Written by: Imani Missouri, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
More than 4 million people quit their jobs in August 2021. While the reasons for resignation vary, there’s no doubt that people have and are taking the time to reset. In this reset, a number of workers are rethinking their purpose. Rick Warren notes in his international bestseller The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For? that “The search for the purpose of life has puzzled people for thousands of years...we typically begin at the wrong starting point-ourselves. We ask self-centered questions like What do I want to be? What should I do with my life? What are my goals, my ambitions, my dreams for my future? But focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life’s purpose.” We have all traveled to MY island. It isn’t what it’s all cracked up to be. Wouldn’t you agree?
These past 16+ months have included peaks of fear, anger, resentment, guilt, desires for approval and moments of temporary happiness. With limitations to in-person social interactions, some have questioned their own abilities and purpose because they were sold on the Goals images flooding their timeline. Let me speak plainly - those images are not necessarily what is uniquely for you. The Purpose-Driven Life reminds us, “Your value is not determined by your valuables, and God says the most valuable things in life are not things!” Furthermore, as I was taught, “Never have the green or red eye of envy. You don’t know what it took for a person to get that/there”.
When I resigned from my last role in February 2020, I did so with no offer lined up. Why? Because I no longer felt the joy in the work. I rode in to work the morning of January 21, 2020, and heard God’s invitation, “Why not today?” That very question and invitation is the backdrop of this article. For those on the fringe of a career transition or in the throes of it as a result of a resignation, furlough or layoff, I invite you to see the blessing in this opportunity. I invite you to reframe your views of success in preparation for what’s next.
As I journey through the next 26 days of the 40-day journey in The Purpose-Driven Life, I have been reflecting on success. A redefinition of success is needed. You can’t come through this period in our history unchanged. Here are 7 faith-centered reflections to help you reframe success:
1. Circumstances do not dictate your identity: “Real success is getting to a place where circumstances do not dictate your identity or your sense of peace. Real success requires faith that you are where you are supposed to be.”
~ Victoria Lowe, 10 Spiritual Principles of Successful Women: Discovering Your Purpose, Vision and Blessing
2. Money doesn’t equate to success: “Having money and being obsessed with money are not the same thing...our choices should have everything to do with the purpose God has given us..Don’t let money be the deciding factor when you’re trying to discover your calling.”
~ Kimberla Lawson Roby, The Woman God Created You to Be: Finding Success, Through Faith - Spiritually, Personally, and Professionally
3. You are divinely equipped for success: “Everything God put in you has equipped you for the battle and everything God is to you has prepared you to succeed.”
~ Yvonne Orji Bamboozled By Jesus: How God Tricked Me into the Life of My Dreams
4. Never chase the money, instead chase God: “Don’t chase the money; chase the opportunity for God to use you to bless another. Matthew 6:33.”
~ Andria Hall, The Walk To Wealth™ 7 Guiding Principles to Prosperity
5. Your success has a lane just for you: “Find your lane, baby. I’ve seen highways with six, sometimes eight lanes. If everyone is going the same way, then everyone is going to pick a lane and ride in it….you don’t have to do everything just like somebody else to be successful. Figure out your own way and be alright with getting off on a different exit, your exit.”
~ Tabitha Brown, Feeding the Soul (Because It's My Business): Finding Our Way to Joy, Love, and Freedom
6. Success is connected to your purpose and a mirror of the interview of you: “Success is a harmony of purpose, resilience and joy. Successful women are compassionate. They are wise. They are kind. They speak up with courage but don’t destroy others in the process.”
~ Valorie Burton, Successful Women Speak Differently: 9 Habits That Build Confidence, Courage, and Influence
7. The fruit will make your success truth evident: “I believe that no matter how you achieve numerically, none of it matters if you fail people emotionally. Success should be measured by the degree to which we achieved our goals while ensuring that the people who helped us along the way feel loved, respected, supported, and valued.” ~ Nona Jones, Success from the Inside Out: Power to Rise from the Past to a Fulfilling Future
Be transformed by the renewal of your mind during this time. As Rick Warren writes, “Without a purpose, life is motion without meaning, activity without direction, and events without reason”. There is greater meaning to the past 16+ months. How will you reframe success on the other side of it? Don’t wait until 2022 to shift the paradigm. Why not today?
Imani Missouri, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Imani Missouri is the Principal Owner of Faith Forward LLC, where she leverages the essence of faith to coach leaders toward their purpose. She has a number of faith-centered sub-brands that motivate women of color to reach their full potential in the professional sphere and beyond. Some of which include the Forward 40 (4tea) podcast, which highlights the experiences of 40 women of color on the rise in the nonprofit and social enterprise sectors. She is also the founder of The Forward Academy, a faith-centered professional development platform for women of color seeking to define themselves beyond their titles. Her career spans experience in the nonprofit, community development, and education sector. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for DIFFvelopment, a nonprofit that creates historically and globally conscious Black visionary leaders who believe in Black business, take responsibility for developing solutions to the issues Black people face, and have unshakeable pride and confidence in themselves. She is also a member of the Medal and Nominating Committees for Smith College.
