Could YOU be the answer?
Could you REALLY be the answer to someone else’s prayers?
Not only do I believe you could be—I believe you ARE. That’s why we’re pressing forward with a third and final conversation about finding your purpose.
Discovering your life’s purpose can feel overwhelming. It’s a lot of pressure to think that you can spend a few hours with your thoughts and a journal and emerge with a clear path for your life all figured out.
We sometimes tell ourselves the story that when we discover our “true” life’s purpose, the heavens will part, the angels will sing, and a really cool light will shine down from heaven.
And when that doesn’t happen, we find ourselves disappointed, frustrated, and maybe even cynical about the whole idea of discovering your purpose.
Whatever your background or prior experiences with purpose-finding, please give this an honest effort. It turns out that finding your purpose is much more a journey than a destination.
The past two newsletters are vital to this process—especially the questions I asked in the newsletter titled, “It’s time to find your Guiding Star.” If you missed them, you can catch up here:
Why would a father do that??? (September 20,2026)
It’s time to find your GUIDING STAR! (September 27, 2026)
It’s time to continue our purpose-finding journey with another round of reflection questions. In the last set of questions, we focused primarily on your past. Now we’re turning the corner to your present and your future.
Please note—I will use the term “cause” in several of these questions. For this exercise, “cause” refers to the act of assisting other people by providing a solution to their problem or issue. With the reflections from Round 1 in mind, answer the following:
Author Rory Vaden says, “You are always most powerfully positioned to serve the person you once were.” Who can you relate to because of the person you once were? (If you’re currently trapped in a hole, that might also mean the person you are today.)
Could you be the answer to someone else’s prayers? Who do you think that someone might be?
What cause would you be willing to sacrifice for, take risks for, fail for, or even run through a brick wall for?
What cause would you be willing to involve, engage, or lead others in solving?
What cause gives you goosebumps, makes you feel emotional, or gives you joy?
What strengths, experiences, relationships, or other resources do you possess that you can contribute to support a worthy cause?
Everyone leaves a legacy of some kind. If you could be remembered for one thing, what would you choose?
Your Purpose Statement
It’s time to “connect the dots” and draft a purpose statement of your own.
Please remember—finding your purpose is not about something headline-worthy or hall-of-fame-worthy. Your goal is to use your heart, strengths, experiences, relationships, and resources to make a difference in the lives of others and do something that truly matters to you.
Consider this a work in progress. Your first draft will likely NOT be your last. You have a growing list of options and possibilities, but you may still lack clarity. Make lists and drafts galore. Also keep in mind that your purpose may change or evolve as you climb out of the hole. When you land in the right place, you’ll know it. Finally, remember you may have more than one purpose to uncover. So feel free to repeat as needed.
A purpose typically includes three elements: It focuses on people, it solves a problem, and it has a vision for some change, outcome, or transformation.
Use the previous two rounds of reflections (the questions above and questions from the previous newsletter) as clues and answer the following:
Who do you want to help?
This could be as simple as your family, a neighbor, or a friend. It could focus on your home, your community, or people far away. It could involve people united by a common problem. While the possibilities are endless, it’s likely that only a few speak purposefully and powerfully to you.
What is the problem you want to solve?
The problem you want to solve could be tied to a lack of love, peace, or safety. It might have to do with homelessness, healthy living, addiction, disease, mental health, education, affordable housing, financial literacy, or matters of faith. Again, the possibilities are endless—but it’s likely that only a few speak purposely and powerfully to you.
What is the change, outcome, or transformation that will take place?
What change, outcome, or transformation will occur in the lives of the people you help? Don’t be afraid to drill deep here. Sometimes the real change or outcome is several layers beneath the surface.
Notice you’re not addressing the HOW part of your purpose. At least not yet. Maybe you will volunteer, teach, write a book, travel the world, compose music, perform or entertain, make art, prepare meals, start a business, adopt, contribute to a cause—or do something you had never dreamed or imagined.
It sometimes helps to have an example, so here’s a short version of my purpose statement. Notice that each of the three elements is present: who I want to help, the problem I want to solve, and the transformation that will take place.
My purpose is to help people who have dedicated their lives to making a difference—but have lost, neglected, or sacrificed their own health and well-being along the way—so they can continue to serve the people they love and do the things they care about most.
I have several versions of my purpose statement, some with greater detail. All of them are important and meaningful to me. They give me goosebumps. I’d be willing to sacrifice, take risks, fail, and run through brick walls for the opportunity to fulfill these purposes.
Here’s a final prompt to guide you in drafting your purpose statement. Please feel free to adapt this to your own liking. Remember to include all three elements: the person or people; the problem; and the change, outcome, or transformation.
My purpose is to help . . . (name the person or people)
but who . . . (name the problem)
so that they can . . . (name the change, outcome, or transformation).
A few final thoughts.
All the practices in my book LIVE AGAIN! will gain greater meaning as you clarify your purpose. That’s why it’s vital to write something down on paper now. Remember, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a first step.
Once you write down your purpose, review it daily. Place it somewhere you can’t miss such as your journal, planner, computer, phone, bulletin board, refrigerator door, or bathroom mirror. Continue this habit even if you update your purpose statement over time.
And please don’t worry if your purpose isn’t clear yet. It will continue to emerge. The fact that you’re working through this process makes you even more focused and committed.
Earlier, I stated that this was a private activity. While that’s true, it is sometimes valuable to hear feedback from someone you trust. If you choose to do that, you might share your list or findings and ask, “Knowing me as you do, what do you think my purpose might be?” or, “Does this purpose sound like me?”
I also mentioned that you likely have a handful of purposes. Some might focus on faith, family, relationships, and more. Please feel free to repeat this process as many times as you wish—both to clarify your purpose and to uncover new ones.
Congratulations! I’m so very proud of you.
Thanks to newfound direction and determination—you’re starting to LIVE AGAIN!
Until next time,
John Alan
