Chapter 1: On Finding Purpose

There's a song I really love - Dream Small by Josh Wilson. It highlights the beauty of our small, everyday acts of kindness and faithfulness. The song encourages us to focus on the little things: loving family, serving others, and living out faith in simple ways. I remember discovering this song on Air1 Radio in 2016, during a season when I was struggling to come to terms with my new reality.

I had migrated to a new country, trying to start over after leaving behind a life and career that I had thought would catapult me to a world stage of influence and purpose. I was at a crossroads, breaking up with and mourning a version of myself I had come to know and love, while feeling completely lost about the new version of me, this stranger I met in the mirror every day. Before that season, if you'd asked me about my life, I would have given you a confident answer, complete with vivid details of who I was, what I was about, and where I was headed. My dreams were big, they were bright, they were grand.

But as is common with life, things changed. Starting over forced me to confront the idea that maybe my life wasn't going to be one of influence and impact. Perhaps, the big dreams I had dreamt were simply just that, dreams - colorful figments woven together by an ambitious heart. Maybe I didn’t even know my purpose.

"What is my purpose in life?"

I bet you've asked yourself that question more than once. Google says most adults reflect on the meaning and purpose of their life at least once a week. But what exactly is 'purpose'? Is it an elusive concept reserved for a privileged few? A profound epiphany stumbled upon during a life-altering event? Does it have to be earth-shaking? Must it come with big dreams?

I'll be honest, there was a time when I thought purpose had to be grand. But life has shown me otherwise. In 2016, hearing Josh Wilson's lyrics, it occurred to me that purpose could be revealed in small dreams. Since then, I’ve learned that purpose is an unquenchable flame inside us all, intricately woven into the very fabric of our being. It’s always there, quietly burning, even when life gets noisy.

In this first chapter of the ProjectYOU Diaries, I propose to you that ‘Purpose’ isn't something hidden far away, waiting to be found. Instead, it’s already within you, placed there by God, waiting for you to uncover it. It isn’t about discovering the monumental way you’ll change the world, but rather, it is getting clear about who you are and the role you play in your world.

So, Who Are You?

Are you merely a collection of accomplishments, titles, and accolades? Do your milestones define you? Or, are you something more profound - an individual crafted with intention and purpose by the most meticulous Creator? When stripped of everything - the accolades, the praise, the validation - who are you? Knowing who you are is the cornerstone of uncovering your purpose. Defining YOU is a project - a lifelong project that takes time, self-awareness, reflection, and faith.

There have been many significant events that have shaped my life, both good and bad. But it's the small choices made in between those big events that have really  truly made a difference: Choices about my presence and the aura I carry with me; my words and whether they build up or tear down; my money and if I use it generously and wisely; my duties and commitments and if I show up diligently. Mother Teresa said it best, I think: "Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love."

${contact.name.last}, I imagine that the tapestry of your life is also spotted with big events that shook the fabric of your being, but mostly, it's filled with the humdrum of everyday life, with you figuring things out one step at a time. Like me, you might also not be able to tell anyone what the purpose of your life is - answering that question still feels like such a big far-fetched idea. I can, however, start this journey of purpose by telling you who I am, and perhaps in doing so, I might inspire you to think about and tell me who you are.

"I am a woman who is loved by God, striving each day to do what I know I ought to do, and to do it well by His grace."

Who Are You?

You may not be able to articulate it yet, and that's okay. Self-definition and uncovering purpose aren’t reserved for people who have it all figured out. Most of us don’t. But the beautiful thing is most things in life are figureoutable. So you can start defining who you are today by reflecting on these 5 questions:

1. Are you keeping your promises to God, yourself, and others, even when it’s hard?

2. Do you strive to stay in a state of grace, free from the weight of guilt and regret?

3. Do you believe God will bless the work of your hands? If so, are your hands working?

4. Do you know you were made on purpose? If so, are you spending time in prayer, asking God to reveal His purpose for you?

5. How do you want to be remembered?

I invite you to see these questions as guideposts, helping you navigate the path to discovering who you are. But remember, defining yourself and uncovering your purpose is a journey. It’s a project. It is ProjectYOU.

Today, your Project could look like you being a good friend, finishing up that task at work that you've been putting off, or just taking a moment to whisper a quick 'I love you' to God. Tomorrow, it could be revisiting your New Year resolutions and really getting to them. Next month, it could be taking a trip to care for an aging parent. 

You are evolving along with all the facets of who you are. As you do what you ought to do, and do them well, you project YOU into the world with intention, courage and grace. And eventually, you will find that your self-definition, your purpose, and your  unique, irreplaceable essence - ProjectYOU - will become clearer.

Cheers to knowing who you are and living it out with grace as a reflection of God's love and purpose for your life. Thank you for being here with me. I can’t wait to keep exploring, growing, and discovering with you. Here is to the start of something beautiful. See you in the next chapter.

Ihūnnaya na Ihe,

Tobe