“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)

Do you ever sit and ponder over the thought of why you were created? In his book, “The Purpose Driven Life,” Rick Warren states, “The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions.  If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by His purpose and for His purpose.” 

I have gone through many trials and difficult situations, held many positions professionally and within my church organization and it was through these experiences that groomed me for my purpose. I have discovered my life’s purpose to empower individuals bringing balance, transformation, inspiration, and encouragement into the lives of others—addressing the needs of the whole person (mental, physical, spiritual, and financial). My purpose has given birth to New Wine Consulting (my life coaching business), my inspirational blog, reviving the Women’s Ministry at my church, becoming a financial professional educating others in financial literacy, and becoming an author penning my memoir, “Sandpaper and Pearls,” A Personal Journey to Healing.”

Recently, a reader shared with me how much “Sandpaper and Pearls” had blessed her and caused her to think about her own trauma and soul wounds. The reader went on to say how much she could relate to the experiences I shared in my book. I remember how many times I denied the urge to write that book, but what if I had not—I would have not touched the lives of those who read it. It is my life’s purpose to share my story to aid in the healing of others.

Ken Costa in his book, “Know Your Why—Finding and Fulfilling Your Calling in Life” states, “Our destinies are what He calls us to, but they are never a substitute for our identities—knowing who we are, knowing that we are uniquely and passionately loved by God. If we come to the end of a phase at work, then we are tempted to think of ourselves as having no further value. But if we are secure in our identities, we know that the end of an era is not the end of our destinies. There is always more to come.” Over a year ago, I retired from a 39-year government career. My value as a person did not change nor did my purpose end or change; only my role in this phase of life changed. I now have the opportunity to work in my purpose every day.

Forbes Contributor, Margie Warrell, offers the following questions in an article titled, Do You Know Your “Why?”—4 Questions to Find Your Purpose:

1. What makes you come alive? It’s about connecting with what you’re passionate about, knowing that when you focus your attention on endeavors that put a fire in your belly, you grow your impact and influence in ways that nothing else can.
2. What are your innate strengths? What are the things you’ve been good at (sometimes wondering why others find it so hard?) Are you able to see patterns and opportunities amidst complexity? Are you creative, naturally adept at coming up with ‘outside the box’ solutions?
3. Where do you add the greatest value? Knowing your strengths and where you can add the most value—through the application of your education, skills, knowledge and experience—can help you focus on the opportunities, roles and career paths where you are most likely to succeed and therefore find the greatest sense of accomplishment and contribution.
4. How will you measure your life? People who don’t stand for something, can easily fall for anything. Deciding how you want to measure your life means making a stand for something and then living your life in alignment with it.

What is your life’s purpose or your “Why?” It does not matter if you are a CEO, investment banker, a custodial worker, or fast food worker, you should have a clear and distinctive view of your true identity.  Ken Costa states, “No matter what others say about you—whether you are unemployed or employed, whether you have a history of failures behind you or a catalogue of success—you are infinitely worthy, chosen, valued.”

If you would like to read my personal story, you can purchase a copy of “Sandpaper and Pearls” at: Amazon.com : sandpaper and pearls cassandra savage

If you are interested in a free 30-minute coaching session, schedule an appointment at calendly.com/new-wine-consulting.