Really figuring out what you are meant to do with your life or stepping into your purpose is something I truly believe doesn’t just happen over night. Nor do I believe that there is some big strategic formula that will help you to uncover it. For me, it has taken years and years to come into it and even on most days I feel like I have so much to learn about it.
Besides tons of prayer and asking for clarity, I began to dig into my purpose through writing out my story (we’ll talk about that in a future post). More specifically, digging into what I loved and found the most peace in as a child.
To give you a better understanding, I’ll have to give you a little peak into my childhood.
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I was quite a peculiar child. While I was pretty much obsessed with Barbies just like the average 10 year old, I wanted to spend the majority of my time writing. From practicing my handwriting, to writing in my journal to making up short stories, I fell in love with the process of being able to freely say whatever I wanted to. As an introvert from birth, I found peace in the silence of putting my thoughts, feelings and ideas onto paper and literally becoming the characters I was creating. I remember the excitement I got whenever I thought of a new idea or when I was given a new notebook to write in. The only other feeling I could equate it to is the feeling of finally hitting the dip on a rollercoaster. You know when it feels like you have a pit in your stomach, your heart is racing and your adrenaline is rushing. That was how I felt whenever i was able to get into my zone and just write.
can your childhood desires help you dig deeper into your purpose as an adult?
Thankfully I wasn’t the only one who noticed that I had something. I’m thankful for a mother who continually supported my love for writing, who always purchased my supplies and who continues to give me reassurance that i can be whatever I want to be (I actually dedicated my first book to her). And also extremely thankful for my 3rd grade teacher Mrs. Williams, whom I vividly remember telling me that she loved my writing and who encouraged me to write everyday if I really wanted to be a writer.
What I didn’t know back then was that even at that age, God was already giving me a glimpse at the purpose he had for my life. What seemed like a hobby then, is what I truly believe now was a major part of what i’m now being called to do.
As the years went on I always found myself back in a position where writing made me the happiest and the most fulfilled. From writing for my school newspaper to getting oddly excited about English class to venting about my teen years through journaling. Writing was and has always been my way of escaping and feeling like I was being heard.
So at this point of the story you’re probably thinking I grew up to be an amazing author who used her words to inspire the world.
But that wasn’t the case. Somewhere between high school and my early years of college my dream began to shift. I started telling more people about wanting to become a writer but the feedback wasn’t as positive as they once were when I was an eager 10 year old. I was then being told that there was no money in being a writer, that print would soon be dead and that I should choose a more stable career. And slowly that inner child within me that had so much spark and passion slowly began to fade away the more I allowed the outside world to get into my head.
See that’s the thing about your purpose, your passion, your vision and your dreams…
God gave them to you and to you only. The only way others can truly understand, is if God opens their eyes to see it the way that you do. So we can’t get upset when others don’t get it because they are simply not meant to. And we sure can’t let it consume us or make us get off course. I believe that is the exact reason why so many adults, still don’t have a clue as to what they want to do with their lives. I’ll be turning 28 soon and it literally just hit me within the past year or so. But what if we tapped back into what we loved as children? Couldn’t that be a driving force as to what direction we want to take our lives in?
that’s the thing about our purpose, it’s not always meant for everyone to understand.
As children everything is so new and exciting. You typically have little to no cares and are unbothered by what others may think or say. Which is why it is so easy for kids to wholeheartedly pursue something they love and to dream big. I truly believe that as adults if we just stopped for a moment, stepped away from all of the noise around us and adopted that child like faith and mentality, it would help us dig deeper into our purpose.
SO WHERE DO YOU START?
Think back to when you were a kid and think about what moments made you the happiest. In those moments, what exactly were you doing?Was it when you were drawing or painting during art class? Maybe when you were helping your mom prepare dinner. Or maybe when you were obsessed with watching detective shows. Also, consider who you admired when you were younger. And what were you just naturally good at? I had a friend tell me her moment as a kid was when she’d watch her teachers interact with the other students. She loved how they had a way of giving every child the attention they needed and how they made everyone feel special regardless of their struggles. That was something she didn’t personally receive outside of school but wanted to make others feel the way her teachers did. Because of those moments she knew she wanted to dedicate her life to teaching and volunteering.
My moment, of course was writing.
Seriously, take your time to write out your story and answer those questions. Do those childhood moments and passions align with that you’re doing now? If so, then congratulations for allowing your inner child to shine.
If not, then what in your life stopped you? Was it fear? Not thinking it was possible? Was it the opinions of others? If you were like me and allowed what other people thought to stop me then I encourage you to go back and embrace those things that you once loved. Especially if you don’t feel connected with what you’re doing now. Again, coming into your purpose means uncovering what you feel like you were called to do. A lot of times what we are meant to do is right in your face.
