How to Find Your Life’s Purpose

When we are who we are called to be, we will set the world ablaze – St. Catherine of Siena

In my line of work I help guide people towards their purpose. I don’t necessarily tell them what they should be doing, but I help them dig deep about what it is that excites them, and prompt them figure out how to stay on a path that can guide them towards success.

When I was in undergrad I wrote a fictional short story about a college student attending a school called, Purpose College. My professor at the time really liked that I named the university Purpose. I did that intentionally, because I believe one of the biggest things a lot of people struggle with is trying to figure out what they’re supposed to be doing with their lives. Often, I find a lot of people spending time wandering or doing things they don’t enjoy or may even hate doing, while allowing things like being realistic or peer pressure or family or societal expectations sway their choices, while letting their dreams be shelved or even worse, buried.

Doing different things other people told me I should be doing vs. trusting God and my instincts, helped push me towards figuring out my own life’s purpose. And also inner feelings of innately knowing I’m meant for something more, while still figuring out all of what my purpose entails. I always knew I’d be a writer, but I also discovered I’m good at other things like, coaching, counseling, consulting, encouragement, and giving others hope. Those are just a handful of things that come natural to me, and it amazes me how some people miss what’s so obvious about themselves that they’d be great at doing, and would probably be more successful at vs. the line of work they’re already in. If you’re still trying to figure out what you’re supposed to be doing with your life, know this - the answer may be closer than you realize…

Just get still, pay attention and be open. You’ll find the answers you’ve been looking for.

The Day I Became A Kidney Donor

About a year ago, I had a dream my dad wanted to talk to our family about something serious. I wasn’t sure what he wanted to discuss, but I knew it was something I needed to prepare myself for. Around the time after I had this dream, I remember stopping by my parents place and sensing something was going on that they weren’t telling me. I tried to dismiss what I’d been feeling, but I couldn’t shake it. Something serious was happening. As I returned to my home after visiting them one day, I was in my kitchen washing dishes when a heaviness hit my heart like nothing I’d ever felt before. Something’s wrong with dad. That’s what that dream was about. God, what’s going on? As I continued washing dishes, I started crying and praying. Then in mid-spring, my dad held an unexpected family meeting that would change all our lives forever. He hesitated at first, and as his voice started cracking and he started crying, he said, “Well, I wanted to talk to ya’ll to tell you that I have kidney disea...

Thoughts From a Black Educator: Qualified, Credentialed, and Constantly Undermined

I’m a Black educator in my fifth year of teaching middle school English, and in my third as the 8th Grade English PLC (Professional Learning Community) Lead. And while I genuinely enjoy the purposeful work I get to do, seeing the growth of my scholars, and continuing to hone my skills in a content area I’ve loved since I was a little girl, I’ve had to confront some unpleasant experiences in this space. I’d been through much worse when I was an academic advisor at a Christian university. Racism, sexism, harassment, and workplace bullying were sadly norms in that environment. However, some of what I’ve experienced as a Black educator hasn’t been normal … It doesn’t seem normal to be the only Black educator in my department – in a predominantly Black school. One of my Black colleagues once said, “It should look like a Tyler Perry movie in here.” But it doesn’t. It didn’t feel normal being reprimanded in a meeting (during my second year of teaching) by an administrator who went in on...

The Day I Made A Will

When I was a teenager, I remember writing a list of my greatest fears. One of the things I listed was death. Looking back, it was an interesting item to list because inevitably, death is something each of us will face at some point in our lives. Even though it’s no longer a fear of mine, I understand why and how it’s not a comfortable thing for everyone to navigate. But regardless, this past summer I completed a detailed will. I signed it, had witnesses sign it, and got it notarized. As I was getting everything done, one of the witnesses looked at me and said, “You know, it’s just that you’re so young…” I’ve learned that death doesn’t care how young or how old you are. You can be five, fifteen, thirty, or fifty, and it’s still something that happens. Completing my will wasn’t scary. It gave me peace of mind having documentation in place stating my detailed directives and requests. A year ago, I had one of my kidneys removed. It was a surgery that came with risks that were presented cle...

Making Waves