Have you ever held onto something because you believed it was your purpose? Maybe it was a job, a relationship, or a project you poured everything into. It felt like the thing you were meant to do—the way you were supposed to serve, grow, and make an impact.

I’ve been there.

But what I’ve come to realize is that sometimes, what we think is our purpose isn’t the thing itself—it’s what that thing accomplishes. Purpose is about transformation, impact, and alignment with what truly matters. However, if we become too attached to the vehicle that gets us there, we might miss the bigger picture of what we’re actually meant to do.

Purpose is fluid. It manifests in different ways at different times in our lives. But when we hold onto a single method, organization, or role too tightly, we limit our ability to evolve and adapt.

Let’s talk about how we can stay connected to our true calling without getting stuck in a single path.

There’s a fine line between commitment and attachment. Commitment means showing up, putting in the work, and being dedicated. Attachment happens when we mistake the container for the calling itself.

Have you ever resisted change, even when every sign pointed to the need for a shift? Maybe a job ended, a relationship evolved, or an opportunity you worked hard for didn’t pan out. If you’ve ever said, But this was supposed to be it!, you’ve likely mistaken the method for the mission.

I know I have.

For years, I believed my purpose was tied to a specific role. I poured everything into it. It gave me meaning. But when the time came to step away, I resisted—hard. I questioned my direction. I doubted myself. I wrestled with the thought that maybe I had taken a wrong turn.

But as I began to let go, I realized something: The skills, lessons, and impact from that season weren’t lost. They were simply preparing me for what was next. What I thought was my purpose was actually just one way of fulfilling it.

What We Get Wrong About Purpose

Many people define purpose based on external things—titles, companies, projects, or relationships. They think:

• My purpose is in this career.
• My purpose is in this role.
• My purpose is in this organization 

But true purpose isn’t found in a job title or a business card. It’s in the deeper reason why we do what we do.

Imagine a river. Its purpose is to carry water, nourish the land, and create life along its path. But rivers shift, erode, and change direction. The source remains, but the path adapts.

If we allow ourselves to flow in just one direction—one job, one dream, one plan—we risk missing the bigger picture.

The Risks of Holding On Too Tightly

When we attach ourselves too tightly to a single path, we create unnecessary struggle. We resist natural shifts and transitions, even when they’re necessary for growth.

1. It Keeps Us Stuck in Expired Seasons 

Just because something was right for a season doesn’t mean it’s right forever. The project that once fueled you might now feel draining. The role that once felt aligned might no longer fit who you’re becoming. But if we cling to what’s familiar, we risk staying too long in something that no longer serves us.

Sometimes, the hardest part of purpose isn’t stepping in—it’s knowing when to step away.

2. It Limits the Ability to Pivot

Growth often requires redirection, not because we were wrong before, but because there’s something greater ahead. If we refuse to shift, we might miss new doors opening.

Many successful people started in one field only to find their true passion elsewhere. Their initial path wasn’t a mistake—it was preparation.

3. It Can Lead to Identity Crisis

If our identity is wrapped up in a job, project, or relationship, what happens when it’s gone? We’re left feeling lost, questioning our worth and direction. But when we root our identity in who we are and what we stand for, rather than external roles, we can navigate transitions with confidence.

What to Attach Yourself To Instead

Rather than tying yourself to things that shift and change, anchor yourself in what is unshakable.

Don’t attach yourself to:

• A person
• A project
• A company
• An organization

Attach yourself to:

• A goal
• A mission
• A calling
• A purpose

Your purpose isn’t confined to one role, title, or project. It’s about what you’re meant to bring into the world, and that can take on many forms throughout your life.

Trusting Redirection

Transitions can feel uncertain, but they’re often necessary for growth. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is trust that a shift is happening for us, not to us.

Think of a time when you were pushed out of your comfort zone—whether by choice or circumstance. In the moment, it may have felt like a loss. But looking back, did it open the door to something better?

Many of us are standing at the edge of something new, but fear keeps us clinging to what was.

If change is knocking, trust that something valuable is waiting on the other side.

How to Navigate Transitions with Confidence

• Ask different questions – Instead of asking, Why is this happening?, try asking, What am I being prepared for?

• Detach from the vehicle, not the vision – Your purpose isn’t in a job title—it’s in the impact you create.
• Embrace flexibility – Purpose may evolve. Be open to new expressions of it.
•  Let go with gratitude – If a chapter is closing, reflect on what you’ve gained. Every experience adds to your growth.
• Take the next step, even if it’s unclear – You don’t have to see the full picture to move forward.
  
  

Your Purpose is Bigger Than One Path

It’s hard to release something you’ve poured your heart into. But when we stop resisting change, we open ourselves to new possibilities—ones we may never have considered.

The how may change, but the why remains.

So if you’re feeling a shift—if something that once felt right now feels like it’s coming to an end—lean in. Trust the process. Trust yourself.

You’re not losing your purpose. You’re just being guided to a new way of fulfilling it.

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By challenging the stories, we tell ourselves and daring to embrace vulnerability, we unlock our true strength. It’s time to step into the arena, take off the armor, and live fully. Because as Brené Brown reminds us:

“It is not the critic who counts… The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena… who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.”