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.
Meagan Shuptar
I think finding my purpose has been an ever-evolving journey. I’ve always been driven by creative pursuits, and so career-wise I fell into photography quite naturally. Over the years I have found that within this career my goals and experiences have led to me feeling that apart from the overall intention to create beautiful, creative and compelling images for myself and my clients, my purpose is really to foster collaborative, diverse and respectful environments on set and to create a certain authenticity in my photographs no matter what I am shooting. Read more>>
Anna Markiewicz
Finding my purpose as a wedding photographer has been a deeply personal and rewarding journey. As a woman in this field, my approach has always been centered around ensuring that every bride and groom I work with feels exceptionally special on their big day. Read more>>
Katie Cook
I read recently read somewhere that our ministry and mission come from the things that have broken us, but our testimony and our purpose come from how we were healed. That rang so true in my life. My purpose is to love people the way they were created to be loved. Becoming a mother through ,in part, the foster system both healed and broke me into the person I am today. I wouldn’t have the strength or grit to work with the population I do now if it hadn’t been through the hurdles we faced in our own family. Read more>>
Geraldine Andre-Major
I found my purpose in life after finding out that my three-year-old was diagnosed with Autism and being non-verbal. When I found out about his diagnoses, a light went off in my mind and a fire started burning in my spirit, it was like I was on a mission, and I was ready to get to work. When my son started showing signs on speech regression, I realized that I had to be his voice, and an advocate for his wants and needs in society. I took on this role with pride and an eagerness to get to work. Read more>>
Annette Anderson
I was 15 when my first child was born, and six months later I was married. At the age of 20 I was divorced with two dependent children. A few years later, I had another child. I was single and the mother of three little girls who depended on me, and for several years I was on autopilot. I remember looking into face of my little girls, and thinking, I got to do better, so they would not see me as a failure. Read more>>
Christel Davis
I engaged in diverse life and career experiences. Read more>>
Kevin Elliott
Wandering and working. My parents instilled a strong work ethic in me, so whatever I did, I worked hard at it. That said, I was also trained with mindset of “get a steady job with great benefits and a 401k.” There’s nothing wrong with that life, I still live that life in part, but I have always had a creative itch and an entrepreneurial instinct. Read more>>
Chuck Steele
Through my path and journey in life, I found that I enjoy helping people. No matter the case, they may be having a hard time coping or dealing with something personal. They may need advice. Or it may be something as simple a helping hand moving something. This all started to develop with me and I began to see that it felt really good to help people. Read more>>
Jake Tavill
Ever since I was little I loved music and singing. Eventually I came to songwriting and it came so naturally to me, second nature in my daily life. If someone asked me my purpose I wouldn’t necessarily say I have one, or that anyone has one, besides the act of living. We’re not born with a purpose and we’re not given one. Read more>>
Andi Green
Purpose has always been a complicated concept in my mind. My favorite author Kurt Vonnegut writes “We are here for no purpose, unless we can invent one.” When I was younger, I didn’t fit in much and this lack of connection with others lead me to feel lost in the world. My only anchor was my art. It was during my drawing sessions I was able to connect with myself and express feelings that in other situations I could not. Read more>>
Bryan Wright
I started off going to college wanting to follow in my fathers footsteps and to be a cop. However it wasn’t until my sophomore year in college where I had a guest speaker come into class and talk about helping with a Restorative Justice program they were starting and wanted to bring into Middle Schools. I just knew it sounded like something I wanted to be a part of so I showed up and started helping and did that for a year and a half. Read more>>
Tippy Tippens
I think that my purpose is ever-changing, although generally, my professional purpose always includes creativity (design/art) & finding connections between ourselves and our environments. I’ve always been an environmentalist & when the BP Oil Spill disaster happened in 2010, the magnitude inspired me to find a way to do something to help – & in creating BirdProject Soaps to help to raise funds for oil spill cleanup, it inspired me to start my business Goods that Matter. Read more>>
Lisa Stuart
I had to deconstruct my life in order to build my authentic life on a solid foundation. After my divorce and taking the brave leap to follow my heart and soul and be with my twin flame I endured the hardest backlash from family and many friends. Read more>>
Sayra Player
When I realized I was a creative person because I liked the spiritual exchange and how it could make the world a better place. I came to understand my strengths were my passion for creative community and healing arts. Everything I do generates more of those two things. This is my inner compass. Read more>>
Andrea Shapiro
Thinking back, I was always fascinated by housing design. I recall staring in awe at fancy houses as a young child, and I loved walking through the partially built/framed houses along the golf courses as a teen, imagining what the spaces would become. But it really wasn’t until I entered the work world as a young architect that I found my real purpose was to design homes. Read more>>
Miguel Berlingeri
The road trip not only traversed physical landscapes but also unraveled the layers of my own narrative. As the wheels rolled across ten states, a newfound desire crystallized within me – the yearning to tell stories that could serve as beacons for those navigating the same shadowed paths I once trod. Read more>>
Lucy Schultz
First I’ll just say that it took a while! I started photography when I was 8 years old for a school project. Then, I was homeschooled, which was an early way for me to start pursuing the things that really interested me. Through highschool, I was part of a photo club that lead to attending a photo conference on a student scholarship which was the first time I ever photographed people. Read more>>
Jenniffer Smith
Purpose, for me, originated by many rivers and valleys in my life. I was encouraged by wonderful, loving parents and faith was and still is the foundation for my strength and any morsel of success. They believed in anything that I thought of and never minded answered any questions. Because of that, I was able to look at hopefully and joyfully my purpose. Early on, I realized that power. What power, one may ask? Read more>>
Chae’ Jones
I think finding my purpose was easy. The challenge, was figuring out how to put it into practice and learning that I was meant for doing more than just one thing that was the challenge. Being a nerdy kid with multiple interests in a small town wasn’t the most popular choice, but it was always something I embraced. Read more>>
Adriana Colina
Growing up I was always that one weird kid in the class that didn’t have many friends, did horribly in school and kind of just an oddball overall. Seeing that I never fit in anywhere, and how much I struggled in school due to learning disabilities (ADHD & Dyslexia). It made me think that I never would accomplish anything or achieve big goals like my peers. Read more>>
Ra’Keeya Shantel
I sat with this question for a few days and it took me through so many emotions that I was not ready to resurface, but feelings that I was happy to release as I navigated my way through them. I truly believe you don’t just find your purpose on a whim but that you rediscover it once you truly start having honest conversations with yourself, about your life, your actions & behaviors, your thought patterns and get clear on who you are at your core acknowledging all parts of your being. The light and the dark. Read more>>
Dawn Doig
That’s a difficult question to answer as over the years I feel my purpose has evolved or morphed. I guess I’ll start first with audiology. My father was an orphan and the foster family who took care of him the majority of the time when he was not in the orphanage or being ‘tried out’ by a potential family had two deaf children. Read more>>
Yamini Sagar
I understand that life can be challenging, and I believe in finding joy in pursuing what you love. In Japan, there’s a concept called Ikigai that embodies this idea, and it’s one that I’ve chosen to follow in my own life. As an immigrant raised in a middle-class family, I know firsthand how hard it can be to make ends meet. Read more>>
Gemma Prior
The purpose I found in With Bogart came by chance. Years ago, before starting work on this project, I had been finishing my training as an airline pilot and had accepted my first job. But just weeks later I became very unwell and was diagnosed with a chronic auto-immune illness. I could no longer pass medical and was unable to return to flying. Read more>>
Avery Jade
I’ve always been a creative person. From the time I was a toddler, I was coloring and crafting. Listening to music has always been my absolute favorite thing. In high school, I took a few film and digital photography classes. I fell in love! Capturing the beauty in others and the world around me became a passion. Despite my artistic nature, I had wanted to become a NICU nurse. Read more>>
Velle Kimble
Finding my purpose in life is one of my biggest blessings I’m most appreciative of. Acting has changed my life in ways I could have never imagined. As far back as I can remember I’ve always known that I had the potential to be something special. It was just the matter of me applying myself and watching it all come together. Growing up in Chicago I’ve experienced a lot from the good to the bad. Read more>>
Tori Martin
I would consider myself a people person. I enjoy talking to and helping others but I also love creating. Studio 223 gives me a space where I can combine both. I worked for years in the optical industry where I was able to assist in helping people see better, but it didn’t really allow me to explore my creative side. Read more>>
Naki Carey
I found my purpose by trial and error. Having many talents, and things you love to do can be difficult at times because you don’t know where to start. I found my purpose by testing the things l like, and loved. By doing that, I knew something would stick and feel right and my gut would tell me this is it. Read more>>
Cynthia Aguiar
In 2021, I was in a severe car accident which caused a severe concussion and other injuries. At the time I was a single-mother of 2, a full time teacher (working in Special Education at a high school), a professional dancer and a dance company owner. I was doing all of the things I loved, on a constant high on life and on a non stop journey. Read more>>
Conrad Sanchez
Empowering Change: My Journey to Finding Purpose in WB-EMS Training” As a personal trainer for over 15 years, my journey in the fitness industry has been a quest to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives while continually expanding my knowledge and expertise. What initially drew me to this profession was the desire to help others, coupled with the allure of a career with limitless opportunities for learning and growth. Read more>>
Boss Babe Awards
As a brand our purpose has always been to fill the void. The void where women and lgbtq+ were unable to pop their isshh, be praised, celebrated or given fair opportunities to collaborate & thrive. Here In Atlanta is a world of Minority creatives, entrepreneurs, business owners & influencers who are truly making an impact in their industries & community. Read more>>
Aza Enigma
I developed The Friendly Felon primarily through mistakes. In particular, a felony conviction type of mistake. I struggled in finding a stable life after my conviction which led me to perform research, repeatedly. Every time I found myself overwhelmed in the mire of my background, I’d dive into a search for relief, for second chances, for some type of help in getting over the obstacles that my conviction presented to trying to have the basics – shelter, food, safety. Read more>>
Rick Rusch
For years, starting when I was a child, I was taught the importance of getting a career, getting a college degree, and pursuing a career that would support me financially. I did all that but it just didn’t complete me. Read more>>
Erika Lin
I have always liked acts of good faith and that is what architecture represents for me, giving you the opportunity to interpret the emotions of others, listen to them, organize their requests and with a lot of creativity and positive energy transform them into spaces that help them have a better life. I am convinced that being an Architect is my purpose. Read more>>
Katherine Danesi
As a business coach and strategist, I encourage my clients to uncover their “why.” We discuss the importance of knowing your “why” and the positive impact it can have on your business growth, your overall life trajectory, and life satisfaction. It’s one of the key elements we use to help them move forward in their business and life. Read more>>
Paula Peckham
I believe in God, and I trust that he has a purpose for my life. I have tried to follow where I feel he leads me, and every time I’ve made a decision using that criteria, it has turned out well for me. When I’m unsure if what I’m considering is the right thing to do, I pray about it and ask God to show me, in some way, whether I’m following his plan. Read more>>
Qingyang Xu
As a UI/UX designer, my work and projects occupy a significant portion of my life, often leaving me feeling drained and questioning my life’s purpose. To combat this, reading and exercise have become my sanctuaries, offering both mental rejuvenation and physical revitalization. Engaging in these activities, especially exercising, helps shift my environment and mindset, sparking new energy and perspectives. Read more>>
Joanna Townsend
As a big feeler and empath, I’ve always felt connected to human-centered work. My parents worked in the fields of public health, nutrition, and education so I was surrounded early on by the values of compassion, service, care, and social good. Read more>>
Kehinde Mayowa
When I was just 2 I lost my Mother that force me to grew up with my Grandparents, as a small kid who is an introvert, I found drawing very interesting. I use to replicate cartoon illustrations in my drawings , I also love to draw from books illustrations, there’s a particular book I recall that I love drawing from then , it is called “My book of bible story“, the book has a lot of bible illustrations and It was one of the books I was fond of drawing from, when my grandma discovered my talent. Read more>>
Laura and Jana Pasyanos and Orr
Laura has discovered her calling as a mother to four grown children, gaining profound insights into the rewards and trials of parenthood through firsthand experience. With a substantial foundation in early childhood education, she identified her purpose in collaborating with like-minded individuals and assisting other families on their parenting journey. Read more>>
Hulises Ortiz
it all started by writing my name (tag) anywhere. Read more>>
Asuka Kimura
In 2015, I was involved in an accident that could have taken my life, but instead, left me with a shattered pelvis and the news that I probably would never walk again. My initial thought after hearing that news was “Okay, no more performing, I guess.” Life as I knew it was now over. Instead of my own feet, I relied on a wheelchair. I kept thinking “What am I going to do with my life?” Read more>>
Tommy Gunns
Let’s explore the concept of a decline in mental well-being, starting with what I described as the “fall from grace” from your own mind. What is the significance of a “fall from grace,” particularly concerning the mind? How does one undergo this decline in mental well-being? It appears there’s a connection to purpose. Read more>>
Occam’s Rose
I think my purpose as a songwriter and musician is constantly changing, but what has been a thread of consistency through it all is the desire to tell the stories of people I have come to know. Many of these stories have some level of tragedy or disappointment connected to them, but they are important nonetheless. I write music with a message. This is my purpose. Read more>>
