Why Purpose Doesn’t Have to Be Grand (And How to Find Yours)

My friends,

We live in a world that shouts at us to “find our grand purpose.” We are told we must change the world, build an empire, or leave a legacy that will echo for generations. The pressure can be paralyzing. It can make us feel that if our purpose isn’t monumental, it isn’t meaningful.

I am here to tell you that is a lie.

Mother Teresa once said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” This is one of the most profound truths about purpose I have ever encountered.

For many years as an educator, my “purpose” was not to change the entire education system. It was to help the one student sitting in front of me who was struggling to read. It was to offer a word of encouragement to a young teacher who felt overwhelmed. It was a series of small, daily acts of service, done with great love.

Your purpose is not a destination you must find. It is a direction you can choose, right now, in this very moment. It is found not in the grand gesture, but in the next small act of service.

Who in your life needs your help? Who needs your encouragement? Who needs your unique gift of listening, of teaching, of organizing, of leading?

Your purpose isn’t “out there” waiting to be discovered. It is right here, in the person in front of you.

A Simple Way to Find Your Purpose Today:

Ask yourself this question: “Who can I help, in one small way, today?”

It could be sending an encouraging text to a friend, offering to mentor a younger colleague, or simply listening to your spouse with your full attention. Do that one small thing with great love, and you will have lived a day filled with purpose.

Tomorrow, we will take this idea of service and craft it into a simple, powerful mission statement.

Yours in service,

Winston