Finding Purpose

My Journey So Far

It has been said, that “the two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”

I believe there is something innately in humans that makes us search for meaning, relevance, significance and purpose. It propels us find life and living worthwhile.?

The realisation or emergence of the search comes to light at different times in one’s life. For some, its a question asked and answered almost immediately. Others, it takes months and sometimes years. Whether it’s immediate or protracted, common features are the discomfort, dissatisfaction, sense of urgency to discover and walk in it and a general inability to shake it off.?

It seems amplified when one sees others who have discovered their ‘purpose’ and are living it to the full. We go on that search for purpose. It becomes what we live and breathe. We want to be able to declare “My Purpose is…..”.

Of all the things I heard or read on finding purpose or my 'Why', these really resonated:

• It’s paying attention to what energizes you, what makes you come alive, what comes easy or natural to you.?

For me, this is a deep desire to see everyone literally standing tall with their eyes looking straight ahead. No heads down, shoulders slumped. A realistic I’m-not-there-yet, I-don’t-have-it-all-figured-out but I’m-here, I’m-standing, I’m-getting-up-again, I’m-trying-again…..

• It’s listening to what people who know and observe you, say about you or to you.?

Personally, I knew I needed to pause and focus when three people at different times said these words: “You have this ability to make people feel good about themselves when they are with you”; “You have so much goodwill, you need to learn to harness it”; “You have so much to offer, don’t keep it in, speak out”.?

• Identify with something/one bigger than yourself..

My faith took centre stage. I realise that there is more to life, my life than just me/myself/I.?

By the way, these books are great thought-provokers and help you deeply reflect "Start With Why" by Simon Sinek and "The Earned Life" by Marshall Goldsmith.

I went about thinking, reflecting on these tips the wrong way. I felt my “why” had to be something grand. You know, when said, it would captivate the hearers and reverberate across the world.?The Yoruba adage of “Nkan tan wa lo Sokoto, wa ninu sokoto” which means ‘what you go looking for in Sokoto (a state in Northern Nigeria which is over 900km from the south) is inside your trousers’. We go searching for something that actually within us.

It all came together a decade ago when I was working with a Coach prior to a career transition and she asked me “What do you want written on your epitaph?”. Totally unrelated right, but it stopped me in my tracks. I thought long and hard and decided I do not want the basic “Wife, Mother, Sister…..”.

When I asked myself ‘what is it about me that makes me uniquely ME?’ What’s in my fingerprint design that’s unlike anyone else? It dawned on me, why go searching for a blueprint when I can ask the Manufacturer!

I asked, He spoke and showed me. In finding that why, I saw it all started and ended with Him.?

My purpose is to reflect and be the conduit that allows the I AM to flow to everyone I come in contact with. To be the conduit that enables transformation in form and function, within and without.

That’s who I am and that’s my why…..I look no further.?

Adeyanju Olomola, Abba's Conduit.