How to Find Your Purpose in the Middle of a Pandemic

We are now living in a post COVID-19 world. Since March of 2020, we have been given time to self-reflect on many things. Have we used this time wisely or was it just wasted? Many of us have been able to enhance relationships with family and friends, do some house cleaning, or even home improvement. But most of all, many of us have been able to use our quiet time, during quarantine, to be pushed into our purpose. Purpose is the place where we are comfortable when we are working. Purpose is the place that you love to be. Purpose is walking in your call to help someone other than yourself. If you are lucky enough to turn your purpose into a career, it is the best feeling ever.

I am not sure if anyone felt this push, but my purpose has been calling me for quite a while. The voice simply became clearer during this last year and a half. Our world has been thrusted into a place that most of us never thought we would see in our lifetime. This placed a quickening in my spirit, and I could no longer run from it. It got to the point where I had to push myself into a posture of submission to get peace about this situation.

I am a person that enjoys the company of other people. Many come to me for advice, but I got to the point where I had to put this in perspective in order to figure out how to fulfill my purpose. I had to take some time and get myself together before I could continue helping others because a large part of my life has been dedicated to other individuals. I took care of my sick mother in my early twenties until she passed away. Then I became a mother at the age of twenty-four and a wife at the age of twenty-six.

I made sure that my husband and children were well taken care of down to them having a home cooked meal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. My children have been afforded the opportunity to participate in every extracurricular activity that they could possibly think of, and they were all enrolled into a four-year college or university when they graduated from high school. I made sure that I was there while my husband worked sixty plus hours, during many weeks, while my children were young. I poured until I reached the point where I had nothing left to give and that is a bad place to be.

I realize that I am a nurturer by nature, and I love it. I do well when it comes to listening to people and digesting their issues. I have the ability to take that information and use it to give logical advice to go forward with. But there is always a disclaimer. I cannot make decisions for people. This information is simply to be taken under advisement. The final decision must always come from the person who has the issue.

I take pride in my ability to communicate with others. It is a humbling experience when someone feels that my knowledge can help them be propelled to the next level. Don’t ever get me wrong. I need advice to keep my head space straight as well. This allows me to take my wealth of information and convey it to others successfully.

As an adult, I have come to the realization that everyone does not have the ability to communicate as well as I do. I have taken it for granted for so long. But I will give credit for this to both of my parents who were teachers. Speaking incorrect English in front of my Father was never acceptable. But those moments of correction that I received as a child have taken me a long way. I reflect on it with extreme appreciation.

Now for those of you who are still walking through life as a zombie, I say come out of your trance. Don’t continue to go through the motions of life without feeling. This is unhealthy behavior, and it will take a toll on your lifespan. It is time to look deep within and find the real you. Let her out. As children, we used to say, “can she come out and play?” It is time to be true to yourself.

Now I am not saying quit your job or leave your husband and kids. Please don’t misunderstand me. Be realistic while you do this because you still must live and pay your bills. What I am telling you to do is start that side business and perform the service that you love. Join that club that you have always wanted to if time permits. Start that group or non-profit organization that you have been planning. Who knows? This side hustle might lead to you eventually being able to quit the job that drives you crazy every day.

Take the time to rearrange your schedule so that you can give the real you a chance to breath some fresh air. As we all know, over 700,000 Americans have died from COVID-19. Life is too short to continue delaying your walk on the path to purpose. Everyone deserves to be happy and whole. You will be able to feel true joy as you walk in your purpose. Lastly, we must realize that our lives are meant to impact the lives of others. Take into consideration the people that will be affected. They are waiting on the other side of your destiny.