Not knowing why you are going wherever it is that you are going sounds silly, but so often folks live life without thinking about their purpose. We believe that thinking about your purpose and trying to identify what it might be is one of the most impactful things you can do to level up your life, career, and general level of happiness and fulfillment. Having a sense of what your why is will help you become a better decision maker which inevitably will improve your life. Below, you’ll find some interesting discussions, stories and perspectives around find your purpose.

Elizabeth Raley

I started out in this business just as a photographer, but when I became the owner of the business I saw that there was a true need for it in the world. My purpose became clearer and clearer over the years so that I was able to finally fine tune everything to one of my goals last year. My goal – have true elopement weddings with zero guests. This is what most of our couples wanted and like them, I was afraid to say no to guests. Read More>>

Jamee Natella

My purpose found me through storytelling, travel, and a deep passion for cultural education. As someone who has traveled the world with my son, Sam I saw firsthand how transformative it is for children to experience different cultures not just through travel, but through stories that ignite curiosity and connection. Read More>>

Rebecca (monty) Montgomery

In high school, I joined the yearbook staff because I enjoyed writing. However, growing up in a small, flat Texas town, I also enjoyed looking at travel magazines and often daydreamed about seeing vast deserts and towering mountains in person. When I realized the yearbook staff also needed a photographer, I asked for a camera for my birthday. I had no idea how to use it; a manual 35mm SLR. But I was immediately hooked. Read More>>

Rahul Suresh

when you keep doing something, even when there are days you don’t feel like doing it. That’s when you feel the purpose. To me cinematography and directing became my purpose by doing it, with repetition, error, pain and struggle. the craft started to be more for me. Read More>>

Lauren Barnett

I was always writing, even when I was very young. Because we couldn’t afford daycare, my mother would bring me back to work with her after shcool and have me sit out of the way while she did the last two hours of work. I would always end up on her old typewriter. The company had switched to computers but had the typewriter there in case something went wrong. I was always on it writing something. Read More>>

Mike Tuffour Amirikah

I believe my purpose was found through a combination of personal experience, exposure to healthcare disparities, and an unwavering desire to make a difference. I witnessed firsthand, growing up in rural Ghana, how the lack of access to quality healthcare could mean the difference between life and death. One of my earliest and most impactful memories was the weekly trips to a local health center, where a close relative was receiving palliative care for end-stage cancer. Unfortunately, due to the limited medical resources available, we lost our loved one, an experience that left a deep imprint on me and fueled my passion for medicine. Read More>>

Corey Hendrickson

I am not entirely confident that I have, but after 2o years I have learned to enjoy the search. When am I out in the world making work, photographing or filming, and I let myself zoom way out… It can feel ridiculous and trivial. I seem to be looking down and seeing a guy making a photograph of a tree, or whatever, and without a doubt the world does not need for me to be doing THAT. I have to put those thoughts and voices on mute, exhale and try to remain only in the current moment, doing the best work that I can in that place. Read More>>

Gene Wright

During my first year at the University of Georgia in 1982, I was bogged down in the courses that were chosen for me to fulfill required courses for a degree in Business. I was bored and confused and didn’t really understand the objectives of these courses. This lead me to rethink my major, rethink my future, and to be curious about other options. Read More>>

Patty Tacuri

My purpose is storytelling . I found my purpose unintentionally in the summer of 2021 when I was diagnosed at 40 with Borderline Personality Disorder. Going against the advice of my therapist, I went ahead googled my new diagnosis and found that 1) BPD is if not the most, one of the most painful mental health disorder someone can have 2) People with BPD are often seen as these manipulative monsters who can’t sustain healthy relationships Read More>>

Cree Lawrence

When I graduated from college, I did what everyone told me to do and I took a job with a small marketing agency. Honestly, I was not happy. I quickly realized that sitting in an office and getting people to buy things and writing blogs about SEO was not my purpose. The best part of my day was going to the yoga studio in the evening and teaching or taking a class. It was the highlight of nearly all my days. I love teaching yoga and fitness because I get to help people connect to their breath, body, spirit and emotions. Read More>>

Damon Allen

For me, purpose has been something I’ve discovered over time through experience, passion, and service. I’ve always enjoyed sharing knowledge, mentoring, and building communities—whether through my work at UGA, my travel business, my entertainment company, or Electric Bike Group Athens. Each of these pursuits has a common thread: bringing people together, improving lives, and making a meaningful impact. Read More>>

Anne Van

Your purpose isn’t something that simply appears one day; it’s something shaped by experiences, people, and the choices you make along the way. For me, finding my purpose was a journey filled with ups and downs, unexpected opportunities, and moments of doubt. It wasn’t a single event or achievement that defined my path—it was the people I met, the challenges I overcame, and the passion I discovered for helping others. Read More>>

Gutter Princess

Finding purpose has always felt fluid to me – something I metabolize rather than define. My experiences, struggles and observations gave me pathways for growth, and through that, I found purpose in music. Music is where I process life – it’s never really just been about making songs. Sound became my way of digesting emotions, making sense of fleeting moments, and grounding myself in something tangible.  Read More>>

Stephanie Lembke

I’ve been in the cannabis industry in Wisconsin for about six years now, and in many ways, I just fell into it. One evening, while out to dinner with my family, I noticed a CBD dispensary displaying a marijuana leaf in its signage. I was shocked—at the time, I didn’t fully understand the distinction between CBD and traditional cannabis products. My son explained it to me, and that conversation sparked my curiosity. Read More>>

Anthony Royster

Reflecting on my journey to finding purpose, I realized it was rooted in my willingness to engage in technology, design, photography, and various art forms without any expectation of payment. I dedicated countless hours to volunteering, learning, and nurturing my curiosity, which led me to create ideas, campaigns, and projects that encompassed all my passions. I was fortunate to have a culturally diverse family being and parents who believed in my pursuits and invested in my exposure to the arts and STEM fields from an early age. Read More>>

Ashley Strong

I don’t believe purpose is a fixed destination or a singular role—being a therapist, a good person, a loyal partner, a yoga enthusiast. Instead, I see it as something that emerges from deep engagement with the world. Purpose isn’t just ‘found’—it’s shaped by experience, curiosity, and reflection and is a life-long quest. Read More>>

Charlie Dickie

I found my purpose through becoming sober. Sobriety is the most important thing in my life today. It makes me who I am. It has showed me how to be a good person, and what my primary purpose is in this world. Sobriety has shown me the importance of being of service to others in this world. Whether that’s sharing my story on how I got sober, or simply holding the door open for another person. Life is all about love and selflessness. Without my sobriety, I wouldn’t have anything that I have today. Read More>>

Kristina Rudzinskaya

For me, it wasn’t about waiting for a grand “aha” moment – it was about following the things that truly mattered to me, listening to my intuition, and allowing my work to evolve naturally.

When I look back at my life, I can see that everything I’ve done paved my way to Etalon – even though it didn’t seem that way at the time. For years, it felt like I was just exploring a bunch of different interests that had nothing in common. But now, I can clearly see the common themes that kept showing up: Read More>>

Rhonda Farrah Ma, Drwa

My purpose, as a LIFEstyle Empowerment Alchemist, unfolded as I was experiencing and expressing the good and that not so good stuff all of my life

Yes… I have overcome a lot of challenges in my life! Whether it was incarceration…Breast cancer…living through three divorces and failed relationships…Totally messed up finances… As well as the not so good feelings and emotions that accompanied all of those… My work here in our world is not done! Read More>>

Lisa Merida-paytes

Disease humbles all of us. Most of us are lucky and aren’t confronted with disease until later in life. But, disease can strike at anytime and age. Some diseases are curable but for those of us who are struck with and living with any debilitating, untreatable disease it wrecks havoc in our lives. In November 2017, I was diagnosed with an inherited and rare, incurable, progressive brain disease called Spinocerebellar Ataxia 5 (SCA 5). Spinocerebellar Ataxia is a rare form of disease that causes the brain’s cerebellum to atrophy which adversely affects motor skills, tremors, coordination, Read More>>

Nikki Davison

How did I find my purpose? I had to think about this one for a while and realized that my purpose has shifted over the years.
I retired from the United States Air Force on Feb 1, 2020, after 24 years of active service. When I left for Air Force basic training on Jan 3,1996, my purpose was to take care of myself and not have to have my parents take care of me. My purpose shifted many times in those 24 years with three marriages, three children, one career change from medical technician to enlisted recruiter and 11 total moves. Read More>>

Shelli Mullins

My purpose has evolved with the seasons of my life. At one time, my deepest calling was raising my children and homesteading, tending to the land and the rhythms of family life. As my children grew, I felt pulled in a new direction, one that built upon the nurturing and wisdom I had cultivated. Read More>>

Brittany Brooks

The short answer is Jesus. The long answer is that I found it through many trials. I have always been told that who you are is shown the best by how you bounce back from adversity and I have gotten to see that first hand many times in my life. My mom was an excellent example of this. In 2016 my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, in 2017 she went into remission, and in late 2018 it came back in surplus. Sadly in 2019, she gained her wings and left this earth for her eternal home in heaven. Read More>>

Nicola Levine

I always believed my path was set—I was a speech-language pathologist, working with people recovering from acquired brain injuries, helping them regain their cognitive-communication skills. I loved the connection, the problem-solving, and the joy of helping people express themselves. But after stepping away to raise my kids, I began to question if returning to that career was truly what I wanted. Read More>>

Ronnie Jones

There was a time I went mute, silent. I was trying to figure life out. I endured a lot of pain. Physically, Mentally & Spiritually. The only thing that gave me strength was the ability to create. Music has always been a part of me. From age 5 to present. Ive sang on stage when I was 6 & 7, played drums in church bands, played Tuba, Sousaphone, Drums/Percussion from 6th Grade to 12th Grade. Read More>>

Riley Hannon

Purpose is such an odd thing – because while I personally believe we all have purpose, it’s sometimes difficult to feel as though there is one. As an artist, every stroke I make has to have a purpose – it has to involve feeling, emotion, SOMETHING. And I believe on a grander scale, the same is true. We are all some paint strokes on a canvas, making up the painting of the universe. I struggled a lot in the past with my purpose –  Read More>>

Hyun Suk Yang

From a young age, I have been deeply passionate about Korean performing arts and the rich cultural heritage of my country. I pursued this passion academically by earning a degree in Dance Performance and Education from Sejong University. Since then, my mission has been to foster cultural connections and promote awareness by curating and presenting traditional Korean performances. Read More>>

Kayshla Mojica

My purpose in the cosmetology and hairdressing industry has been a lifelong journey that began when I was only eight years old. Learning how to get your nails done and comb your hair ignited a spark of creativity and passion inside that has only grown over the years. This early interest in beauty led me to dream of possibilities that I never imagined when I was a child. Read More>>

Rachel Taggart

I’ve always been a performer and in the performance arts. My father was a television director and producer and my younger brother is an editor. I came back to acting in 2019 and, being in a small market, decided that my next step was to direct and produce. I didn’t know then that this would become my purpose. I love building teams of people, collaborators, to work on a project that I feel passionate about: to encourage their skills and talents which will bring the project to life. Read More>>

Erin Brassard

I found my purpose through healing from my trauma and turning my pain into something meaningful. Fro m the age of 17 to 24 I was raped numerous times. I felt completely broken. For a long time, I coped in ways that weren’t healthy—through alcohol and avoidance—because I didn’t know another way to deal with the pain. But as I slowly started my healing journey, over a decade later, I realized that I wasn’t alone. So many survivors were suffering in silence, carrying shame that was never theirs to hold. Read More>>

Janet Stormes

My purpose evolved from my life experiences and interests. I am dedicated to integrating creativity into all areas of business and life, even those that are not normally viewed as creative fields. From the time I was young, I loved dance and was driven to be a dancer. During my years as a dancer, choreographer, and teacher, I learned skills such as collaboration, curiosity, persistence, resilience, and, of course, creative thinking.  Read More>>

Christian Vanover

Growing up being half African American and half White, I never fully felt at home anywhere. Add being gay in the mix and I’m a big ball of confusion rolling around trying to find where I belong. Ever since I was nine I’ve been a writer. Dreaming up worlds with new people, new lives, new surroundings. Letting stories play out in my head in the way that I see them.  Read More>>

Damian Gruppuso

Finding purpose with what I’m currently doing in life took years of battling with my own self, struggling with mental health and finally overcoming those challenges. I truly found purpose in my life with just simply doing what I love and enjoy. Everyone has their hidden talents and skills. Not everyone is willing to pursue them because they’re scared of failure.  Read More>>

Heather Marie

In 2022 I took a self-improvement course with multi-millionaire Chris Patterson with Live Large Coaching and I can say it truly changed my life. In one of his classes he defined Insanity as a fly constantly hitting the window sill to try to get inside the house, meanwhile 2 feet to left the door was open. I loved this analogy so much, so many of us include myself continue to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result.  Read More>>

Christine O’donnell

I discovered my purpose from a few elements on my souls journey. It first began when I found surfing as a junior in college back in 2011. Once I experienced the healing power of Mother Ocean it was when everything changed. Read More>>

Shanice Sewell

How did I find my purpose? Mmmh. I am still in the discovery of my purpose because I believe that there are many paths to what I’m here to do. But above all I know that I’m here to serve others whether it is in the capacity of a daughter, a sister, a wife a mom, a writer a singer, etc, the list goes on. Read More>>

Whitney Johnson-lessard

Right now I’m a working artist and a professor, and I teach drawing and painting. This gives me feelings of hope and purpose. It’s a powerful thing to share the vision and skills of translating what you observe (light, color, shadows, reflections, distance…) through a material. I remember my first Painting I class so well, and the process of learning how to see color observationally. My everyday life of just looking and noticing changed after this – color was it. I get to see so many “aha!” moments when people realize they have the capacity to draw or paint observationally, and to really just be able to connect their hand to their eye. Read More>>

Cesar Jaramillo

When I was a teenager, I found out that dancing was my passion and my purpose in life. I used to dance without the knowledge of my parents. I was afraid they wouldn’t support me. Read More>>

Miranda Suess

Reflecting on how I arrived at pursuing what I love today, I remember starting my journey in photography at a young age. Around 2005, I received my first point-and-shoot camera and began taking photos of my neighbors and high school friends. I would pose them and style their hair and makeup to help them feel beautiful. During the early 2000s, MySpace was popular, and I uploaded photos to my MySpace page for friends to download and print images I had shot of the kids I babysat. Read More>>

Jean Chapiro

I didn’t find my purpose in a single, revelatory moment. It wasn’t something I woke up knowing or that was handed to me. It was something I kept circling back to, something that kept pulling me in no matter how much I resisted. Read More>>

David Oman

I find my purpose from my writing. I write a lot of blogs, reviews and interviews, which led me to interviewing some singers, content creators and bands. My writing led me to a lot of cool opportunities. Read More>>

Pat Prior Sorrells

My purpose found me! My children had some challenges, which meant that the path that I thought they would take in life had to be abandoned for something very different and, as it turns out very wonderful! I researched resources, volunteered, and supported them so they could succeed in life. During this process, I found that I could do more to help others with similar or more challenging situations. That beginning has enabled me, along with the help of many dedicated people, to provide opportunities for thousands to discover life. Read More>>

Sheila Burmistrova

Finding my purpose wasn’t about having one defining moment—it was about piecing together experiences, values, and lived realities that shaped who I am. As a first-generation immigrant from the Philippines, I’ve always carried with me the deep sense of community, resilience, and hospitality that defines my culture. Filipinos have this innate ability to create warmth and belonging wherever we go, and that’s something I knew I wanted to bring into my work. Read More>>

Angela Hanscom

My work with TimberNook was never MY plan. MY plan was simpler. It was to be an occupational therapist for children. Then I would stay home with my children and return to the clinic setting when they reached school age. Read More>>