I finally made a decision that’s been weighing on me for months, and that was to put in my notice for my part-time position and leave the service industry & fully focus on building a life that aligns with my purpose. The hospitality and restaurant industry is what I have worked in for over a decade.. i’m good at it, and I can’t lie it didn’t pay well.
But this isn’t just about a job – it’s about realizing that every experience, good or bad, shapes who we become. Whether you’ve worked in a job you hated, gone through heartbreak, or survived the hardest chapter of your life, those experiences hold value and purpose towards what you’re meant to do.
The thing is though, when you feel you have expended your growth somewhere, it is never easy to try and convince yourself you have. Even then, you keep telling yourself you can hold out longer. Sure, the world may be burning and the economy is plummeting, but as a workaholic, and feeling like I have taken on more commitments towards helping others and working on MY dreams – I don’t think there is any amount of money I can make in one night that makes that up.
Nonetheless, patience is hard. I never made decisions that were life-changing without feeling like I was in a healthy place.
You might be asking yourself: when will I know I am ready, or “in the right moment“?
For me, I knew from my gut it was time to take that leap of faith. A lot of internal back and forth. Yes, it can make you fearful. But, living in the same moment, that comfortability.. never knowing what “could have been” is not something I want to look back on later in life and regret.
Life is precious, and we only have one of them. I am in my thirties – I have found myself in a place of internal battle of guilt but also needing to make the decisions that feel right to me. I solely want to focus on my early career and using that little amount of free time I have to focus on purpose – and for me, that is to help others and continue to share my story (whether that is through blogging, writing my memoir, content) in hopes of inspiring others, and know they are not alone. Impact – that’s what life means to me.
Finding your purpose is the topic I want readers to focus on today.
Your Past Is Not a Waste
Here’s the truth: Without serving, I wouldn’t have learned communication tools, adaptability in high-stress situations, and the ability to work and befriend people from all walks of life. If it wasn’t for learning ‘street smarts’ at a young age, or even going through the hard or dangerous situations I put myself in during those years of partying, I would not have developed the empathy and adaptability I have today.
Growing up in sobriety has taught me responsibility. Toxic relationships taught me boundaries, and what is worth pouring my energy into for my better-self. Financial struggles taught me resourcefulness and gratitude for what I have today in the present moment.
Every hardship cracked me open, forcing me to discover strength I didn’t know I had, and that strength is the foundation of my purpose today.
Those experiences were never wasted, and yours aren’t either. They were preparing us for the life we are building now. Your calling is meant to be unveiled and lived through.
Your struggles are your superpower. The painful moments.. the setbacks.. the heartbreak.. the unexpected detours – they’re not random. They build resilience, empathy, and wisdom to create change. Those qualities often lead us to our true calling. Everything counts.
How to Use Past Experiences to Find Your Calling
If you’re wondering how to turn your own experiences into purpose, start here:
- Reflect on Your Story
Write down the major chapters & experienes of your life—jobs, relationships, struggles, and accomplishments. - Identify the Lessons
Ask: What did this teach me? There is always a lesson to be learned. - Spot the Patterns
Which lessons keep showing up? For me, nothing is a coincidence. These patterns often reveal your values and passions. - Connect to Impact
Ask: How can these lessons help others? Your calling is often tied to service, healing, or creating something meaningful to others of specific groups, or society as a whole.
Examples: Hardships teach empathy, you relate better to others who struggle. Mistakes teach self-awareness, you learn what aligns and what doesn’t. Loss teaches gratitude and perspective, you value what matters.
- “What was the hardest season of my life, and what strength came from it?”
- “What do people often ask me for advice about?”
- “If I had to help someone through something I’ve already overcome, what would it be?”
The truth is, you don’t have to have it all figured out to be on the right path. Sometimes the clarity comes after the mistakes, setbacks, or leaps of faith, not before it. Every experience has been quietly preparing you for the next step. You don’t need a perfect plan to start. You just need to trust that what you’ve been through matters, and that you have something valuable to offer because of it.
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