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.
Emily Hemendinger
From a young age, I was drawn to helping others and supporting people in finding their voices. As a toddler, I would share with my parents that I enjoyed and wanted to help the character of the Grinch because he was just misunderstood. As an 8-year-old, I wanted to join the Peace Corps so I could help people around the world and give back. It didn’t matter to me that I wasn’t 18 yet, I was determined, tenacious, and persistent. And while I ended up accepting that I was not old enough to join, moments like these were not uncommon throughout my life. I enjoyed being there for people and helping when I could. When I was a teenager, it was an easy choice. I knew I wanted to be a therapist so that I could support people and lift others up. Read more>>
Torri Hicks
While attending Michigan State University, my very first “Real Job” was working for a non-profit that taught sex education to youth. Despite the uncomfortableness of teaching an already difficult topic to youth, for the first time I had a job that didn’t feel like work. I enjoyed both the mentorship/counseling of at-risk youth and the opportunity to work/learn many different roles of nonprofit work. After graduating from Michigan State University I moved to Atlanta, GA where I entered graduate school at Argosy University and studied to become a mental health therapist, while continuing to work for nonprofit organizations. Read more>>
Debbie Sharpe
Finding my purpose has been an ongoing and educational experience beginning with an early childhood recognition of a deep love and compassion for animals. I have been fortunate enough to be able to foster that experience through my work as Community Outreach Coordinator for Don’t Forget to Feed Me Pet Food Bank. I have been able to serve my community by helping facilitate the distribution of free pet food to the residents of the greater Fort Worth area. Read more>>
Dami Babaniji
Everyone at some point in their life has asked themselves the question, ‘What on earth am I here for? Does my life have any meaning or purpose?’. This question plagues the hearts of all, irrespective of race, religion, faith, creed, education, sex, or socioeconomic status. Sometimes people hear the word ‘purpose’ and have this unsettling feeling because it seems so abstract, vague, and unclear. Read more>>
joshua
I believe we have many purposes in life or as they refer to as our “Dharma” which means “to hold or t0 support. This comes from the Sanskrit scriptures. Being of service to others has always been part of my nature. Whether its time, knowledge or just a helping hand, I believe we find our purpose in the service of others. I’ve explored many interes, Meditation being what of them. This particular practice has truly elevated my thinking and my ways of being. Stillness allows us to process and observe what direction we need to continue on and also be discerning. This has created a lot of continue momentum in my life. Think about what you enjoy doing and what brings you a sense of fulfillment. This can be anything from a hobby to a career path. To all entrepreneurs, I propose you try different things and be open to new experiences to help you discover what you’re passionate about. Read more>>
Kelsey Riley
I really had a “call-to-action” moment during my search for a job after graduating from Fashion Design school. There weren’t many companies or opportunities that offered what I was passionate about: sustainable fashion. Most options were working for larger corporations that were heavily involved in fast fashion. That was something I wasn’t interested in pursuing. I wanted to really be hands-on and involved with all aspects of the process of designing and making clothing that would last a lifetime. Quality over quantity has been something that has propelled my identity as a designer. Read more>>
Courtney Bohlman
Great Question 🙂 I found my purpose by simply taking the journey of discovering who I am. The clearer I became in knowing myself, the clearer my purpose became. I started following the things that brought me joy and passion—and after taking many steps my purpose began to reveal itself. Read more>>
Bea Solo
I have collected entomological fine art and taxidermy for years now. When I first started, I noticed the community and excitment for each other when someone got a new piece. When I started learning about creating this specialized art myself, I had the overwhelming feeling to share it with everyone. Meeting people every day with the same excitment about nature, knowledge and curiosity is what gives me purpose. Read more>>
Paul Neal Rohrer
So many say they “work for others”, when in fact they are working to find themselves. I started as a paperboy in the greater Chicago area throwing 65 Tribunes, Sun Times and Wall Street Journals every morning. It required that I start at 4:30 in the morning collecting the large pile of bound papers off of my street corner, folding them into my delivery cart and bags and walking my 3 mile route before school. That route taught discipline of time management, respect and accountability. I was rewarded with generous tips from satisfied customers and even free donut holes from Herb at his bakery on icy mornings when only the lights from his shop lit up the dark boulevard through his delicious steamed up window. Read more>>
Cara Lemus
Between working, family responsibilities, and social expectations, we often ignore the little voice inside that longs for purpose. Somehow it gets pushed away and even thought to not coexist in between “having it all” and “trying to get ahead”. But when nothing is promised and nothing is for certain, the possibilities are truly endless. Read more>>
Chelsea Ashley
If I’m being honest, I tried to run away from my purpose for a long time. I dreamt of being in the entertainment industry as a singer and songwriter, since I was a little girl. I visualized myself on the stage, selling out shows and making a mark in music…but somehow for so many years, my comfort zone won. The corporate world was easy for me so I continued to choose it. Read more>>
Joy Williams
Oddly enough my purpose in life has always stared me right in the face, it wasn’t until I intentionally embarked on my health journey that I “discovered” it. My purpose in life is to be myself authentically, shine my light, and beam positivity. Read more>>
Ta’Coria Lyons
Before you start any business finding your purpose should be your primary focus, in my case, I feel like my purpose is my craft. My small business began with my passion for making and creating custom clothing, party favors, rhinestone shoes, and much more. This was something I enjoyed doing as a child, and as I got older it was a hobby that I turned into a business. Although just like anyone else, I felt as if I didn’t know my purpose. Read more>>
Simona Solomon
I think purpose in life is adaptive, My personal sense of purpose changed many times over the years, like my passions and all the things that make me feel happy or satisfied. Hi! I’m Simona Solomon. I was born and raised in Milan (Italy), After my Art School degree, I studied Film Making, Video Editing and Photography, as well as History of Cinematography. Read more>>
Maria Magdalena Suska
I chose nursing as my career path because I have always enjoyed helping people. Nursing is one of the most respected professions. What I love about nursing is that it is constantly evolving; there are so many things that you can do in the profession, so you don’t have to stick to one specialty. If there is an area of interest that is not yet created, you can create it. Read more>>
YUJIN BPMs
My name is YUJIN BPMs, I am a producer/composer and the DJ. After I came back from Berlin in 2021, I joined the music label “Space Anemone” and released Acid Techno Tracks from Los Angeles.
In 2022, I was selected as an Inaugural Mini-Residency Honorable Mention artist by the lable and I got a request from them to create a new music video for my Melodic Techno Track “RAVE MARIA”.
And I decided to do this project in London. Read more>>
Jess Pickering
I found my purpose by a mixture of trial and error, and following my intuition. I used to work for the Department of Defense as a cost analyst. I worked a large program in Washington, D.C. and did a rotation at the Pentagon. I never fully connected with cost estimating, however the benefits (paid leave, great health benefits, etc.) outweighed the costs … or so I thought. There came a point where I felt like I was getting farther and farther away from true self. At the same time, I started going to local markets selling my macrame. I started my business as a side-hustle, one I was doing for fun. I grew my online presence and eventually decided that I wanted this to be my full-time job. I saved up and made the decision to quit my DoD job. This was a scary time, however I kept trusting my intuition. It led me to a successful full-time job as an artist who creates woven wall hangings and macrame decor. Read more>>
Nakendra Harris-Mason
I’ve found my purpose within. It might not have happened as fast or as quickly as I expected it but it happened for me right on time. I’ve became aware of my purpose when I allowed my Faith to take over more than letting fear and the obstacles that I’ve had to endure throughout my journey take total complete control. I allowed God to lead me and that’s when I truly found my purpose. Read more>>
Brett Herman
So many people feel like they’re still searching for their purpose or still looking for their dream job. I say find what you love, figure out what is calling your name and go for it. If its not working out (even after a honest effort) reassess the issues that are keeping you from your dreams and go even harder until you make it happen! Find what you need in this life, it is short and not guaranteed. I feel like lucky enough to say that I have found my happiness, almost two decades ago. Read more>>
RJ Flemister
Finding your purpose can be challenging but I found it through TRIAL and ERROR. In high school I was introduced to elective photography class and it showed me all things in photography and quite frankly it was the only class I could pass with FLYING COLORS with no struggles. After I graduated, I searched for jobs in that field to really see how the industry works. I began to fall more in love with the industry and I developed more skill in it. Read more>>
Jessica Grier
As a typical African-American girl growing up, I was under the impression that I had a responsibility to become successful and represent my race well at all cost. I pursued that limited definition of success for quite some time and was content with it for quite some time. It wasn’t until my faith became more prevalent as an adult that I realized the picture I had painted was skewed and unfinished. The more I studied God’s Word and embraced it as truth, the more I found purpose in him and became encouraged to be a light in the world at all cost. Read more>>
Cassie Dominach
My purpose and my absolute passion in life is helping women find the root cause of disease, so they can heal from the inside out, to look and feel their best naturally. I have been fully living in my purpose for the past 5 years now, however, the road to get here was not linear. Read more>>
