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.

Karen Docter

I breathe writing. If I’m not actually writing, I’m thinking about it. I’m creating characters and scenarios in my head all the time, drawing on what’s happening around me.

The truth is that I’ve written my entire life. Journals. Short stories. Poetry. Reports. I was a whiz in my English classes and lived for essay assignments. I never thought about writing as a career path. Oh, I graduated from college with a Liberals Arts degree plus a B.A.  Read More>>

Carmen Valenzuela

Finding Purpose After Service: How Heroes Resource Center Changed My Life
By Carmen Valenzuela, Program Director, Heroes Resource Center

Did you know that depression is one of the leading risk factors for veteran suicide? According to the 2024 VA Suicide Prevention Report, an estimated 17.5 veterans take their own lives every day. This is a staggering reality that highlights the urgent need for resources, support, and connection for those who have served. Read More>>

Cate Havstad-casad

I’ve got two badass sisters out in the world doing pretty incredible work and was raised by two amazing parents who always worked for themselves. Whether they meant to or not, they instilled a lot of the entrepreneurial spirit in me and my sisters. In college I was pretty aimless in my studies and took a couple of breaks to go abroad and get some real-world working experience in. Once I finished my degree, I had a series of serendipitous moments that led me to a mentorship with a hat maker.  Read More>>

Diana Cliff

That’s a deep question. I think purpose is something we discover over time rather than just “find” all at once. It comes from experiences, what excites us, what challenges us, and what we feel drawn to. For me, it’s about helping people—making things easier, clearer, and more accessible. I enjoy learning and sharing knowledge, and that’s where I feel useful. Read More>>

Gianna Silvaggio

I found my purpose through my faith in God. He has given me the gifts of creativity, communication, and connection, and I feel most fulfilled when I use them to help others. In real estate, that means guiding people through one of the biggest financial and emotional decisions of their lives with knowledge, integrity, and care. Buying or selling a home isn’t just a transaction—it’s a major life milestone, and I take pride in making the process as seamless and rewarding as possible. Whether I’m helping a client find their dream home, marketing a property in a way that truly stands out, or building lasting relationships in the industry, I know I’m walking in my purpose by serving others with the gifts He’s given me. Read More>>

Ginny Niebauer

At 15, I entered the work force while still in high school. I went through many jobs and struggles as I grew into adulthood, continuing to work and support myself.

I always wanted to own my own business and thought long and hard on what I could do.

After 35 years, while in my garden after work one day, my husband yelled out to me … you know what, this is what you love to do … why don’t you figure out a why to make money doing it. So the seed was planted! Read More>>

Maria Dominguez C. Geraci

I discovered my purpose through a combination of experience, passion, and a commitment to making a real impact in the healthcare industry. My journey in medical billing and coding began over a decade ago, where I gained firsthand insight into the complexities healthcare providers face—navigating compliance regulations, managing revenue cycles, and ensuring accurate reimbursements. Read More>>

Rasie Bamigbade

I found my purpose through curiosity and thinking outside the box. Thinking of possibilities through clarity of what I am aiming for. Throughout my leadership experience, I observed and witnessed an opportunity gap of how leaders were showing up. Depending on who was watching, what is happening in their environment or what was happening internally, leaders showed up differently. I saw this happen in different companies that I worked for. My first step was to look in the mirror and start with myself.  Read More>>

Tucker Topel

From grade school to high school, my passion for the arts flourished through participation in choir, performing, and visual arts. Each year, I immersed myself more deeply in these creative outlets, discovering new ways to express myself.

During high school, I found a unique connection between various artistic mediums and scenic design, which allowed me to blend live storytelling with visual art.  Read More>>

Matthew Cooper

I found my purpose through prayer, asking God to reveal it to me. I had to go through many trials in life before realizing that I’ve always been someone who loves seeing people genuinely happy. Being part of the reason someone smiles has always warmed my heart. Read More>>

Boris Kerzner

It was a long and winding journey. I graduated in 2004 and began work as a software engineer. Although it was a great profession, I was looking for more. In 2014 I enrolled in an herbal medicine course, even though I didn’t know what it was. I had no background in gardening and could barely identify plants.  Read More>>

Cassandra Wilder

I’ve discovered my purpose through trial and error.

At eight, I was inspired by my social worker mother and a child psychiatrist who helped a case she deeply cared about. I was determined to follow that path. After a decade of hard work, I shadowed my mom and saw firsthand the emotional toll of her job. With love, she told me I wasn’t built to leave that kind of work behind—I’d never be able to separate from the horrors. She was right. Read More>>

Courtney Calardo

I believe everyone has the right and the ability to realize their potential but that some unjustly lack access to essential resources and tools to do so. With this as a core belief, I always knew I wanted to be part of something big–a movement or revolution that pushed for positive change at a macro, societal level. But I also knew my greatest assets and way of contributing to building a more just, more beautiful world centered around human connection, the ability to relate to people across a variety of cultures, contexts and backgrounds on a deeply personal level and support those who were often ignored and marginalized with an opportunity to share their voice. Read More>>

 Jade Brownjohn

From a young age, I have always had a passion for makeup and beauty. I had no idea that this passion would lead me to finding my purpose. My senior year of high school I struggled to figure out what I wanted to study in university. My dad could see I didn’t have any passion for any of the careers I was looking at, so he asked me, “What do you enjoy?” To which the simple answer was makeup.  Read More>>

Jane Epstein

I didn’t set out to find my purpose—it found me. For most of my life, I carried the weight of my past, believing that what I had endured was something I just had to survive and move on from. But the more I healed, the more I realized that we needed to raise awareness because too many survivors and families were living in silence. Read More>>

Khrystine Campbell

I truly believe that purpose finds you when you least expect it. For me, my journey into purpose began the moment I became a mother. Motherhood itself was a blessing I was told I might never experience, so when I did, it was already a miracle. But when my sons were diagnosed with autism, my entire world shifted. I always say that autism didn’t change my children—it changed me. It forced me to unlearn, to grow, to shed past versions of myself, and to step fully into the woman I was always meant to be. Read More>>

Michele Weber

Growing up, I always wanted to be jus like my father: being a medical doctor in a rural place, doing good and helping people in need. So, I left my country Cote D’Ivoire after my last year of high school and came to the US to pursue my education. After graduating with a BS in Biology and a minor in Chemistry at University of Mass, Boston, I began my application to medical schools and taking the MCAT. After 3 tries, I never had good scores enough so that a school would accept me. Read More>>

Ruben Henderson

I found my passion by intentionally utilizing my time to think and write about the various things that I valued and enjoyed. It is important to spend time with yourself and reflecting on life. Through various experiences, we are able to understand our purpose and our why. Being engaged personally and professionally has also provided me with experiences which have been valuable on my journey. Read More>>

 Samantha Franco

Well, that’s a grand question. I think to some degree, purpose is an interesting concept because it really looks different for everyone. While it may seem abstract or elusive, at its core, purpose is quite simple—it’s an inherent part of being human. In a lot of ways, I think we are all unconsciously driven by the pursuit of purpose in everything we do. It’s not something you can simply go out and find; it unfolds naturally, according to its own rhythm, and is intricately tied to one’s core beliefs and values. Read More>>

Talib Kerns

At age 7, I drowned.
I didn’t see a light or angels—instead, I found myself in a place of pure awareness, guided by a presence who told me, *“It’s not your time.” Moments later, I awoke in a body bag, revived after seven minutes without breath. Paramedics called it a miracle, but for me, it ignited a lifelong obsession: What is time? What is reality? And why do we suffer? Read More>>

Trenelle Doyle

I didn’t find my purpose; it found me. Growing up. My dad’s job required us to move frequently (every 7 months to 2 years). I had an enriching and fun childhood, which enabled me to experience cultures and experiences. There are a few things I learned when having to move around and always be the new girl:

1. I shouldn’t get too attached to most things because they’re only temporary. This has helped me grow, nurture, and know when it’s time to release. Read More>>

Stefanie Melo

I’ve been drawn to pregnancy, motherhood and babies since I was a child. I followed a typical path, high school, college and then I didn’t really know where I’d go from there. I went back to school a few years later to become a massage therapist and I opened my own practice which grew pretty quickly. When I became a mother for the first time in my early 30s, I experienced an incredibly empowering and beautiful birth, quickly followed very heart-breaking breastfeeding journey. Read More>>

Jacory Greene

I found my purpose in many ways through life. One being the death of my mother, who passed away from diabetes and second from me being incarcerated in prison. Both events allowed me to find my purpose in life amd become the man i am today! Read More>>

Yi-fan Chen

For the longest time, I thought my path in music was set. I grew up writing concert music, pouring my heart into orchestral compositions, and imagining them being performed on stage. But as much as I loved it, there was always a lingering feeling that something was missing—I just didn’t know what. Read More>>

Abe Lindley

Growing up, there were three things that were my whole existence: making things, providing for others, and animals. As a kid, I was extremely lucky to live on a beautiful plot of land in the country of Tennessee with three siblings, nine dogs, and five cats, so my days were made up of tromping through the woods with my first pocket knife, a roll of duct tape, and a wad of twine. To be clear, that is the ultimate tool kit, and that is what sparked my love for the craft. Read More>>

Christina Zayas

For as long as I can remember, I believed my purpose was to be successful. Success, in my early understanding, meant being well-known, accumulating wealth, and achieving large business endeavors. I measured my worth by how much I could accomplish at a young age, viewing success as a tangible, quantifiable achievement—something that could be counted, applauded, and admired. Read More>>

Devin Foley

I found my purpose of helping others heal from past traumas through my own healing journey. As a survivor of childhood sexual, emotional, and mental abuse, I discovered the profound impact of yoga which helped me release emotions stored in the body. What began as a personal path to healing evolved into a deep calling to guide others through their own journeys of trauma healing and empowerment. Read More>>

Joyce Moi

I found my purpose through my late daughter, Janet Lee. Initially, I was doing things with her—supporting, learning, and navigating challenges together. Over time, I realized I was also doing things for her—advocating, creating, and shaping a path that honored her needs and potential. In that process, something shifted. I wasn’t just helping Janet; she was helping me uncover a deeper calling. She became the key to understanding what truly mattered to me—using my skills, my voice, and my heart to make a meaningful impact. My purpose wasn’t something I set out to find; it was something that revealed itself through my journey with her. Read More>>

Ashley Lyons

After I graduated from college, I felt a little lost with what I wanted to do with my life. So I did what most college grads do, and started working a 9 to 5 job at the first place that would take me. I quickly realized that being in an office was not for me. I felt like a caged bird and needed to find something where I could let my creativity shine. But due to fear of the unknown, I stayed with the company for 3 more years. Read More>>

Calistenes Fuguet Duran

“What happens when the thing you love the most starts to feel like a lie?” If the only version of acting I had ever known was one I created to give myself temporary reassurance of a false sense of authenticity, was it ever truly mine to begin with? What if the real version of the thing I loved—the one I had feared my entire life—was something I had been avoiding? I had been masking myself, hiding behind performances, never realizing that I wasn’t just acting on stage—I was acting in my own life. But over time, with the realization that this was a challenge I had to overcome, I realized that this was exactly why acting is my true purpose. Read More>>

Dani Felt

I found my purpose by focusing on the things I love. I started singing music, a passion I’ve had since I was one years old. Later, I created a compilation album to raise money for The Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation. After interning in London, I discovered my love for media. This led me to launch a music blog featuring over 300 interviews, which eventually inspired me to co-write a book based on those conversations. Read More>>

Dusty Rainbolt

From the moment I wrote my first short story in third grade, I knew I wanted to be a writer. Science fiction was my passion. In the mid-1980s, a friend found a pregnant cat abandoned in the snow. Knowing I already had a cat, she asked for my help. Suddenly, I was caring for a mama cat and her six kittens! Finding homes for most of them opened my eyes to the desperate plight of homeless cats and the need for foster homes.  Read More>>

Erica Fini-marten Jen Marcott-bong

Erica: It’s no secret that snowmobiling has been a sport historically dominated by males. Despite being a mostly male hobby, plenty of women love to ride, us included!
In 2019, Jen and I were able to get back into snowmobiling after each having taken a hiatus from riding as kids. Right away we noticed that there were plenty of social communities with a snowmobile focus but not many were geared towards women. Read More>>

Joe Fox

Honestly, I like to think I was very blessed when it comes to purpose. It came at a young age but overall, I’m simply a “slut” for music. Whether it’s recording and producing or tour managing, or teching for other bands or playing live – I need to be engulfed in it. That creative outlet along with bringing people together is my purpose. Read More>>

Jon Henshaw

My purpose has always been clear—I’ve wanted to be an animator since I was seven years old. Growing up, I was inspired by classic Disney films and knew I wanted to bring characters to life through animation. I pursued that dream by studying Illustration at Ringling College of Art and Design, hoping to land a job at Disney. However, just as I was starting my career, the industry was shifting from traditional hand-drawn animation to 3D, forcing me to adapt and find my own path. Read More>>

Jorge Ramirez

I found my purpose by staying true to my artistic upbringing and immersing myself in creative environments from a young age. Attending schools that emphasized fine arts, in El Salvador I went to a school that had an hour for music, painting and drawing, and crafts lessons in the afternoon. This gave me a strong foundation in visual storytelling, which naturally led me toward photography. However, it wasn’t just technical training that guided me—it was also my personal journey of self-discovery. Read More>>

Lauren, Merlyn Riley, Oliver

The Brooklyn Mavens is the go-to platform and community that celebrates the true, unfiltered culture of Brooklyn. We’re sharing stories that often go untold, while staying deeply rooted in what makes this borough unique. Whether you’re a native or new to the area, our followers come to us to stay connected and see what Brooklyn is really about. Read More>>

Molly Hicks

Here’s the thing about purpose: for me, it has continued to metamorphose throughout my life. I have never been the kind of person who has found one direction or passion for a long amount of time and followed a linear, extended path toward deeper understanding of this passion. My path has been full of intentional decisions that have moved me toward my “passion of the moment.”  Read More>>

Stanley H

I tried a million things and failed and every single one of them until I tried music I may not be the most popular but I feel free now Read More>>

Suzanne Seick

It was in college that I created a personal mission statement to live by: “connecting passion to purpose”. My goal was always to combine my faith and passions with my business-minded skills to do good in the world. Read More>>

Yereni Ramirez

I found my purpose by remembering my grandparents’ teachings about sacred seeds and reconnecting with my roots. Read More>>

Emily J. Smith

Finding Purpose Through Creativity, Connection, and Advocacy I wear many hats—photographer, director, and advocate—​but at the heart of everything I do is the belief that storytelling has the power to ​encourage perspective. Through my photography, I ​like to capture moments that feel real—whether it’s a raw, emotional portrait or a fleeting, unscripted scene. I want people to see themselves in a way they may not have before—whether that’s through ​happiness, beauty, strength, or vulnerability. Read More>>

Michelle Vidal

My purpose found me as much as I found it. After my son passed away in 2018, I had the same internal dialogue as people do after a life-altering event. How do I keep living? After deep introspection, I realized my passion lies in helping others awaken to their potential. I first had to create a space for my own transformation. Over time, my purpose became clear: to support individuals and businesses in integrating spiritual and ethical principles into their paths. It’s an evolving process, but at its core, it’s about alignment with what feels most authentic to me.” Read More>>