I want to tell you something that might change how you see your life: you’re always preparing for opportunities you can’t yet imagine. Every choice you make, every effort you give, every lesson you learn—it’s all building something, even if you can’t see the shape of it yet.

Life doesn’t come with a map. You can’t plan every twist and turn, and that’s the point. If you could see everything ahead of time, you’d miss the best parts: the surprises, the challenges, the ways you grow into someone stronger than you thought you could be. But here’s the secret: the future belongs to those who are ready. Not ready in the sense of having all the answers, but ready because they’ve put in the work, stayed curious, and learned to trust the process.

The world will try to pull you in a thousand directions, but the people who thrive are the ones who live with intention. They decide what matters to them—what they care about, what they stand for—and they let those things guide them. It doesn’t mean they always know exactly where they’re going. It means they’re walking a path that feels right, step by step, becoming the kind of person who can handle whatever comes next.

So, what does it look like to live a life of purpose? Let me share a few stories.

Take Fred Rogers, the creator of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. He dedicated his life to helping kids feel loved and understood. He didn’t set out to become famous—he just believed that children needed a voice of kindness in their lives. He followed that belief and created something that impacted millions. That’s purpose: seeing a need, caring deeply, and taking action.

Or consider the story of Malala Yousafzai. She grew up in a part of Pakistan where girls weren’t always allowed to go to school. Even as a young girl, Malala loved learning—books, writing, and education lit up her world. But some people in her community believed that girls didn’t deserve to be educated, and they were willing to use violence to enforce that belief. When Malala was just 15, she was targeted by these extremists and shot because she dared to speak out for the right of every girl to go to school. Most people wouldn’t have survived, but Malala not only lived, she became even more determined to fight for education—not just for herself, but for millions of girls around the world. Today, she’s a global symbol of courage, resilience, and purpose. Her story shows us that living a life of purpose isn’t about having an easy path—it’s about standing up for what you believe in, even when it’s hard, and letting your passion guide you toward making the world a better place.

Closer to home, think about the small business owner who works late hours, not just for profit, but to build something meaningful for their family and community. Or the teacher who goes above and beyond, inspiring students not just to memorize facts, but to believe in themselves. Purpose shows up in everyday acts of dedication, love, and effort. It’s not always glamorous, but it’s always worth it.

But now let me tell you what happens when people don’t live with purpose.

Without purpose, life can start to feel like a treadmill. You get up, go to work, come home, and repeat. Days blur together because there’s no bigger vision pulling you forward. You might stay in a job you hate, surround yourself with the wrong people, or waste time on things that don’t really matter, simply because you’re not sure what else to do. Life without purpose isn’t always dramatic or tragic—it’s often quiet and dull, slowly draining your energy and joy.

Over time, this can unravel you. When you’re just plodding through life, you start to feel stuck. Small problems feel huge because there’s nothing bigger to focus on. Disappointments hit harder because they don’t seem to lead anywhere. And the worst part? You start to wonder if this is all there is. That sense of drifting, of just existing instead of truly living—it can creep in and take over if you’re not careful.

The good news is, it doesn’t have to be this way. Purpose is something you create. It’s not handed to you—it’s built, moment by moment, through your choices. So how do you find your purpose?

Start by looking at the places where time flies for you. Think about the moments when you’re so absorbed in what you’re doing that you lose track of time. This is often called a “flow state,” and it’s a huge clue about where your purpose might lie. Flow happens when you’re doing something that challenges you just enough to keep you fully engaged—something that feels both exciting and natural.

Now, think about your passions. What excites you? What could you talk about for hours without getting bored? What kinds of problems do you love solving? Passion is another piece of the puzzle because it points to what you truly care about.

The magic happens at the intersection of flow and passion—where you find something you love doing that also feels meaningful. Maybe it’s writing, building things, helping people, creating art, or solving complex problems. Whatever it is, lean into it. Explore it. See where it leads.

Living a purposeful life can take many forms. Sometimes, your purpose aligns directly with your career. You might feel called to be a doctor, an engineer, a teacher, or an artist. Your work becomes an extension of what you value most, and you pour your energy into making a difference through your profession. When this happens, work doesn’t feel like just a job; it becomes a way to express your gifts and fulfill your mission.

But purpose doesn’t have to stop at work. For many people, it’s what they do outside of their career that brings them the most meaning. You might work a steady job to support your family while pursuing your passion for community service, coaching youth sports, or volunteering at an animal shelter. Purpose could mean building a home filled with love, raising your kids to be kind and thoughtful, or spending your free time learning, creating, or giving back. It could even mean doing both—finding purpose in your work and your time away from it. The key is understanding that purpose isn’t confined to one role or identity; it’s about how you choose to live across every part of your life.

Purpose is also about the impact you have on others. Ask yourself: How can I use my talents to make a difference? What problems in the world—or in your community—are you drawn to solve? Purpose often grows out of the ways you choose to serve others, to contribute something bigger than yourself.

And don’t feel like you have to figure it all out at once. Purpose isn’t a one-time decision; it’s a lifelong process of discovery. You might start down one path and find yourself drawn to another. That’s okay. The key is to keep moving forward, staying open to what feels right and meaningful along the way.

Remember this: you don’t have to know your ultimate purpose right now. Just start with the things that light you up, the things that feel worth doing. One step leads to another, and before you know it, you’ll be creating a life that feels not only purposeful but deeply satisfying.

I want you to live boldly. Be curious. Be kind. Don’t be afraid to fail, because failure is just a step on the way to something better. And don’t wait for someone to hand you permission to live a meaningful life—you already have it. This is your one shot. Make it count.

You are capable of more than you know. You have gifts that the world hasn’t seen yet. And when you live with purpose—when you work hard, stay open, and keep moving forward—there’s no limit to what you can do or who you can become.