Finding Passion and Purpose

As a certified life coach, I know many Americans need support right now. Sometimes, things happen in ways that make it seem like we are lost in the wilderness without clarity on what to do next. 2024 has been emotional for millions of people, resulting in some being happy and some sad. You are either part of the solution or part of the problem. No matter your season, there is a lesson for us all as we endure 2025. Let me explain further.

Find success with a clear purpose — Find your passion and purpose during times of confusion.

“John 14:27 KJV - “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Reflecting on how we got lost without passion and purpose

One year ago, some people pursued their dreams and were happy on their journey toward their goals. Others were in despair, dealing with depression and hopelessness, and wanted to stop trying. 2025 allows us to reflect and gain insight into life and what we expect from it. I offer three questions that may help with that reflection. If I win in life, what will I achieve? If I lose in life, what did I attempt to achieve? If I seek motivation, what will I pursue, gain fulfillment from, and smile because my daily journey is joyful? Oddly enough, these three questions should be used by every American, regardless of age, gender, race, and location, as they move forward in 2025. In my book, Dare To Succeed – Finding Passion To Fuel A Purpose-Driven Life, I discuss changing your relationship with money to gain financial success. After 2024, we all need to change our view of success in many areas of life. Learn more about the book on Amazon at https://a.co/d/900U6k9.

We have gotten lost before without purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic forced us to stay home and reflect on life. Many asked themselves the same three questions above. Many were devastated by the American wilderness of the time and pondered, “How am I living my life?” What am I doing, and why am I doing it? Many gave up their jobs and found careers with less stress, where they could focus more on their families. Others gave up relationships, enabling them to avoid drama and sadness and focus on joy and happiness. I insist that 2024 should force us to reflect again on how we live, what we do, and why we do it.

What should I learn from being in the wilderness without passion?

The lesson is that we should discover our purpose in life. Doing so will do several things for us that will inspire, motivate, comfort, and reward us every day. For those emotionally distracted this year, your opportunity is the same as two years ago. Find your purpose and dedicate yourself to it. Joy, happiness, fulfillment, and success come from pursuing your passion and purpose. That’s true in 2025, and it was true in 2005.

How you can thrive in the wilderness and find purpose?

Let me offer a few ideas to get you started on a new way of living in the wilderness of America with two sides of ideology.

Tips for changing and finding purpose.

Change what you expect.
Change your relationship with people.
Change your relationship with the future.
Know your passion and purpose so you can live in the moment.
Pick your battles carefully – focus on your goals and priorities.
Spend more time with family and friends.
Change your relationship with money by spending less and saving more – stop making other people rich.

#1 Change what you expect

In business, there is a phrase, “Inspect what you expect.” The idea is that you must evaluate, monitor, and adjust what you expect. If you don’t stay engaged, you may be shocked and disappointed with what you get. This thought must show up in how you make money, how you build a relationship, how you parent, and how you plan your vacation. You cannot expect something and then be disengaged day in and day out.

#2 Change your relationship with people

We assume too many things with those we love. We take them for granted. We focus more on what we can get from people rather than what we can give to others. Denzel Washington once said, “The greatest thing you can do in life is help someone else.” You will be surprised how much better your relationships are if you spend more time thinking about the quality of your relationships, so it benefits both of you.

#3 Change your relationship with the future

Most people take the future for granted. We don’t plan for better health, wealth, friends, or a better retirement. When the future comes, we panic, realizing that we haven’t adequately prepared while living daily. Ignorance will always demand a heavy price. Don’t assume things will work out the way you want them to, but understand that you must work hard to achieve what you want.

Many hesitate to do something for fear of making a mistake or failing. Don't let the old saying ‘practice makes perfect’ hold you back. Perfection is a flaw, so think of growth as ‘practice makes progress.’ Success requires failure, and making mistakes are natural and cannot be avoided. Sadness, stress, and depression sometimes occur because people cannot let go of the past, and it prevents them from moving forward. Whether starting your own business or introducing yourself to a potential spouse, do not be scared because nothing good will happen if you take no action or try too hard to avoid a mistake. Some of the best opportunities come from taking calculated risks.

The famous book author J.K. Rowling once said, “It is impossible to live without failing at something unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all, in which case you have failed by default.” Many people have great ideas but are afraid to start for fear of failing. The fear of failure is so powerful that many people talk themselves out of trying to avoid failing. I always tell my students, “For those afraid of failure, you should be more afraid of regret.”

#4 Know your passion and purpose so you can live in the moment

Living a life of passion and purpose means having a clear and meaningful direction for your life. Knowing what you value, what principles you live by, and how you want to contribute to your community is essential because a purpose-driven life can bring many benefits. Make a difference in the world because it is not just about you. Time is a precious resource, so be mindful of how you spend it and prioritize activities that align with your goals and values. God gave you gifts and talents that others do not have.

"Most people have heard the saying ‘Mind, Body, and Soul’ as an expression of happiness and peace. I would argue that ‘Spirit, Mind, and Body’ is a better order to guide your life."

Spirit means trusting in God and depending on the Holy Spirit to guide your decisions. You already know you can’t solve every problem, but God can. Your expertise, knowledge, and efforts with God's divine power can achieve anything. Wisdom means welcoming God’s help so you can be better.

Mind means self-control, so living in the moment makes you mindful of the present. A strong mind also helps you develop clear goals and prioritize what’s important. It helps to keep you focused on the things or people in front of you. It provides a way to experience life without day-to-day distractions. We are so used to multi-tasking that we miss the essence of what's happening right in front of us. Have you ever attended an event and, a day later, forgotten what you saw and who you met? When you actively engage your mind with what’s happening around you, you can engage your other senses, like smells and sounds, which enables you to be fully aware of the present moment.

Having a strong mind also requires you to limit alcohol and smoking because they will cause you to lose control and be distracted. Despair, anxiety, hopelessness, and depression will only be under control if we take action, so do not hesitate to seek help if you are struggling emotionally.

Body means being proactive about your health. Invest in your health because your body is more fragile than you think, and you are not indestructible. Take care of your body by exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, meditating to reduce stress, and getting enough sleep. I highly recommend Dr. Michael Greger’s nonprofit, NutritionFacts.org, as a source of excellent health information. He offers free videos on hundreds of topics, each with health improvement ideas. You can also watch videos by our health coach at Tips4Living, Mrs. Dee, who covers many health topics—worrying about your health after a hospital vital or chronic disease diagnosis is too late to do anything about it. Wisdom means preventing major diseases so you can live healthier and longer.

#5 Pick your battles carefully

Pick your battles wisely. When you gain wisdom, you learn that not everything deserves your time or energy. Life is full of ups and downs, so accept that you can’t control several things, events, or people, and do not let minor setbacks and inconveniences ruin your peace of mind. Worrying about things you cannot control only adds stress, which is unhealthy.

I live by the saying, “No one will die today due to my bad decision.” That is true for about 80% of the population, excluding police, firefighters, doctors, nurses, and EMTs. Others will forget what happened shortly after an argument or mistake. I highly recommend the short book “Who Moved My Cheese?” to understand this concept fully.

Forgive and let go because holding grudges is unhealthy and does not solve anything. Holding onto grudges only weighs you down and causes distractions. Forgive, let go, and move forward.

#6 Focus on family and friends

Build meaningful relationships because no one wants to be alone in retirement. These relationships will be a source of support and joy throughout your life. According to doctors, this can also help you live longer—for example, some studies have shown that marriage adds 10 years to your life. Share love as a way of life. Do not get caught up in the past or future; cherish the present moment and the people around you. Do not lose the ones you love because you took them for granted and did not tell them how much you love them.

Surround yourself with people who align with your values. Values will guide your decisions and bring authenticity to your life, and making choices based on principles will add meaning to your day. You may not know it, but others improve because they see you live by great values. Listen to those who love you because they want the best for you. Learning from mistakes takes time, money, and disappointment, but there is a shortcut to learning from mistakes, which is learning from others. You may think your family and friends do not understand, but I assure you, many of them have “been there and done that.” No new failures exist because someone has “been there and done that.”

#7 Change your relationship with money

Far too many never learn from the adage, “It’s not how much you make; it’s how much you keep.” The next 24 months will allow us to reflect on money. Plan out how you will make money and enjoy what you do. Save for retirement first—change from being a spender to a saver. Flying first class is momentary, but the drain on your pocketbook will be long-lasting. Buying a bigger house, a new car, and expensive things will make someone else rich while you remain poor.

Joy and happiness come from purpose-driven fulfillment, not expensive things. Just about anyone can become a millionaire if you change your relationship with money and plan your success early in life. A teenager can become a 401K or ‘ROTH IRA millionaire by saving less than $300 monthly in a compound interest wealth buying account. Many 60-year-olds are poor because they spent their $300 on Starbucks, Apple+, etc. If it’s too late for the 60-year-old, they can focus on helping their grandchild change their relationship with money and stop making others rich.

In 2019, there were 12 million “401K millionaire households” in the US. These millionaires did not get there by using their hands and spending their money but by using new methods to grow wealth. Only 20% of Americans inherit their riches, and the other 80% are self-made, first-generation millionaires. Stop working hard for your money and make your money work hard for you.

The secret is “compound interest.” You must learn what compound interest is and how it works. Compound interest is a way to make your money work hard for you. It is a simple concept, but it can profoundly impact your finances over your lifetime. Everyone knows the quote, “It’s not how much money you make but how much you keep.” Make your money work hard for you, and do not continue to work hard for your money.

Generations of children seem to fall into the same money traps: lousy credit scores, lack of financial literacy, lack of saving and retirement planning, and living paycheck-to-paycheck are issues that repeat from one generation to the next. Live below your means because “keeping up with the Joneses” will make you poor.

Avoid unnecessary debt, and do not spend money you do not have. Remember that using credit cards too freely is the best way to be financially insecure. Financial freedom brings peace of mind and hope for the future, and this freedom also helps you sleep better at night. As your certified life coach, I can help you with your purpose and financial improvement.

Contact me at Tips4Living for a free consultation so you may improve your life.

In Summary,

Take time to reflect, find purpose, make changes in your daily life, and save money for troubled times in the wilderness. The amount of time we spend lost in the wilderness is directly related to how we live our lives. The price of bad choices is always high, and the rewards of living a purpose-driven life are always priceless.

Another view of being lost in the wilderness for those who believe in God.