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The Power of Purpose: When Life Finds Its Orientation
Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to release an episode of EZ Conversations with Imam Adnan Wood-Smith (Listen Here), and it was a deeply meaningful conversation. Adnan once dreamed of becoming an FBI agent and pursued that path for over a decade. That pursuit led him to learn Arabic, which, in turn, led him to Islam—and eventually to a much deeper reckoning with purpose. When he chose to let go of the dream he had oriented his life around for so long, he was faced with a question many of us encounter at some point: If this is no longer my path, then who am I now meant to be?
As it often goes, once we determine our purpose and create meaning in our lives, we naturally become a guiding light for others. That is exactly what Adnan does today through his coaching program, The Greater Why, where he helps others reconnect with their sense of purpose. As he emphasizes in our episode, when we have a clear orientation in life—something that grounds and guides us—nothing can take it away. That orientation reduces anxiety because we are no longer overwhelmed by endless possibilities or paralyzed by uncertainty. Adnan describes this beautifully as the alignment between a horizontal orientation—our mission in the world—and a vertical orientation—our purpose in relation to God. When those two are integrated, life gains coherence.
From a psychological perspective, this orientation is critical. Research consistently shows that a strong sense of meaning and purpose is associated with lower levels of anxiety and depression, greater resilience in the face of adversity, and an increased capacity to tolerate uncertainty. Purpose acts as an anchor for the nervous system; it organizes our decisions, reduces cognitive overload, and gives suffering a context. When we know why we are doing something, we are far more capable of enduring the how.
As I reflected on my conversation with Adnan, I was struck by how closely it mirrored a personal experience I had around the same time. I was invited to speak at the Podfest Expo, where I shared my journey of purpose on the main stage in a Pecha Kucha format. In five minutes and twenty slides, I spoke about how my purpose has revealed itself at different stages of my life and how it has continued to evolve over the past decade.
The format itself was a challenge—every slide advancing automatically, no room to linger—but I found it incredibly energizing. It pushed me further into storytelling, something I’ve been intentionally cultivating over the past several years. What stayed with me most were the conversations that followed: people sharing how the talk resonated with them, how parts of their own journey mirrored mine, and how deeply we all long for connection and meaning.
As I tried to emphasize in my talk, there is a common thread that unites us all. Through both my successes and my most painful moments, I have continued to ground myself in connection with others, in meaning, and in something greater than myself. That grounding has been essential for my growth. Purpose, I’ve come to realize, is not static. It unfolds as we do. But when we stay oriented toward it—psychologically, spiritually, and relationally—it becomes a steady force that carries us forward.
A snippet of the Episode
Head to YouTube for the full episode. Or Subscribe below:
My Time at Podfest
What people are saying about the podcast:
Quote of the Week:
“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.”
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