Purposeful Living: Tips and Insights to Find Your Way
As some of you may know, I was asked to write for a magazine about finding my purpose. Unfortunately, the magazine article I planned to share with y’all fell through due to some miscommunications, and truthfully, the finished product wasn’t what I had envisioned (or quite frankly provided 🫢) so I am going to share the raw version with y’all. I'm very proud of this piece and hope that even a small part of it resonates with you. So, without further ado:
How to Find Your Purpose
Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
Finding one’s purpose is often portrayed as a moment of epiphany – a single, defining moment where everything becomes clear. My journey, however, was anything but instantaneous. It was a gradual process marked by experiences, growth, failures, self-reflection, and self-acceptance. Through time, introspection, and patience, I started to piece together the things that brought me joy and fulfillment. I realized that my purpose wasn’t tied to a specific job, activity, or income, but to a set of values and passions that resonated deeply within me.
As I delved into self-discovery and opened myself up to new experiences, conversations, and vulnerability, I found that I am passionate about helping others, fostering self-empowerment, and making a positive impact on the world. This understanding wasn’t an overnight revelation; it was the culmination of countless failures, reflections, and moments of growth. I recognized that my true calling was to leave people better than I found them. This became the essence of who I am at my core.
Armed with this newfound clarity, I began to align my actions with my values. I sought opportunities that allowed me to contribute meaningfully and express my true self. This journey took me through various phases of my life, each one enriching my understanding of my purpose. I went to college with the intent to help individuals in a broken system by studying Criminology and although my career path took an unexpected turn, it led me to People Operations where the underlying purpose still remained the same: to leave people better than I found them. This purpose also inspired me to start a blog focused on empowerment and navigating this crazy, beautiful, complicated, joyous life with balance.
Finding my purpose was not the end of the journey but the beginning of a new one. Living my purpose is an ongoing process that requires continual growth, grace, and adaptation. I now approach each day with a sense of curiosity and openness, knowing that my purpose can evolve over time. Each day presents new opportunities to learn, grow, and align my actions with my core values.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
By day, I work in People Operations for a tech start-up. The start-up world is a whirlwind, and I thrive on the thrill it brings. Start-ups allow me to unleash my creativity, build solid foundations, experiment, and see my ideas come to life. It’s a dynamic environment where I can connect deeply with my colleagues, build lasting relationships, and genuinely listen to their needs. I’m not one to be just a cog in the wheel - never have been, never will be. Professionally, I enjoy speaking on panels and advising for Change Engine, an employee communications start-up, as well as Bennie, an insurance brokerage service and platform.
In the evenings and on weekends, I immerse myself in my passion for blogging. On Tiona Lynn Blog, I cover topics such as wellbeing, leadership, style and beauty. Additionally, every Wednesday, I share inspiring quotes aimed at bringing joy to my readers and encourage them to trust their journey, reminding them they aren’t alone. Life is confusing, beautiful, and a bit messy, for everyone, and my blog is a space where we can explore and celebrate these experiences together.
Check my blog out – you might just find something that resonates with you. Let’s navigate this beautiful, messy life together!
What advice would you give to someone trying to find their purpose?
Stay Curious and Open-Minded: Embrace a mindset of lifelong learning and growth. Continuously seek knowledge from a variety of sources, including books, travel, education, and conversations with people from different backgrounds and perspectives. Challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone and explore new ideas and experiences. By maintaining an open mind, you can discover innovative solutions, develop a deeper understanding of the world, and foster personal and professional growth.
Staying curious and open-minded not only enriches your life but also helps you uncover your true passions and purpose. As you expose yourself to diverse perspectives and experiences, you'll gain insights into what truly resonates with you and drives you. This journey of exploration and self-discovery can lead you to a more fulfilling and purposeful life. Remember that every experience, whether successful or challenging, offers valuable lessons and opportunities for improvement. Keep questioning, exploring, and expanding your horizons to achieve your fullest potential and find your unique path in life.
Reflect Often: Regularly take time to engage in self-reflection to gain a deeper understanding of yourself. This practice of introspection will help you become more self-aware, enabling you to recognize your strengths, weaknesses, passions, and values. Self-awareness is crucial in guiding you to make decisions that align with your true self and personal values. By reflecting on your experiences, actions, and emotions, you can learn from the past and make more informed choices in the future. This ongoing process of reflection will lead to greater clarity and purpose in your life, helping you navigate challenges and seize opportunities that resonate with your authentic self. You can do this by journaling, going on a walk, being in nature, meditating, quiet time alone, creative expression, and/or practicing affirmations, gratitude, & self-compassion.
Be True to Yourself: Embrace and celebrate your authentic self, and don't be afraid to show vulnerability. Authenticity means being honest about who you are, your feelings, and your values, without pretending to be someone you're not. When you are true to yourself, you build a life that reflects your true passions and beliefs, leading to greater fulfillment and happiness. Showing vulnerability can also strengthen your relationships, as it fosters trust and deeper connections with others. By being genuine and open, you invite others to do the same, creating a supportive and understanding community. Ultimately, staying true to yourself enriches your own life and cultivates meaningful, lasting connections with those around you.
Embark on your journey with these in mind, and you’ll find yourself growing in ways you never imagined!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
A Hunger for Learning: Embracing the fact that I don’t know it all has been pivotal. I love the quote, “If you are the smartest in the room, you are in the wrong room.” It’s crucial to keep adapting, learning, and growing at all stages of life. We can do this through education, trainings, webinars, or certifications, but don’t forget about books, experiences, and conversations. This mindset has kept me curious and continuously evolving.
Self-Reflection: Regular self-reflection has helped me identify my strengths and weaknesses, and gain deep insights into my thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It has also allowed me to understand my personal identity and unique characteristics, shaping me into the person I am today and guiding my values moving forward.
Authenticity and Vulnerability: Learning to trust and be my most authentic self was a game changer. When I embraced vulnerability and became comfortable in my own skin, I found the freedom to live life to the fullest, on my terms, without letting judgment hold me back. This authenticity has been key to my personal and professional growth.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
We all know this feeling. Being overwhelmed resonates with all of us. But you are not alone in this. Here are some pieces of advice from someone whose plate typically seems to be overflowing:
Re-prioritize: When I feel overwhelmed, I always re-prioritize. This can look like moving things around, focusing on the most critical tasks, and letting go of what’s less important. Break your to-do list into manageable chunks and tackle one thing at a time.
Take a Rest Day or Break: Sometimes the best thing I can do for myself is step away. Whether it’s a full day off or a short break, giving myself time to recharge can work wonders for my mental clarity and energy levels.
Journaling + Blogging: Writing down my thoughts and feelings, whether in a personal journal or through blogging, can help me process what’s overwhelming me or just get whatever is swirling around in my mind at the time, out. Blogging, in particular, allows me to share my experiences and insights with others, fostering a sense of community and connection. It’s one of my favorite ways to clear my mind, gain perspective on what truly matters, and possibly help others who may be experiencing similar challenges. That’s what my whole blog is about. Navigating the good, bad and everything in between.
Practice Mindfulness or Meditation: Taking a few minutes to meditate or practice mindfulness can help center my thoughts and bring a sense of calm. I like to follow Iris Dailey’s (irisdaileyy on Instagram) guided meditations, but you can use apps like Headspace or Calm. There are also free versions on YouTube and Spotify.
Get Moving: Any type of physical activity, whether it’s a walk, yoga, or a strength workout, can help reduce stress and boost my mood. Exercise releases endorphins, which are natural stress relievers. Walking is my favorite way to relieve stress. I always say walking is for my mental health and strength training is for my physical health.
Talk to Someone: Sometimes, sharing my feelings with a friend, family member, or therapist can provide relief and new perspectives. I know this is easier said than done, but do not hesitate to reach out for support. I also have an entire list of mental health resources on my blog if you’re not sure where to start!
Set Boundaries: This is still a personal work in progress, but saying no when necessary. It’s okay to protect my time and energy. Setting boundaries helps prevent burnout and keeps my workload manageable.
Practice Self-Compassion: Being kind to myself and acknowledge that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. As someone who has high functioning anxiety and perfectionism, learning to give myself grace has been a game changer. Instead of criticizing myself for not meeting every expectation, I remind myself that it's normal to struggle and that everyone has moments of difficulty. Practicing self-compassion involves treating myself with the same kindness and understanding that I would offer a friend. This shift in mindset helps me manage stress better, recover from setbacks more quickly, and maintain a healthier, more balanced perspective on life.
Plan and Organize: Sometimes, getting organized can help reduce my feelings of overwhelm. I can use planners, apps, or even simple lists to keep track of my tasks and deadlines. Cleaning or reorganizing my space, getting rid of clutter, or going through my clothes can help create a sense of order and calm, making it easier to focus and reducing feelings of overwhelm. A tidy environment often leads to a tidy mind, allowing me to feel more in control and at peace.
Engage in a Hobby: Doing something I love, whether it’s reading, being outside, or going to a concert, can be a great way to unwind and take my mind off stress.
Experiment with these strategies and find what works best for you. Remember, it’s okay to feel overwhelmed sometimes - what matters is how you handle it and take care of yourself in the process.
Any last words?
Finding my purpose has been a transformative experience. It has taught me the profound importance of self-reflection, the power of aligning actions with my values, and the beauty of embracing life as a continuous journey. My purpose – to leave people better than I found them – guides me in every aspect of my life. This mission shapes my career in People Operations, inspires Tiona Lynn Blog on balance and empowerment, and drives me to treat everyone with respect and kindness, showing them they are not alone in this crazy world.
Embracing my purpose has given me a profound sense of freedom – freedom from the shackles of societal expectations and predefined roles. Purpose is not a constraint; it is liberation. It allows me to live authentically and make choices that resonate with my true self. This freedom enables me to pursue what truly matters to me, without being confined by external pressures or superficial standards of success. One of the most empowering lessons I’ve learned is that it’s okay not to have all the answers. Purpose is not a destination but a journey. It’s about embracing the unknown, learning from everything that comes my way, and staying true to oneself. Each step, no matter how small, brings me closer to a deeper understanding of my purpose.
I hope my story inspires you to embark on your own journey of self-discovery and purpose. Remember, it’s not about finding the right answer but about asking the right questions and being open to what you discover along the way. Embrace & trust your journey, stay authentic, and let your purpose guide you to a life of fulfillment and freedom.