Daily writing prompt

What is your mission?

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For as long as I can remember, I’ve known that my mission in life is to make a difference. But if you asked me to define it in a single sentence, I’d struggle. I know that I’m meant to be of service to others, and while the idea of being “of service” may sound a little cliché, the feeling I get when I brighten someone else’s day is incomparable.

As a child, I intuitively understood this calling. I would often give my lunch to a homeless person, ask my mother to buy lunch for someone in need, or compliment a stranger to start a conversation with someone who seemed lonely. Even then, I was focused on making someone’s day better, even if I didn’t fully understand why I was doing it. I just knew that it felt good.

Now, as an adult, things aren’t so clear. I still feel that deep desire to make a difference, but the path to fulfilling that mission seems murky at times. Some days, I feel incredibly clear on my purpose—on what I’m good at and what I’m capable of. No one can shake my belief in my abilities on those days. But on other days, it’s as though I forget my “why.” I get caught up in the noise of life and lose sight of the greater purpose I’ve always felt.

What does this mean? Why do I go through this cycle of clarity followed by doubt?

I believe it’s a natural part of the process of figuring out what your mission looks like as you evolve. When we’re children, things can feel simpler. The desire to help others, to make a difference, can seem more instinctual and direct. As adults, we carry more responsibility and experience, which can sometimes cloud the clarity we once had. It’s easy to feel lost or uncertain, especially when we’re figuring out how to translate our deep-rooted mission into something tangible in our lives today.

But here’s what I’ve learned: that uncertainty doesn’t mean that your mission is any less real. It’s a part of the journey, not a reason to give up on your purpose. In fact, those moments of doubt might just be the beginning of a new chapter, a refining of what your mission truly means for you now, as an adult.

Some days will be clearer than others. And on those days when you forget your “why,” remember that it’s okay. Trust that the mission you’ve always felt is still there—it’s just evolving. Embrace the uncertainty and use it as a reminder to keep pushing forward. The clarity will come again, and when it does, it will be even more powerful.

So, what’s your mission? What is it that makes you feel alive and fulfilled when you make a difference in someone else’s life?

No matter where you are in your journey, know that your mission matters. It’s worth the time, effort, and patience to discover it, and it will continue to unfold in ways that will surprise and inspire you.