Identity and Purpose: Who are You and Why are You Here?

Who are You and Why are You Here?

You’ve likely encountered one or both of these questions before. Perhaps the receptionist at your doctor’s office asked politely, or that one extrovert approached you at a networking event. Maybe your college professor on the first day of lecture, made that dreaded request for a class-wide self-introduction. Painful for the average introvert? Sure. But not too complex a question to answer. In fact, if you’re anything like me, you’ve already conjured up a well-rehearsed response to survive situations like these—carefully curated and recited days in advance. (Please, spare your judgement!).

But, let’s turn the dial up and flip these questions inward. Who are you and why are you here? Let’s sit with this for a moment. These questions may trigger different reactions. For some, they evoke excitement or perhaps curiosity. For others, they feel intimidating, even emotionally invasive. Unlike your response to the receptionist, colleague or professor, there’s no cut-and-paste answer that will satisfy. That’s the beauty of an introspective question—it demands honest reflection more than a well-rehearsed answer. This question calls for a revelation of your identity and purpose. Who are you and why are you here?

Throughout this blog, you’ll notice these questions come up often. That’s intentional as my aim is to awaken your soul’s appetite. Since the beginning of time, humans have hungered for connection and meaning—an innate desire to be seen, to belong and to contribute. As natural as this longing is, few experience its true fulfillment. Why? Simply put, it takes work. Buried beneath the weight of sin and brokenness is the you God created and redeemed. It’s the most authentic, favoured and empowered version of you there will ever be. But it takes intentional and continuous work to discover, become and live in the freedom of that version of yourself. Let’s unpack this.

Who are You?

Over my few yet full years of life, I’ve walked through some dark valleys. I’ve also witnessed and walked alongside sister-friends who’ve faced their own—childhood traumas, grief, heartbreak, financial instability, to name a few. From my humble witness, here’s a sad pattern I’ve observed: too many of us look like what we’ve been through. Whether intentional or not, we’ve developed habits and systems that help us survive in our brokenness. We’ve carried our life stories with indignation and bitterness, wearing our struggles and failures like a badge of honor. We’ve learned to cope but not to heal. These systems have become structures that often keep us bound in dark places. From these dark places, we’ve shaped our perspectives, chosen our partners, parented our children and pursued opportunities. We’ve cultivated environments that feed on and perpetuate brokenness. Worse yet, from this brokenness, we’ve drafted our identity.

Why are You Here?

Now, let’s consider the second part of this question. Existentially, why are you here? If you’re presently unsure, that’s okay. Remember, these questions are simply meant to spark your curiosity and reflection. Just as sin, brokenness and dark valleys have often distorted our view of our identity, they’ve also perverted the way we pursue purpose and fullfilment. Some seek meaning in temporary things like status, careers and accolades, while others live in survival mode with no zeal or intentionality, merely surviving the days. But here’s a truth about purpose: she is patient and persistent. She gently yet urgently knocks on the door of our hearts until our final breath. Search beneath the surface. What excites you? Which spaces and people groups are you most drawn to? What injustices ignite a righteous anger in you? These all whisper direction and mission; essentially, they all shed light on the purpose for which we exist.

Food for Thought

We could explore endlessly, peeling back the layers of identity and purpose but we’ll pause here for now and sit with these questions—who are you and why are you here? No rehearsed, superficial answers, just honest reflection. No exemptions, not even for the sis who leans on the side of clarity—recalibrate. How are you showing up, better yet, who have you been showing up as? Have you been truly living in your God-given identity and purpose? Around these ends, we believe in continuous growth, regardless of where you begin. There is grace to grow. Let today be the day you visit (or revisit) the foundations of your identity and purpose. Begin to assess and where necessary, dismantle and reconstruct with Spirit-led wisdom and community. So… who are you and why are you here?