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.
Billye Brenneisen
Oh man, what a big question! This is a tricky one to answer, there are so many layers and an ever moving target. Up front, I’d say trial and error. As a young adult I took a wild stab in the dark and followed what I knew best – what was the closest to what I wanted even though I knew in my heart it wasn’t what I *actually* wanted. Having studied classical piano for nearly 10 years, enjoying choir classes in middle and high school and always having a love and affinity for music, I went to a prestigious music school in Boston. Read more>>
Arlen Schumer
My “big break” after graduating from Rhode Island School of Design with a degree in Graphic Design was getting to work for one of my childhood idols, the legendary comic book artist Neal Adams (1941-2022) at his New York City agency/studio. If you had told me when I was a kid artist idolizing him (like a whole number of my generation), that I would one day be working for him as a pencil artist (with him inking me!), I would have had an adolescent heart attack! Read more>>
David Heckenberg
By listening to my heart and trusting my intuition, even when it doesn’t logically make sense. If something lifts me up then I feel like that’s the universe’s way of saying that particular path is ok to embark on, and if it drags me down then I believe the universe is telling me to pivot and go a different way. Read more>>
Ricardo Breceda
My profound purpose as a self-taught metal artist and what propelled my art into a small business came from the deep love I have for my daughters. The desire to provide for them fueled my determination. It all unfolded as a labor of love, to create a Tyrannosaurus rex for my oldest daughter, Lianna Arroyo. At the time she had a fascination with “Jurassic Park” the movie. I don’t believe it was my best work, but she fell in love with it. As well as other people who saw the 15ft T-rex welded together out of sheet metal. Read more>>
D Robertson
My purpose emerged from a deeply personal journey, beginning with witnessing my family members’ struggles with HIV. These experiences were not just about their challenges; they highlighted the broader impact of the disease on individuals and communities, especially within the African American community. Read more>>
Alexes Haggins
I found my purpose because of the sense of peace it brings me. I knew I was walking in my purpose when there was always a open door, or a way to accomplish the things I was assigned to do, which was healing people with my hands and my creativity through my flowers all while continuing to be a blessing to people, lending a hand, helping and connecting them to resources as my father once did before me. Read more>>
IÑAKI VOLANTE
I have always found my purpose in learning first and then sharing my knowledge and experience with others. This extends to various domains: obviously in architecture, which is my profession and passion, but also in art, which I consider the highest expression of human spirituality. Additionally, in music, as I believe life would have no meaning without it. Read more>>
Annie Wang
I found my purpose while growing up living in five different U.S. states before starting college. While in Illinois, I plugged my nose at the toxic smell from a local pig factory that clouded my elementary school playground. Living in Arkansas, I saw the silos of runoff from the Tyson chicken factory 15 minutes from my house. Ironically, the rural towns where I got to school by walking through fields of crops were the towns where I saw neighbors struggle the most with unstable access to nutritious and responsibly grown food. Read more>>
Sara Sniderman
As a mom of three beautiful daughters, I realize how fast our children grow and change. It might be the silly little looks they give each other or the way they dance whenever they hear their favorite song, but these little nuances capture a child’s personality and their family’s connection. I want my pictures to allow you to look back for years to come and, even for a moment, remember what it feels like to be in this season of your family’s life. Read more>>
Tennah Watters
After receiving a diagnosis of fibromyalgia and experiencing severe, chronic pain that traditional pharmaceuticals could not solve, I decided to blend my culinary expertise with my knowledge of cannabis. My goal was to develop an affordable solution that would alleviate the ongoing stress and discomfort associated with fibromyalgia, not only for myself but for those that can’t afford the uprising costs of cannabis products. Read more>>
Vincent James
It’s an interesting story actually. One day back in May 2014, I felt compelled to listen to a teleseminar on “how everyone has a book inside them they need to write”. Honestly, I never thought I would be an author….I’d spent decades splitting my time and brain between my engineering day job which paid the bills and a wide assortment of musical activities which was my true passion. Read more>>
Niamh Zwagerman
I found my purpose through a lot of trial and error! I’ve had many different jobs throughout my life, but the common theme has been service. I am fulfilled when I am being of service. As a wedding planner, I have the opportunity to be of service every moment and to hopefully relieve stress and overwhelm for others, and to bring them back to the joy they felt upon getting engaged! Read more>>
Jodi Riley
I found purpose through nonprofit work in my early twenties. Other than a few part-time jobs as a teenager, my entire career has been focused on the nonprofit sector. I think it really shaped me as a person, and now it is a key part of my identity. I stood side-by-side with people in dire situations and helped to propel them forward through innovative problem-solving and building trusting relationships. Read more>>
Lana Montalban
I’m a risk taker. At 18, I left home for the unknown and spent 2 years travelling – hitchhiking to be precise – through Europe, mostly by myself. At 24, I left home again after an opportunity to do a job in New York for one week, but I decided to stay and opened up a world of new opportunities by sheer willpower, and the willingness to devour the world in front of me. Read more>>
Emily George
I love being a School Social Worker. I love teaching about social work. I love talking about social work with fellow social workers and MSW students. I love the multi-systemic, anti-oppressive, social justice, holistic lens with which we view people and the world. Social work is my purpose. Arriving at this place of understanding has been a lifelong journey. As a child, when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I couldn’t pick just one career. I wanted to be a teacher, a Fly Girl, a therapist, a rock star, a movie soundtrack creator. Read more>>
Briana Thomas
My 8 year old son is my purpose honestly. Working as a server for different restaurants over 5 years made me realize I need to do something different to get a different outcome for me and my son. Starting my entrepreneur journey has been the best decision I’ve made with my Career path. Coming to the realization that I want to be different from most women like me. I love taking the underdog route with things stepping outside the box. But most definitely I would say my son is my purpose and he keeps me going ! Read more>>
Jake Somnath
Finding your purpose is an important journey in everyone’s life. Some people never get to find it at all so to all those who have found theirs should count their lucky stripes. It was hard for me to find my purpose. I always had a feeling I was meant to do something big but I never knew what exactly that looked like. Slowly but surely God put little bread crumbs in my life and I would follow them nibbling along the way. Read more>>
Vanessa Drews
For the longest time, I’ve heard quietly in my mind, “bakery, bakery”. This small voice always reminds me that I’ve come so far in my baking journey, and if I just keep going – this voice will become a reality. I have been in business full time – after leaving my nearly 20 year legal career – for five years, and a bakery is what I’ve created, literally from scratch. I feel as though my purpose is doing all I can do in my power to make my children, mother, loved ones and friends proud of me going after and achieving my goals. Read more>>
Christine Marecki
I started creating art and even designing products at a very young age, it’s always been a part of my life. Art was all I ever wanted to study and practice. I wasn’t sure I could make a living as a professional artist so I pursued other careers but always managed to add in a little creativity. I was still painting, mainly commissions on canvas or faux wall finishes or murals. I expanded into illustrating and designing invitations and announcements for friends. When I started to receive requests from others, outside of my circle, I considered it an opportunity to breakout of the corporate world. Read more>>
Adriana Lewin
When I was in college, I can’t tell you how many times I switched my major: Business, Music, Public Relations, Interior Design, and then finally landed on General Studies at Texas Tech University. I honestly had no idea what I wanted to do–what my purpose was. It didn’t help that I have always been a “good student” so I learn pretty well, and fairly easily. But my senior year of Interior Design, I just knew it wasn’t what I found fulfilling for the rest of my life. Read more>>
Monique Gomez
After pivoting out of mental health counseling due to taking a risk by prematurely opening a private practice. I stumbled upon continuing education with a coaching certification called Trauma and Resilience Life Coach. In this program, I was able to learn the history of Psychiatry and the field in general as well as a major perspective of health that was never taught in my six years of post-secondary education. This perspective called Salutogentics validated my thoughts of healing and supporting people in trauma. Read more>>
Elizabeth Correia
I discovered my purpose through my pain. As a matter of fact, I first discovered my passion and later turned it into my purpose/business. I saw the need as I was navigating through my healing. Read more>>
Adrianne A.C.” Babbitt”
My purpose comes from God alone. He alone directs my paths. He’s called me to be an author, a wife, a mother, and many other roles I hold in my life. My husband and I have been married almost 12 years and we have six children, one in heaven. We’ve served together in youth ministry for over 14 years. Read more>>
John Noltner
I’ve worked as a photographer and storyteller for more than three decades, but in 2008, I started a media project called A Peace of My Mind as a way—in a divided world—to rediscover what connects us. What started as a small personal project has now grown into my life’s work as I continue to see and understand how storytelling and art have the ability to bridge divides and build community. Read more>>
Norah Harts
When I first started creating content on Tik Tok I had just gone through a very toxic breakup. I felt very alienated and alone and I had a hard time processing the trauma that had happened in that relationship . I started posting thinking I was more so just venting for my own gain to get it off my chest without anyone who I knew in real life seeing it. Within the first two months of posting I had gained a couple thousand followers and the comments I would get on my videos felt like reading my own diary. Read more>>
Emilia Garth
I first began studying Buddhism in high school and maintained a (albeit sometimes loose) practice. I have always been intrigued by exploration of the mind and consciousness. My mom is a professional dancer, and for me dancing is an outlet for complete physical liberation. Read more>>
Fernando Anthony Rodriguez
I found my purpose through basketball and getting injured. This created a blueprint for me to help people train in a better way, so they do not have to get hurt and live a pain free life! Read more>>
Tony Betton Jr
Do you remember the kid in class who would always get in trouble for talking? That kid was me. My mom would get calls from school all the time hearing, “Tony had to be sent to ISS today because he wouldn’t stop excessively talking in class.” I can’t tell you how many calls like that she received. Mind you, this same kid battling stutters challenges in elementary school as well. Read more>>
Lauren Garces
My sense of purpose stemmed from simply wanting to create communities where people felt like they had a home, could be themselves, and belonged. When I first moved to San Diego in 2010 for college, like any other young adult, I was searching for myself and found myself entangled in these feelings. Where do I fit in? How do I connect with others? Who will be there to support me? Read more>>
Will Summers
Do you have anything you’re obsessed with that keeps you up at night? Has that same thing ever kept you up so long till you fell asleep only to be awoken by your alarm 2 hours later because it’s already morning again? It’s called Netflix….just kidding for me it’s called filmmaking, content creation, anything to do with a camera and video. Read more>>
JD Allen
As a kid I thought my purpose was and would always be football. I fell in love with the game by watching Dan Marino, Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders as a youth. I was so obsessed with the game that I knew I would make it to the NFL one day even tho I wasn’t the ideal size and weight as other NFL players on paper. My heart and passion would lead me to BYU on a full scholarship in 2002, a contract with the Cincinnati Be gals in 04 and arena football years later. After my football career was over I learned that my purpose wasn’t just football, but inspiring people with my visual storytelling and captivating stories. Read more>>
Dana Dykema
Finding my purpose in my business came through extension as a homemaker. Growing up in a single parent household I was independent in many areas of my life, but try as she might, my mother could not get me to help with the cooking. I burnt meals, exploded dishes and quickly threw in the towel on learning any culinary skills. I was content to have her do it. Read more>>
Ryan Merrill
Art has been an integral part of my life, and I have expressed my creativity through a variety of mediums. I come from a family of artists, though they may not be widely recognized. Nevertheless, they were artists in their own right, each contributing to the world of art in unique ways. My grandmother, a skilled baker, would craft cakes shaped like Christmas trees and Easter eggs, captivating both the eyes and taste buds. My father, affectionately known as “The Burrito Man,” dedicated his mornings and afternoons to preparing and selling burritos to local car dealership sales staff and postal employees. Read more>>
Alexia Melocchi
Since I was a little girl in Italy I developed a love for storytelling, especially as a visual medium. I moved to the United States in my late teens and by luck (though now I call it destiny) I got into the business of selling American movies to the global audience. I truly believed in the power of creating bridges between Hollywood and the international marketplace and for a while I was a rockstar at that because I could sell a refrigerator to an eskimo and I spoke six languages. Read more>>
Christian Straka
Finding my purpose has been a journey of aligning with my evolving passions. Over the years, I’ve realized that my purpose isn’t static; it transforms as I grow and discover new facets of myself. At the core of my purpose is the pursuit of activities that spark joy and ignite a deep sense of motivation. These are the endeavors that make me willing to embrace challenges and discomfort, as they lead to greater mastery and fulfillment in areas I’m passionate about. Read more>>
Malorie Bournazian
When I was fifteen years old, my single mother, who was not only my parent but also my best friend, received a diagnosis of Breast Cancer. I swiftly transitioned into the role of a caregiver, shouldering numerous adult responsibilities. Watching my mother struggle while working long hours to support us while in treatment took a huge tole on my mental health. I carried so much guilt for not being able to do more. I knew I wanted to be able to pursue my education in hopes of being able to one day fully provide for her. Unfortunately, during freshman year of college, my mother’s cancer reemerged as Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer. Read more>>
Tara Miles
As a person growing up deaf in the public school system in Youngstown, Ohio, it took me a while to figure out what was my purpose in this life that I am living now. You see, I was born deaf but didn’t know that I was deaf until my second grade teacher informed my parents about my hearing loss. By that time my youngest sibling had already been showing signs of deafness due to the constant need of tubes being put in his ears. Read more>>
Machaela Wooden
I found my purpose of music since I was a little girl. I’ve always had a passion for singing and music. I would always pretend that I was a famous singer and I was in videos performing. My family & friends inspired me to keep going and to not give up on my dreams and would always remind me how talented and gifted I was including strangers. I knew from the moment people would always compliment me om my voice, I was destined to be great at what I’m really good at which is singing. Read more>>
Kandace Patterson
I found my purpose by following what feels good. I believe that our bodies are the best communicators and when you are doing something right, you can physically feel the goodness on a cellular level. This looks like having excitement to complete the most mundane tasks or being able to talk about your product and mission at any moment. I believe this goodness is fueled by passion. There is an overall sense of ease that you feel when you are on your path. Everything feels aligned and moves fast, but you are ready and here for it all! Read more>>
Estefany Pereyra
I was working a full time job 8-5 as a Janitorial custodian for about 6 years but I was feeling empty, there was no more room for me to grow and nothing more to learn. I wasn’t satisfied even though it was an opportunity and a good source of income, I still felt like I could be doing more and I wasn’t reaching my full potential. That’s when I decided to search around for something more fulfilling and that gave me an opportunity to do something that I felt passionate about. Read more>>
Elena Moreno
I think life is full of signs, hints, and arrows pointing towards our purpose that we can see if we are tuned into to our inner selves enough to see and hear it. After the premature deaths from heart attacks of my father (51) and brother (28) eight days apart from each other, I had the epiphany that I was going to have to be responsible for my own health. Now that 1- my father, a physician, had died, and 2- my family history was full of diabetes and heart disease. Read more>>
Latrell Floyd
I found my purpose while in college when I took my first public speaking class. For many, public speaking is one of the classes people are usually avoid or are frightened about but I was very eager to take on this challenge because I knew in my career I would be doing public speaking majority of the time. Our first major project was to give a 10 minute speech on something that the class might not know. Read more>>
Wealthie
Throughout my life, I have always been interested in hair and makeup. That came from being around women in my family who were so great at doing hair and makeup. Often I had family members doing my hair growing up but there came a time when I had to learn how to do my hair. Since then I have enjoyed creating different styles with my hair and gained an interest in learning how to do makeup. I started to experiment with wigs in 2019 and fell in love with them during the pandemic. I watched a lot of YouTube videos on wig installs and more. Read more>>
Pam Grandison
Finding my purpose has been a deeply personal and spiritual journey for me. My faith has played a significant role in shaping my perspective on life and guiding me towards my purpose. Growing up, I was always drawn to creativity and art, and as I delved into the world of graphic design, I discovered my ability to connect my passion and my purpose. Read more>>
Jaci Lund
Treebird celebrated 10 years in March, and when I started, I had a lot passion about our purpose, our values, and my vision for what TBB could become. And like a lot of small start-ups, the day-to-day quickly got in the way of really crystallizing and codifying all of those components. Read more>>
C.R. Rice
I found my purpose through wanting to make my son, Zayn, proud. I know they say that your purpose should come from somewhere inside or shouldn’t revolve around anyone but yourself, but why can’t it? Why can’t you get your strength or bravery from someone else? I have written books my entire life but never was never brave enough to publish until my husband pushed me. Read more>>
Claire Raymond
I believe that each event that has happened in my life, guides me in the direction of my purpose. Since I was little, I dreamed of being a teacher. The hero’s in my life were my own educators and their impact on my life pushed me in the direction of wanting to give back. After I was diagnosed with Tethered Cord Syndrome and my condition progressed, I was no longer able to preform the tasks that would allow me to comfortably teach. Read more>>
Richard Galli
“Purpose” is something I haven’t thought much on. For myself at least, and I’m not sure why. It’s probably because I typically prefer to just follow my heart, give it my all, and roll with the punches – a reason for being isn’t always clear-cut (or in my control, for that matter). It must be why this topic jumped out at me. Even as I’m writing this, I’m not completely sure what my purpose is. And for some reason, I think that might not be a bad thing. Read more>>
