the past and would be one again. Out of curiosity, I turned to the internet and read about Reiki. My first thoughts “Well that sounds like a crock of shit!” I couldn’t wrap my head around energy work. However, Mary’s main takeaway for my reading was to get a Reiki session because she really thought it would benefit me. Read more>>
Trei Post
Simply put: it took 35 years and a huge gamble to discover my purpose.
I’ve always had ambitions, and sought out challenges, even as a young adult. I’ve often found myself in leadership roles, and believed I would eventually become an FBI special agent. The hiring process is quite long, and when I didn’t receive an offer, I had to wait a full year before reapplying. This was very humbling, as I didn’t have a backup plan and felt incredibly unsure what direction to go next. I looked internally, and realized the positions and jobs where I helped people, were typically the ones I enjoyed more. Merely an observation back then, it finally clicked when I began my tattooing journey and understood the impact this art form can have. Read more>>
Chenet Lumene
My entire life, beginning as a teenager-I was trying to find out who I am and whom God has called me to be. Growing up, was never easy, trying to discover my purpose in a world that is lost. In everything I do, I was never able to fit in. Until I was able to enter the house of God, when God found me- I was broken, lost and torn apart. I was torn apart between who I am and who I wanted to be. The day I accepted Christ, that’s when I began to understand who I needed to become and what I truly desire for my life. I discovered my purpose in the most broken part of my life, which was from being homeless and deserted. That’s when I began to understand that everything a person goes through is never in vain, but for a purpose. With that brokenness, I understand my true calling. I, now, became a voice-for the voiceless. Read more>>
Karis Shaffer
After being laid off just before the pandemic, I took a significant step back to reassess my career path. I took two years off, during which I realized that working for someone else wasn’t what I wanted anymore. I needed something that truly resonated with my heart. Just as I was about to start applying for new jobs, my family and I took a little getaway to Jamaica. I planned the entire trip—flights, resorts, transfers, and even travel insurance. That experience was a turning point for me. It wasn’t just a vacation; it was a spark that ignited my passion for trip planning. I returned home with a clear vision and immediately looked into what it would take to start my own business. By September 2022, I launched Karismatic Adventures. Read more>>
Jiannuo Hu
My purpose found me, in a way, through my journey with my dog, Mece. When I first brought her home, I was captivated by her adorable appearance, but as time passed, I realized she was so much more than just cute—she was a personality. Mece had preferences, quirks, and moods that revealed her unique character. She could be feisty, opinionated, and affectionate all at once, teaching me that dogs, like people, have layers of individuality that deserve to be celebrated. Read more>>
Jennifer Somkovic
My purpose came from my two children as well as myself . I wanted to become the best I can be and that started with loving myself . My children have gave me so much to help their lives to be the best life they can live and have them be so happy for their future and explore and travel more now ! Read more>>
Joseph Estil And Anneth Pablo
Finding our purpose with Snaptrend Photo Booth was less of a single “aha” moment and more of a journey shaped by meaningful experiences and a passion for connection. We’ve always believed in the power of shared moments—those fleeting seconds of laughter, love, and joy that bring people closer together. Read more>>
Jen Wohl
I’ve always been passionate about children having a voice. Voices that should be the loudest are often the most silenced. Early in my career, I started litigating child neglect and abuse cases for the Administration of Children Services in New York in the Bronx. There, I saw innocent children being displaced due of the heinous actions of others and it solidified for me that child advocacy was my calling. Read more>>
Yuichiro Okamoto
I’ve been feeling loveMichael Jackson when i was a young age, and I’ve been dancing for as long as I can remember, and I always wanted to be a dancer.And then I found my purpose when I was 21 years old.Actually I lost my dancer friend in 2021. His final words before he left this world were, “Please continue to be a dancer who can make people happy.”
I felt that I had to spend my whole life making those words come true.And I became convinced there that I wanted to spend my life as a dancer.
So my goal from now on is to become an artist’s tour dancer and excite people, making their lives more colorful.
And my biggest goal in life is to be a backup dancer for Janet Jackson. Read more>>
Cyan Lin
I have always loved art. Even today, I still believe that art is the pursuit I must follow for my entire life. On this journey, I move forward step by step, setting small goals along the way. I am very fortunate that my parents have always supported my passion for drawing. As a child, I was influenced by Japanese animation and comics. I enjoyed doodling in my textbooks, drawing the characters I liked. At first, I only sketched simple clothing shapes, but gradually I challenged myself to draw people. Later, I entered my ideal school and chose printmaking and illustration as my undergraduate and graduate majors. Each step was an accumulation of experience, moving me closer to my goal. During my studies in illustration, I realized that I particularly enjoy graphic expression. I also love drawing female figures with Eastern elements, as it feels like I can communicate my understanding of art from my own perspective. Read more>>
Sally Ebeling
At 17, my life changed dramatically when I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and underwent a total thyroidectomy. The medical advice was simple: ‘Take a daily pill and you’ll be fine.’ But I wasn’t. I experienced a rollercoaster of debilitating symptoms, from fatigue and anxiety to brain fog and emotional instability. Doctors, relying solely on blood tests within ‘normal’ ranges, often dismissed my concerns. Read more>>
Gianna Picard
I found my purpose through the guidance of the Lord our Savior Jesus Christ. He gave me a heart for trying to make change in the world by trying my very best every day to live and love others similar to how He would. Since I was a little girl, I always enjoyed helping. Whether that was helping my mother clean the house or voluntarily taking visits to the local nursing home to visit with my 93 year old great grandmother. Truly, my purpose has been wiggling inside me from such a young age and as I’ve grown older I’ve discovered different ways to continue serving others and the community, trying my very best to help those around me succeed and be seen and heard. Read more>>
Matthew Rigby
“Purpose” is something that I have thought about a lot, especially now when I find myself in a transition period of my life. Throughout my childhood it was an intangible life goal that I thought was pretty obvious–I would go to college, become a doctor, have kids, and basically repeat the adulthood of my parents.
I did go to college and studied the sciences, but that’s where that childhood vision of purpose ended. Read more>>
Maria Bryan
I love this question because my purpose has evolved so much over the years. I wonder if it will all tie together in some greater way at the end of my life.
My vocational purpose is to support storytellers in gathering and telling painful, traumatic stories in a way that promotes safety and wellness while resisting harm.
When I first learned about trauma-informed storytelling, I realized with a great deal of urgency that nonprofit storytellers are tasked with holding space for really painful stories—and they likely don’t have the toolbox to do this safely. I know very few nonprofit marketers who also have an MSW. This urgency has evolved into a movement to normalize trauma-informed storytelling practices. My purpose is to train as many storytellers as possible to safely gather and tell our most sacred stories. Read more>>
Taylor Lanore
I find that my purpose is changing all of the time. My career path started in the hard sciences when I worked as an archaeologist for Manpower in San Diego during my college years, which I expected to become my lifelong purpose. Shortly after, I felt pulled to NYC and moved there on a whim without ever visiting first. I applied to be a personal assistant for a private jeweler in Brooklyn called MOCIUN, and this is where I got my start in fine jewelry, specifically engagement ring design and diamond consulting. My purpose at that point felt more like a journey in understanding my power as I made my way working for some of the most successful engagement ring design companies in NYC over the course of the following 7 years. By the way, 99% of the jobs I got during this time were because I sent a cold email with a personalized introduction and my resume attached, so never be too shy to try that route! You’d be surprised at how few people do, thus making you stand out. Anyhow around this time, I finally took a moment to look around and acknowledge that my purpose was becoming clearer, but I assure you, it wasn’t a linear journey or found through traditional channels. Read more>>
Amanda Voss
Finding my purpose for founding Yavapai Exploration and Science (YES!) was a journey deeply rooted in both my professional experiences and personal aspirations. After spending 15 years in the classroom, holding roles from teacher to principal, I had the privilege of working with children of various ages and seeing firsthand the incredible potential they bring to learning. However, over the years, I witnessed a shift in the educational landscape that left me concerned. Read more>>
Paul Rimple
I found my “purpose” in my father’s stack of National Geographic magazines, in his jazz record collection and in my mother’s support of my life choices, as difficult as that may have been for her (I haven’t lived in the US since 1996). My parents provided me with the tools and blessings to follow my dreams and for that I am eternally grateful. I can’t imagine living any other kind of life. Read more>>
Adam Malone
As someone with a disability, particularly a debilitating physical disability like Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, there are challenges that I and so many others in the disability community face. I feel that my purpose in life is to do what I can to advocate and spread awareness about the challenges we face to make the world a better place for everyone. Without raising awareness about how awesome our community is and how we are able to live life despite our challenges, nothing can progress for our community. We pursue relationships, careers, and so much more despite the disabilities we face. Read more>>
Iliana Campos
I came to this country because I fell in love, got married, and my husband was already living here. Together, we decided that this country offered the best opportunity for a brighter future. Shortly after our wedding, I moved here, and we began my immigration process. I hadn’t fully anticipated the emotional and practical challenges of starting a new life in a different country, but I was determined to do things the right way. Read more>>
Ashley Rocha
Finding your purpose begins with taking the time for deep self-reflection. Life is busy and that chaos can really get in the way of finding clarity. It’s about creating the space to discover what truly excites you, while also being willing to let go of things that no longer bring you joy, even if they’re working or serving a purpose at that current moment. Read more>>
Marshall Bennett
I found my purpose through faith and guidance from God. Becoming a member of New Day Church in Oak Forest was a turning point for me. It helped me gain clarity and truly understand the importance of serving others and building something meaningful.
The community at New Day Church inspired me to take a step back and evaluate what I was doing with my life. I realized that my purpose wasn’t just about working hard but about using my skills to make a difference in people’s lives. That realization led me to take a leap of faith and start Air Marshall LLC—a business rooted in integrity, family values, and service. Read more>>
Amanda Farris
Finding my purpose has been about connecting deeply with the world around me and striving to make a positive impact. I believe that small gestures, like a simple smile, can start a chain reaction of kindness and positivity. This idea is at the heart of LinkUnite, where we aim to foster an environment filled with support, growth, and creativity. We want our organization to be a place where positivity flows freely from every member and leader. Read more>>
Madi Balman
I always knew I wanted to be creative in some capacity, allowing myself to be happy in my job, but the hard part of finding my purpose was how to become purposeful. I used to be so confused on how creative and strategy skills like mine would change lives, so the idea of living a purposeful life was beyond me.
My desire has always been to help people with my talents – and nowadays that looks like helping businesses build their brands. I have helped many businesses who have been screwed over by their previous marketing companies – from redoing their marketing strategy or giving them the files that they need in order to be successful in their marketing campaigns. Read more>>
Marcos Persaud
Discovering My Purpose: The Story of Being Brown and Gay
One part of my identity is clearly visible. The other part is invisible. I am Brown and gay.
Of course, there are many other parts that make up who I am—a man, a millennial, a brother, a friend, a volunteer. But when people describe me, being of South Asian descent and gay are the two characteristics that are often called out. It’s interesting, though: I never lead with these aspects of my identity in interviews or when meeting people. Usually, people figure it out on their own. For me, discovering who I am has been a journey. And through the power of volunteering, I’ve found my purpose. Read more>>
Will Wilson
The term, art, comes with a lot of baggage. Looking at all of art throughout history and the weight that comes with it can be sometimes daunting. Every drawing, painting, or sculpture is measured against history and the contemporary perspective of what art is in our collective society. When making “art”, the monolith of that history and expectation often sits heavy on the shoulders of the artist. In researching art history, I discovered that the definition of “art” has changed over time and the purpose of making art has changed. The artists in the Dada movement were literally trying to create in ways that defied or destroyed their contemporary version of the baggage laden term. Read more>>
Vanessa Champagne
I found my purpose through something that has always brought me joy—sharing my baked goods and cooking with others. Food has a unique way of connecting people; it’s universal, comforting, and healing to the soul.
One moment in particular truly solidified my purpose. At one of my markets, I had a customer try my Biscoff cookie. As she took her first bite, I noticed a wave of emotion come over her face. Her eyes welled up, and she shared that the cookie reminded her of pinwheel cookies she and her grandmother used to bake together when she was young. She explained that she hadn’t thought about those memories in a long time, and she thanked me with such sincerity that I found myself getting choked up as well. We shared a hug, and in that moment, I understood something profound—baking isn’t just about the food itself; it’s about the memories, the connections, and the joy it can bring to others. Read more>>
Ann Baker
I believe that some lives are defined by a single, unwavering purpose, while others are guided by multiple callings, each unfolding in its own time. I find myself among the latter. Throughout my life, I have felt the pull of purpose in many forms: from cheering on teams and leading debate groups, to raising three sons, improving supply chains for businesses, loving and supporting my husband, embarking on a journey of self-healing, and now, building a platform to become a voice for Mast Cell Disease and chronic illness as a whole. Each chapter has been a testament to the evolving nature of purpose and the profound ways it shapes us. Life has a way of leading us to these purposes if we pay attention. I pay attention. Read more>>
Austin Zentz
I found my purpose through prayer and meditation. In 2021 I was diagnosed with Lymphoma, my doctors couldn’t believe I was still alive because the cancer had progressed so much. I spent 6 months of my life in the hospital and many months after slowly recovering. I had many days of prayer and meditation, God spoke to me in those hours and helped me put my life in perspective.
I couldn’t leave my children without a father and I knew in this moment that if I survived and beat the disease that I need to put aside things that didn’t provide value in my life and in others.
Career goals and worries about many other “important things” went out the window.
My wife and kids, music and other creative pursuits had always been where I found joy, and I wanted my life to focus on those things. Read more>>
Tey Saunders
I’m a strong believer that finding your purpose is an ongoing endeavor. Throughout life so far, I’ve worn many hats, some of which fit better than others. In this current moment, as I develop my artistic practice, I am leaning into authenticity and being seen fully for who I am while honoring those who came before me and made this possible. I’ve experienced a lot of situations where I had to compromise parts of myself to be acknowledged by people who weren’t really interested in seeing me for who I am. As I continue to navigate life and find my chosen family, I am reminded of my purpose. To be who I am regardless of what others think. To make work that speaks from my heart and hold space for my community. Those who truly care for me and love me will have no issue seeing me for who I am while also affirming me in the process. Read more>>
Mark Henes
I believe my purpose as an artist began with music. I started playing guitar at six years old and singing shortly after. Music became an inseparable part of me, and over the years, I developed an instinct for memorizing lyrics, learning songs, and expressing myself through melodies. It was never just about playing an instrument or singing—it was a deeper connection to the emotions and stories music could convey. Read more>>
Jane Jaskevich
The creation of Art completes my identify. The physical creation of my sculpture gives me purpose outside of myself. The arts have always called my name. I was the one in the 3rd grade that always got chosen to do the class art projects. It was a given that I would get a degree in art. I don’t think I necessarily found my purpose but that I was born with it. Perhaps the reason I was able to be successful was because I never questioned it or put the heavy burden on my shoulders that I had to be famous. I just knew it was the direction I would go. I would play it out and see where it took me. Read more>>
Dolly Herron
My purpose was a lifetime in the making. I went to college to be a journalist, then ended up with early childhood and elementary education degrees. In my 20’s, I went to a school to get on the substitute list and was hired on the spot to teach students with learning differences in a resource/pull-out setting. Eventually I was hired to help establish and teach in a school for students with dyslexia and other language-based differences. It was a long and winding road, but I found my purpose one child at a time. Helping children with obstacles see that they also have gifts is priceless. Helping families get educated about their children’s educational rights and advocating for them is the most rewarding job imaginable. This is why Aspire Educational Consulting and Advocacy was created. Read more>>
Loretta Saha
I found my travel purpose through a combination of personal exploration, cultural curiosity, and a desire to make a difference. Traveling started as a personal journey—an escape, an opportunity to see the world, and a way to learn about myself. Over time, I realized it was more than just an escape; it was a calling. I began to notice how history, culture, and shared experiences could bring people together, especially within the Black community. I was struck by the lack of representation and opportunities for travelers like me to connect with our roots, celebrate our heritage, and learn about the profound influence of Black people around the world. Read more>>
