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.

Shantell Owens

I’m a wife, mother, and business owner, and I will be going back to school for law in March 2026, in my mid-30s. My journey hasn’t been straight, and honestly, it’s been full of pivots, lessons, and moments where I had to really reconnect with myself.

I’ve always wanted to be an attorney. I loved everything about it, the Harvey Specters, the Annalise Keatings, the kind of badass lawyers who own the room. But it wasn’t the job itself that intimidated me. It was the work behind it. The years of school, learning every single law, the sacrifices, it felt impossible back then. Read More>> 

Justin Chris

I found my purpose through creating music. At first I was just telling my story, expressing what I felt, but over time I realized that my words were impacting people in a positive way, often without me even trying. That subconscious connection sparked something deeper: a love for helping and motivating others through music. It eventually expanded into a passion for innovation and creating opportunities in my community. Read More>> 

Terrence Hutchinson

My journey began with a side hustle in college. I saw that many independent filmmakers and small businesses struggled to create engaging content on a budget. I started by offering to produce short-form videos and trailers, which not only helped me hone my video production skills but also taught me the fundamentals of client management, project scoping, and delivering on tight deadlines. It was a real-world crash course in entrepreneurship.” Read More>> 

Collette Mann

Finding my purpose has always been a continual journey, evolving alongside each chapter of my life. For many years, my art took a backseat to other responsibilities. My primary focus was raising my children, and I would only pursue creative projects when time allowed. Later, as my children grew older and entered school, my nursing career took precedence. Now, with more space in my life, art has emerged as my main pursuit. The knowledge and empathy gained from my nursing background have deepened my appreciation for the healing qualities of art, inspiring me to engage in community outreach through my creative work. Read More>> 

Kristina Sterling

I found my purpose in photography because I’ve always believed that every moment tells a story worth holding on to. For me, it’s more than just capturing a few photos – its about preserving a feeling, it’s about capturing the laughter, the quiet glances, the in-between moments that might otherwise be forgotten. I want people to be able to have those same butterflies, warmth and love that they felt in that moment, almost like stepping back into a dream. My heart is in giving people the chance to be fully present, to live their moments without worry, knowing I’m there to preserve them forever. Read More>> 

Amy Carson

As a child it was always clear to me that I was an artist. Everything I did with my spare time had a creative or artistic component. But my parents are very practical people. Both worked in the medical field, and I received strong messaging as a teenager that artists were not serious adults.

Throughout my 20s and half of my 30s I tried to find a career that was “serious” but still interesting enough that I’d be able to bare it. Inevitably, all the careers I tried became boring, and without creative impetus, I felt like my soul was being drained from my body. Read More>> 

Cynthia Brody

I believe my mere existence has fostered a drive to live a life of purpose. I say this because I was born to a mother who had survived six months in Auschwitz, not an easy feat. Learning this at a very early age, I’ve always felt I should not take the life I’d been given for granted. I’d always sketched as a child and felt I would probably make a career in art my focus. When the only school I’d applied to rejected me, I decided I was not very good and got a degree in a field in which I had no interest. When I complained about my failed attempt at being an artist while attending a 70’s consciousness raising group years later another woman suggested I “Stop bitching about it and just do it!”  Read More>> 

Mahsa Dehghan

I found my purpose gradually, through listening to others, to myself, and to the world around me.
Growing up in a small town in Iran, I was drawn to visual expression early on. I didn’t think of it as a “purpose” at the time; I just knew that creating felt natural and meaningful.

Over the years, through client work and personal projects, I began to realize that what drives me isn’t just making things look good. It’s using design and art as a way to communicate stories that matter. Whether I’m working on a campaign for a brand or documenting the life of a street vendor through photography, I’m always searching for connection, truth, and impact. Read More>> 

Destiny Chase

Fueled by a rich tapestry of experiences in sustainability, leadership, and design, I found my purpose in weaving biophilic design into the fabric of the Anthropocene. From my roots in a small fishing village to managing businesses in Hawai’i, and later serving as a military officer and chemical scientist, each chapter deepened my understanding of how to unite people with the natural world through intentional, enduring spaces. Read More>> 

Tomeka Mills

I found my purpose by reflecting on my childhood community where I saw how many high school-aged girls were overlooked. That experience inspired me to create A.W. Brooks Serenity Home—a place where they can heal, grow, and believe in their future Read More>> 

Marie Boone-Clark

have always had a passion for giving back to the community, something I trace to being a minister’s daughter. My father’s church, like so many Black churches, was deeply connected to the community and supported families in both celebrations and hardships. Even while working full time, I stayed committed to service, volunteering with the Junior League, serving on boards, and remaining active in my church. Read More>> 

Daniel Horia

I find my purpose through art, and in particular through creating comics. Read More>>

Francine Mittenthal

Some people find their purpose, others have it thrust upon them. I like to say my purpose found me, or the universe had to work HARD to get me to accept my calling. It’s the details which make my story hit home, but I’ll try to make a long story short.

After being a stay-at-home mom for thirteen years, I was bored but no longer qualified to return to my previous career, and our three daughters still needed me so much of the year. Around this time, I battled some health issues and decided it was time to hire a photographer for our first professional family portraits. Read More>>

Heather Christine

Finding my purpose was something I struggled with for a long time.
I have a broken relationship with my father and have been divorced.
At times, I felt lost, unable to know what my purpose was. I often mixed my dreams with my purpose and was consistently feeling let down. Read More>> 

John Wood

I did not find my purpose – it found me. It started with 10 simple words – “Perhaps, Sir, you will some day come back with books”. This was the direct but humble request from the headmaster of a rural school in the Annapurna Mountain range of Nepal whom I met during an 18 day trek. I was a burned out Microsoft exec at the time and was in Nepal for a break. I joked that if you went high enough into the Himalayas, you could escape the sound of Steve Ballmer yelling at you. Anyway, this headmaster had over 300 students but their library was empty. Read More>> 

Jesslyn McCutcheon

I love this question. It may have taken me nearly two decades to find my purpose, but when I did–the passion could not be stopped. I found my purpose after years of struggling living with bipolar 1 disorder–an often misunderstood illness that I wanted nothing to do with. First, I had to learn to except the illness. Secondly, I had to learn to believe that I was capable of doing the calling that God had placed on my heart–helping other woman and their caretakers who live with bipolar disorder. Read More>> 

Meghana Mantravadi

I didn’t “find my purpose” so much as I stumbled into an obligation I couldn’t ignore. Growing up, I watched neighborhood shops, places that had been part of the community for decades, close their doors, while big chains moved in. It didn’t feel like an abstract economic shift; it felt personal, like a hollowing out of community life. Read More>> 

Natalie Saiia

Entering a public restroom my sophomore year of high school, I noticed a crowd gathered around a period product dispenser. Curious, I approached and saw a young unhoused young-woman not too much older than me. Her pants were stained, and she was desperately attempting to purchase a tampon out of a broken machine with her last quarter. Read More>> 

Joe Marzahl

I found purpose the hard way—by first realizing I didn’t have it. For years, I was chasing promotions and paychecks, stuck in the cycle of corporate success that left me restless and disconnected. What I was really craving was space, freedom, and something that felt meaningful.

That shift came when I reconnected with my love of the outdoors. Land gave me the grounding and possibility I had been missing. It wasn’t just about acreage—it was about peace, presence, and creating something lasting for my family. Read More>> 

Kara Marie Cruz

A few years ago, I found myself completely exhausted. I was stuck in a job that left me drained, and my deep desire to feel worthy by being of service to others meant I constantly put myself last. I had trained my mind to power through the stress and obligations, not realizing how much it was taking a toll on my body—until it finally caught up with me. The burnout became so intense, it began to manifest physically. I ended up in the hospital more than once, and that’s when I knew something had to change. Read More>> 

Dorian Stewart

I thought my purpose was a corner office and a solid 401(k). For over 20 years, I thrived in hospital leadership, managing departments, mentoring young professionals, and climbing up the career ladder. I checked all the boxes. But deep down, something was missing.

Then, on a quiet afternoon, while rocking my newly adopted daughter, Nylah, a wave of clarity hit me like a divine download: “You were called to write for her… and for every child who feels unseen, unloved, or unsure of their worth.” That moment rewrote my life’s purpose. Read More>> 

Rowyn Adelaide

Throughout my life and career, I’ve been driven by a desire to understand people—their experiences, their hardships, their hopes—and how those things shape the choices they make. Curiosity has always been my compass, whether it’s through heartfelt conversations in real life or through the characters I bring to life on the page. Being a romance author allows me to explore those human truths in a way that feels both magical and deeply personal, and it’s in that connection, between imagination and empathy, that I find my purpose. Read More>> 

Ray Hawkins

When I was enrolled in college, I switched majors to become a Communications major. Fortunately, I completed the degree, but fell in love with the concept of health communications. I naturally felt inclined to pursue a career in health for job security and relevance, but I felt my skill set leaned heavily towards the rhetorical aspect of communications. Eventually, I had the drive to not only make health changes within my life but to further impact others’ lives through the guise of health advocacy. Read More>> 

Lodro Rinzler

I’ve found my purpose as a meditation teacher and Buddhist author by weaving together my personal meditation practice, my writing, and my work with others into a single thread: helping people suffer less and awaken more compassion in themselves and for the world.

It’s been less a lightning-bolt moment and more an evolving path—starting with my own Buddhist training – I was raised Buddhist in New York City – then deepening through years of teaching meditation, and expanding into writing books, including the international best-seller “The Buddha Walks into a Bar.” Along the way, I’ve seen how mindfulness, self-compassion, and humor can help people navigate burnout, uncertainty, and the messiness of being human. Read More>> 

Nikki Branch

I love this question! I often think about my purpose, especially when things get difficult in my business or feel overwhelming. It always takes me back to where I started and how far I’ve come.
I didn’t really think about what my purpose was until I had my first child in 2008. That’s when life really got real, lol. Becoming a mom made me start thinking about what I wanted to do with my life and how I was going to provide for this incredible blessing. It’s amazing how motherhood changes your perspective and instantly makes you want to become the best version of yourself. Read More>> 

Nigil Crawford

Finding my purpose wasn’t something that occurred overnight. It’s something that developed over time. The younger version of myself probably wouldn’t believe where he ended up today. He was too concerned with wanting to be noticed. He didn’t take time to appreciate what was around him. Read More>> 

Narmin Backus

Artistically, I have found my purpose through understanding what I want to do. I have wanted to be an artist as long as I can remember, and I am very grateful to my parents for helping me and fostering this desire in me since I was a child. They found a teacher for me, paid for my art classes, encouraged my artistic endeavors, and have told me that they are proud of me. Read More>> 

DJ Soulful Desire

I found my purpose at a very young age being around many older adults. When I was younger , my parents constantly took my brother and I to church, Outside of church, my parents were very active in working and serving in the community. The combination of serving in the community and being in church , help me find my purpose.Serving in the community, taught me how to give back and sow in to others. Growing up in church and singing on the youth choir along with playing trombone for a few years for the choir, gave me a bigger passion and purpose in music.  Read More>> 

Sneha Sabu

There are several issues and causes that resonate with me. Child safety and protection, women’s empowerment, poverty alleviation, using strategies to make a difference in the lives of people, and building my ikigai where communities and connections coexist to make the world a better place is where I find my purpose. I want to be a true masterpiece of myself by focusing on my purpose and existence. Read More>> 

D R Berlin

I minored in Writing in college and The Third Estate Secrets of the Manor has been swimming in my head for years. Now that Mom’s Taxi is officially closed and my presence is no longer needed in the stands on the soccer or football fields, I have the time to devote to realizing my dream. Since the first day I started to outline the story, the words have flooded the pages like a tsunami, and haven’t stopped. This book is the first in a series. I chased a dream and now am a self-published author. I set my goals high and work every day to achieve them. Read More>> 

Haiden Bohm

I’ve always loved cooking and baking—it’s been the thing that feels the most natural to me. After college, I was struggling to find a job, and honestly, it was discouraging. But in that space of uncertainty, I started leaning into the one thing that had always brought me joy: baking. Every birthday, I showed up with something homemade, decorated with love. Read More>> 

Paulaska Ramirez

I didn’t just find my purpose; it was passed down to me, carried in the stories, sacrifices, and resilience of my ancestors. As a first-generation woman, I was raised with the unspoken understanding that I was walking on paths they couldn’t access but had dreamed of for me. Their strength became my compass. Read More>> 

Margarita Mantis

Music, as I often say, has always been the best form of self-expression for me. I also always loved writing and storytelling, and by the time I reached my high school years, I slowly but surely began to realize that I could combine those two passions, as I had already started writing songs here and there since I was 11 years old. I decided it was time to pursue music professionally in 2021, when I was 16 years old, and started uploading my work to YouTube via acoustic demos, eventually growing a following since then. I went on to take the next step, soon venturing into a recording studio. Read More>> 

LaTasha Thornton

I truly believe that my purpose found me. In the fall of 1996, I returned home from Jackson State University as a first-year sophomore, unsure of what major to pursue. Soon after, I enrolled at LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis, TN, and declared a major in education. Around that time, I was offered my first job as a daycare teacher at Southern Avenue Daycare, thanks to Elise Evans. From that moment, my life began to unfold in ways I never expected. Read More>>