A Sense of Purpose

It has taken me my whole life to figure out what I have wanted to do. Over time, my passions have continued to bubble to the surface - wellness, nature, relationship, and emotional health. Over time, I have studied and researched these concepts and it has made me grow in the areas I greatly value. Though I wouldn’t necessarily say that I am in a place where I am pursuing my life-long career purpose, I can confidently say that I live in a way that reflects my sense of purpose. I would boil down my sense of purpose to be one who can hear others and meet them where they are at, be a source of light for them, and be a soft place for them to land.

Hiking in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona

At a time when I felt really stuck, I was working at a place where it could bring a lot of dark feelings to the surface. However, I had this overwhelming feeling that I needed to try and be a beacon of light. A brightness in an arena where darkness had a way of creeping in and making one think there are no good things left on this planet. It was pervasive and soul destroying. I believed that it was my responsibility to counteract that. My mission would be to come in, stay positive, say hello to everyone in the room and just radiate joy, friendship, and humor.

Now, please, understand that life also plays no favorites - so this was not an every second of every minute sort of ability. I, too, had frustrating days and seasons of life.

Yet, once I got that pep in my step back, the desire to truly be a light continued. I would muster up the courage to face another day. It didn’t always feel like I was making a difference - not really sure if I impacted anyone at all - to be honest. But I lived with a sense of purpose. That time got me through those mundane days. I didn’t want to be there - I wanted so much more than to be sitting in a windowless room staring at a computer screen. There, nonetheless, I remained for some time. I eventually realized that this sense of purpose greatly improved my mental health while I was there. To this day, it is still one of the most fun places I have worked because of the friendships I made with staff.

Nowadays, my sense of purpose has been shifting. I feel like I am in charge of caring for others. As mentioned before, being a safe place for others to land. I don’t always get it right - but my hope is to create a place where the people who come to me can bring me their hurt or pain, and leave feeling loved, cared for, and safe. I am trying to lean into this. I have read books to help me understand how to live this sense of purpose out. I listen to criticism when I mess up. It’s not a one-stop solution to all of life’s problems, but, it makes me feel like I am contributing something to this world.

With that being said, I want to ask you, Reader, what gives you a sense of purpose? If you are at a spot in life, struggling with discontentment in the shadows, how can you burst forth and live with a freshly minted sense of purpose? Is it your sense of humor, your knowledge of a subject, your ability to play an instrument? Is it your easy way to connect with others, or find joy regardless of the mundane, the gloom, the pain? Take some time to slow down and focus on what you want to bring to this world. It’s not always easy, but we can continue fighting for a life we are proud of.

This is not “ignoring a life problem so that you can feel something good”. No, this is an intentional way of living to bring about a determination to live in a way that reflects the light and love you have to share with the people around you.

I am eager to hear other’s ideas on this topic. What gives you a sense of purpose? How do you overcome the rough patches of life with a greater determination to give back in a positive way?