I Failed at My Life Purpose, Then I Discovered My Mission
Meaning & Purpose Joyce Li Meaning & Purpose Joyce Li

I Failed at My Life Purpose, Then I Discovered My Mission

That feeling of being lost? It’s not failure. It’s a clue—a ‘Purpose Mismatch.’

I wrote my life's purpose, then felt like a fraud in my corporate career. A whisper told me I was meant for more. I listened, becoming a therapist and author. I was finally aligned.

Then, burnout and trauma forced me to quit at 58. I was a hypocrite who had to abandon the very work that defined me. My purpose felt true, but my method was broken.

I discovered the crucial difference: your Purpose is your ‘why.’ Your Mission is your ‘how’ for this season. My purpose never changed, but my mission had to.

Your North Star isn’t a guaranteed destination. The journey is the treasure. You build, lose, and rebuild your mission with every challenge. Ready to find your ‘how’? It starts with one word. Here’s how.

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4 Reflections on Learning, Change, Resilience, and Love
Joyce Li Joyce Li

4 Reflections on Learning, Change, Resilience, and Love

Knowing this would be my last convocation ceremony, I paid special attention while listening to the speeches while sitting among the graduates. Several messages deeply resonated with me: Learning, Change, Resilience, and Love. I am sharing them here and hope they encourage you, too.

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When Life Edits Your Script - Discovering Purpose Through Pain

When Life Edits Your Script - Discovering Purpose Through Pain

Life has a way of rewriting even the best-laid plans. For Mary Lou, a gifted storyteller with dreams of Hollywood success, a devastating accident shifted her path in ways she never imagined. Stripped of the ambitions she once held dear, she discovered a deeper sense of purpose—not in fame or accolades, but in a life pared down to its essence: faith, service, and storytelling.

Her journey reminds us that setbacks often reveal the essence of who we are. Success isn’t about having everything—it’s about cherishing what we have and using it well.

What has life taught you about finding purpose in unexpected places?

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Shaking the World: An Irony or Endorsement
Meaningful Work, Spirituality Joyce Li Meaningful Work, Spirituality Joyce Li

Shaking the World: An Irony or Endorsement

Before we shake the world, sometimes the world shakes us. A single moment on a snow-covered highway could have shattered our dreams. Yet, through the stillness and shock, I realized that life’s close calls aren’t just warnings—they might be endorsements, urging us to keep pushing forward. This is the story of how a near-accident on Highway 401 reminded me of the fragile, beautiful balance between our aspirations and life’s uncertainties.

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