Core to our mission is helping our audience and community reach their full potential and the most important part of reaching your full potential is starting to find your purpose. Below, we’ve shared stories and insights from the community around how various folks found their purpose and we hope it helps you in your journey.
Jayden Carroll
My purpose has always been to use the gifts given to me to glorify the God who gave them to me. Whether in my personal work, commissions, or even live painting events- if it is not bringing glory to my Creator, there is no need for me to create. Read More>>
Eloise Parker
I was able to discover my purpose by the grace of God. I’ve at one time in my life experienced homelessness and I remember praying and asking for deliverance. My hope is to be an encouragement to others that in their current situation. Homelessness doesn’t define a person. It’s a temporary situation and it could be over comed by faith and determination. My purpose found me, and the Lord assigned me to this Read More>>
JOZA.INK
My first experience with art was when I was 5, painting on my sister with markers. Everyone laughed and cried at the same time. That moment stayed with me, the power of art to move people emotionally, instantly, and together.
Years later, I discovered tattooing, and everything changed. The body became a living canvas. Suddenly, art wasn’t something you hung on a wall, it moved, aged, breathed. That changed everything for me. Read More>>
Chelsea Lee
My purpose found me through dreams—both the ones I slept with at night and the ones I dared to imagine during the day. But it was my mentors who truly helped me recognize and claim it.
One of the most pivotal moments was meeting Robert Moss. His teachings opened up whole new worlds for me, and when he shared my dream story in one of his books, it created a ripple effect that I’m still feeling today. His suggestion that I follow the path of dreamwork planted a deep seed. Then came Kelly Sullivan Walden—my biggest cheerleader and dream hype girl. Read More>>
Umer Zaman
Honestly, I didn’t find my purpose in one clear moment — it came in pieces, through experiences that tested me, broke me, and slowly rebuilt me.
I think I started to feel it most when I realized that my voice could be used for more than just melody — it could be a means of healing, connection, and remembrance. The first time someone told me that a nasheed I wrote helped them through a dark time, something shifted in me. That’s when I understood: my purpose isn’t just to create — it’s to serve through what I create. Read More>>
Viki Christman
Growing up, I always felt everything really deeply. Especially when it came to animals. As I got older, I started to understand just how much cruelty and destruction exists in the world especially toward animals. Now, with so many ways to spread the word, it feels more possible than ever to make a difference. Social media has been huge, it’s helping me reach people, raise awareness, and turn empathy into action. Read More>>
Anne Shackelford
I didn’t find my purpose in a single moment—it revealed itself over time, like a thread I kept pulling, woven through art, healing, nature, and connection. I’ve always been drawn to beauty—not just in the aesthetic sense, but in the way beauty can shift energy, open hearts, and awaken something deep and ancient within us. Read More>>
Daniel Savion Gupta
Daniel Savion Gupta, an entrepreneur and art collector, has spent the past 15 years curating works from artists around the world, building a collection that reflects both artistic excellence and a deep commitment to humanitarian efforts, Born in Chicago and raised in Bloomington, Indiana, entrepreneurship was the only path that made sense to Daniel. and by the age of 25 he had achieved success in several industries. Read More>>
Ian Ward
Honestly, I didn’t find my purpose like it was some one-time “aha” moment. It’s been more of a process of creating it—trial by fire, chasing what lights me up, then figuring out how to build something sustainable around it. Read More>>
Brad Wolf
I am a retired lawyer who for the last ten years has worked fulltime leading peace and social justice groups to stop war and ease the suffering across the globe. I find great purpose in such work. In fact, while I have been a lawyer, a professor, and a college dean, nothing has provided me with a stronger sense of purpose than this work. By looking through the lens of my own comfort and security as an American, I was able to see the injustices and sufferings inflicted on so many others. Read More>>
Ami Jones
I discovered my purpose through a series of transformative moments that connected my lifelong love for wildlife with a deep commitment to sustainability. Even as a little girl, I would spend hours thumbing through my dad’s National Geographics, dreaming of traveling the world and helping protect the incredible species I saw on those pages. Read More>>
Deon Lucas
Finding my purpose was the benefit of a culmination of events, experiences, and insight. The journey that I’m currently on all started as a kid in the 90s, as I was raised by parents that really valued the concept of thrifting. I love collecting interestingly odd and vintage items from all over the world. It’s fascinating how one man’s trash can truly be another man’s treasure. This notion has become a mantra for my life. As an actor and fashion enthusiast, I’ve always been attracted to vintage Hollywood and all that it entails. Read More>>
LaQuita Mason-Brown
From an early age, I had a deep revelation: my life was not my own. I firmly believe that each of us was created with a purpose—an assignment greater than ourselves. But I’ve learned over time that it’s impossible to fully walk in that purpose without first finding the One who created us for it.
Life is a journey of seasons, and not all seasons look or feel the same. Some are filled with clarity and joy, while others are marked by discomfort and change. Yet in every season, I’ve learned to lean into the voice that guides me, allowing divine direction to shape my path. Read More>>
Ashlin Endter
Honestly, I found my purpose at one of the lowest points in my life — when I was, as I often say, “broke, busted, and disgusted.” And I use that phrase intentionally, because that was the truth. I wasn’t just struggling financially; I was emotionally and mentally worn down. Life felt heavy. I remember looking around and thinking, “There has to be more than this.” Read More>>
Melissa Dotson
It didn’t happen overnight. My journey to discovering my purpose took time—years, actually. It was a path filled with soul searching, curiosity, and paying close attention to what truly filled me up.
I’ve always been drawn to personal development. For the last 20 years, I immersed myself in it—devouring books, taking classes, hiring coaches, listening to countless podcasts, and spending hours journaling and reflecting. I wasn’t just interested in personal growth; I was passionate about it. Read More>>
Beth Adas
I didn’t have some big epiphany—it happened gradually, through a mix of life experience, unexpected changes, and a growing sense of what felt meaningful.
After more than 20 years in event planning, the pandemic forced me to slow down and reassess what I wanted from my work and my life. Around the same time, I was dealing with personal health issues and was recently diagnosed with an autoimmune condition in 2019. Yoga had always been something I turned to, but during that period, it became essential—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. Read More>>
Kimberly Mathis
I found my purpose buried in the wreckage of a childhood shaped by addiction, my mother’s, and mine. I was born into it, literally. Born addicted, before I ever had the chance to choose anything for myself. My mother was a lifelong user, tethered to a despair she never escaped. I grew up motherless, not by absence of body, but by absence of presence. Love and loss came from the same woman, over and over again, until I stopped trying to tell them apart. Read More>>
Elena Soboleva
I think my purpose found me the moment I stopped pretending I had it all figured out.
For years, I was chasing all the things I thought I should want — success, visibility, freedom. I moved from Russia to the U.S. in my twenties, built businesses, reinvented myself more times than I can count… but underneath the hustle, I felt a quiet ache. Like I was meant for more, but I couldn’t quite name it. Read More>>
Gurba
I found my purpose through writing, producing, and performing music that I love. From an early age, I’ve always wanted to be a recording artist. The Beatles inspired me to start writing songs when I was in 1st grade. My parents got me a First Act guitar and drum set. My sister and I started a band called “The Fires”. I would take empty CD cases, fold printer paper and draw artwork with track listings for imaginary albums. Read More>>
Alyssa Nicole
Did you always know what you wanted to do?
Some people do. Some people know from childhood that they’re going to be a teacher, a pilot, a basketball player. But I wasn’t one of those people.
When I was little, I wanted to be everything—from an astronaut to a ballerina. And even after I graduated from college, I still didn’t know what I wanted to do. Read More>>
Courtnei Watts
When I first stepped into general contracting in 2019, it started as a simple side hustle—a way to bring in some extra income. I had no idea it would become the foundation for something truly meaningful in my life. Over time, what began as a job evolved into a calling. I discovered a deep sense of fulfillment in the work itself and in the relationships I was building with clients. That realization inspired me to take a leap in 2023 and launch The Watts Group. Read More>>
Rachel Birzon
I found my purpose at the tail end of one of the most difficult chapters of my life — an 18-month medical battle that began with stage three skin cancer and led to an atrophied thyroid. I didn’t recognize myself anymore. My body, my voice, my energy, my spirit — everything felt broken. I was depleted in every sense of the word. Around that time, my best friend mentioned an idea she thought would be perfect for me: starting a permanent jewelry business. Read More>>
Amanda Walls
You look at your life backwards, and ask, What activities made me feel most alive and fulfilled, even as a kid? I’ve always been a creative. As a kid, I’d draw for hours, animals, people, little scenes from my imagination. I didn’t know it then, but I was building a language, a way to speak when words didn’t work. I’d draw how I felt. How I wanted to feel. What I missed. What I dreamed of. Read More>>
Kathryn Robinson
I didn’t find my purpose at the height of success—I found it in the fallout. I spent years chasing what I thought was purpose: the perfect job, the perfect body, the perfectly curated life, all with the glitz and glam to match. But behind the scenes, I was burnt out, breaking down, and battling body dysmorphia, disordered eating, and a constant fear of not being enough. When I hit rock bottom—emotionally, spiritually, and physically after an emergency spine surgery— Read More>>
Carlotta Parodi
Hi everyone, and thank you for having me for this conversation on your beautiful magazine.
I found my purpose when I realized that through acting, I could turn pain into something meaningful—not only for myself, but for others too.
My passion for cinema began very early, but it became a true calling when I started taking on roles that allowed me to explore psychological distress and human vulnerability in depth. Read More>>
Bryanne Elisabeth
I truly feel that I found what I’m meant to do; document important life moments for people.
Before finding photography, I was working in property management. I loved the way it kept me busy and always on my toes– no two days were the same, and you could make plans for the day that would completely change in a moment’s notice for reasons completely out of your control. It was about rolling with the punches. But, I got tired of taking the punches. It was difficult to even consider leaving that world. Read More>>
Sam Wood
I ran from my purpose for a very long time. From a very young age I had the sense that I was called to follow my father into ministry but I, absolutely, wanted nothing to do with it. I tried everything I could for 20 years to not go into ministry. However, as I look back now it seems that even the things that I did to avoid ministry trained me for ministry. I spent almost 10 years in the secular music industry working at a pretty high level, in a number of different management roles. I never thought that I would be making my own Christian music now, as a part of my ministry. Read More>>
Tiffany Griffith
For a long time, I felt like I had lost myself. I used to be an artist—drawing portraits, sculpting, writing poetry. But life took some hard turns, and somewhere in the chaos, I forgot how to create, how to connect, and how to feel at home in my own skin.
Years later, I stumbled across a soapmaking video, and something about it sparked that old creative light again. At first, it was just a fun hobby to try with my niece. But as I measured oils and blended scents, I found that quiet, steady rhythm of creating again. Read More>>
Roxanne Alford
“How did I find my purpose? Honestly, it wasn’t a single moment—it was a gradual awakening shaped by my roots, my family, and now, most deeply, my daughter. I’m Indian, and like many of us raised in close-knit families, my identity is entwined with the people I love. I grew up in a home where we didn’t always have financial freedom. But we had resilience. We had determination. And my parents worked tirelessly so that I could dream bigger. Read More>>
Bob Jacobs
A respected business leader and author, I built a successful career in the mortgage and financial industries, particularly in time with Brentwood-based Churchill Mortgage. But behind the scenes, I faced a battle that nearly cost me everything. Read More>>
Rebel Strings
For us, it all started with a shared love for music and a deep desire to break the mold.
We’re Lourdes Rosales and Naxo Lara, the creators of Rebel Strings—a project that has grown into one of the most recognized names in Electric Strings Entertainment. What began as two classically trained musicians experimenting with new sounds quickly turned into a mission: to redefine what string instruments can do and how they can elevate, with elegance and energy, any wedding or event. Read More>>
María Fajardo
It’s strange to say, but I’ve always known. Since I was a little girl, I felt that music was calling me. I come from a family of musicians on my mother’s side—none of them did it professionally, but all of them studied music in some way: singing, piano, bass, drums, and a traditional Venezuelan instrument called the cuatro. They taught me to love music not as a career or a business, but as something sacred—something to appreciate and cherish. Read More>>
Sarah & Cassie
Popcorn Paparazzi started the way all great Hollywood stories do: two best friends, a dream, and a shared obsession with Jake Gyllenhaal.
Cassie and Sarah met back in high school, bonding instantly over a mutual love of movies, celebrity gossip, and making each other laugh until untiled we cried. That bond led them straight to Los Angeles after graduation—ready to make it big. Between the two of them, they snagged gigs as extras on film sets, landed internships at Entertainment Tonight, and lived the kind of early 20s montage usually set to a pop song. Read More>>
Martha Reich
I feel my purpose actually found me. I’ve always followed my heart, and it’s yet to steer me wrong.
I certainly had my aspirations and inspirations for what I wanted to do in life, ever since I was a child.
And of those things, from being a physical therapist, artist, musician etc…
If I didn’t find support to pursue these professions initially, the opportunities and passion for them always appeared. Read More>>
Karly Peters
The Pursuit of Purpose
I didn’t always know this was where I was meant to be. Like many women, I spent years striving—chasing success, trying to meet expectations, and wearing strength like armor. But somewhere along the way, in the stillness and the struggle, God began to reveal that my purpose wasn’t something I had to force—it was something I would find through Him. Read More>>
Deborah Cedar
I grew up in a household without pets. I just wasn’t allowed to have any. As an adult, this changed when my boyfriend found a stray puppy. He brought him home & he ended up being my best friend for 14 years. He passed & it lead me to a deep depression. I had never felt unconditional love from an animal before & his absence left a hole in my heart. Although I was still sad, I knew I never wanted to live without a pet ever again. Read More>>
Haseena Shaheed-Jackson
My purpose emerged from navigating significant challenges and adversity throughout my life. I spent years in environments where I was expected to diminish myself to fit in, allowing others to define my worth and potential rather than believing in who I could become. These experiences, though difficult, became the foundation for understanding how external voices can silence our authentic selves and limit our growth. Read More>>
Kieran O’Leary
How did I find my purpose? Through trial, error, and relentless self-inquiry.
When I was younger, my path seemed clear. I loved taking things apart and solving puzzles, and I did well in math Olympiads and similar competitions. A career as a physicist or an engineer felt inevitable. But then music came into my life and completely shifted my direction. I started a band called The Post Nobles, where we wrote and recorded our own songs. For a while, that felt like everything. Read More>>
Kim Ortiz
When I was twenty-three years old, I began writing a book titled, Surviving Your Twenties: The Truth About Growing Up. I was one year post-grad from college and trying to navigate this new norm of constant rejection, both professionally and personally. It truly felt like I was suddenly thrusted into this “quarter-life crisis” with no window or clear vision as to when the constant hailstorm of what I considered to be failure after failure, would end. Read More>>
