When Purpose Feels Out of Reach: Follow What Lights You Up Instead

Because finding purpose doesn’t always come with a blueprint—or even a clue.

A client once told me she was panicking because she couldn’t “figure out her purpose.”

She’d read the books. Taken the quizzes. Even bought a color-coded life planner that promised clarity (and included 46 pages of stickers).

Still? Nothing.

“I think my purpose might be in the junk drawer,” she joked. “Along with the broken charger and that random Ikea Allen wrenches.”

We both laughed. Because honestly? I’ve been there too.

And if you’ve ever stared at the ceiling wondering what comes next, welcome. You’re not lost.

You’re just between sparks.

The Myth of “Big Purpose Energy”

There’s a lot of pressure in midlife to finally know your purpose.

As if the second you blow out those 50-something candles, you’re supposed to unlock some cosmic clarity that tells you what to do with the rest of your life.

Spoiler: it rarely happens like that.

Most of us are just trying to figure out what’s for dinner—let alone what’s for our destiny.

So here’s the invitation:
Instead of chasing some lofty purpose, what if you just followed what lights you up?

A Different Kind of Compass

Following what lights you up is quieter than a five-year plan.
It doesn’t always come with a job title or a LinkedIn update.

Sometimes, it looks like:

• Taking a pottery class even though your last one resembled a lopsided cereal bowl.

• Saying yes to a weekend trip with a friend who makes you laugh until you snort.

• Starting a garden because you remembered how good it feels to get your hands in the dirt.

These aren’t detours. They’re breadcrumbs.

Joy is a compass, and what delights you is not random.
It’s often a clue.

Purpose Isn’t Always Loud

We think purpose has to be flashy. But what if it’s quiet?

What if purpose is showing up for yourself with love?
What if it’s mentoring one person, writing one honest page, creating beauty in your corner of the world?

Maybe it’s not something you find.
Maybe it’s something you feel.
And maybe it starts by noticing what lights your eyes—even just a little.

From Pressure to Presence

You don’t have to have it all mapped out.

You don’t need a grand mission statement or a rebrand.

You just need to pay attention to what brings your soul back to life.
That’s where you start. That’s the spark.

One Spark, Then Another

Purpose, in the end, might just be a series of tiny YES moments.

Yes to rest.
Yes to joy.
Yes to honoring what feels meaningful—even when no one else sees it but you.

That’s not selfish.
That’s sacred.