Purpose: Define your life

Photo courtesy of
transformleaders.tv

         Do you know what your purpose in life is?

         Speaking out for those who have no voice?

         Bringing justice to those who have been falsely accused?

         At this point in life, you might not know what you will do – I know I don’t.

               But I do know people in this world inspire me by defining their lives through their purpose.

                TIME Magazine recently released its 100 Most Influential People in the World list. Each person on the list has found his or her purpose. They have chosen to dedicate their lives to promoting some kind of goodness.

                Here are the five individuals whose purposes spoke to me:

1.)    Tim Tebow –

Photo courtesy of
socialnomics.net

             We all know Tim Tebow as the 24-year-old New York Jets football player. We also know him for his popular “Tebowing” pose. The pose does not depict him deep in thought but deep in prayer, though.

With all the fame and fortune that has come Tebow’s way, he has never forgotten his religion nor does he hide his beliefs and faith from the media.

As Jeremy Lin said when writing about Tebow for TIME, “He is unashamed of his convictions and faith, and he lives a life that consistently reflects his values, day in and day out.”

Well said, Lin.

Tebow’s actions, reminds us that popularity should never mean you have to sacrifice your values and beliefs. He never wavered in beliefs and shows us we should be ourselves.

2.)    Ben Rattray –

Photo courtesy of
change.org

              At 27, Ben Rattray founded change.org, a website giving individuals the opportunity to do exactly what its name says – bring about change.

Since its beginning, Rattray and change.org have fueled efforts such as getting Bank of America to cancel its $5 debit card fee, having Verizon drop its online payment fee and persuading Universal Pictures to use the Lorax to speak for an environmental cause.

Rattray’s creation lets every person make change if they want to. He reminds us change can be possible as long as we are willing to stand up.

3.)    Samira Ibrahim –

Photo courtesy of
time.com

            After living under the Egyptian government’s control, keeping silent and stoic and being forced into virginity tests, Samira Ibrahim took a stand.

At 25, Ibrahim sued the military for its actions against women. The judges ruled in her favor, making humiliating practices illegal.

Ibrahim made a stand because she saw an injustice. She did not let societal expectations keep her from speaking and fighting for women’s rights.

                              She reminds us to speak up for those who have no voice or for those too afraid to use their voice. Sometimes it only takes one voice to spur justice.

4.)    Dulce Matuz –

Photo courtesy of
dieste.com

            This undocumented Latina did not let the government and immigration barriers keep her from pursuing her “American Dream.”

              Dulce Matuz, 27, created the Arizona Dream Act Coalition after graduating with an electrical-engineering degree to help undocumented immigrants gain citizenship to pursue an education.

Matuz’s work reminds us we all have dreams, and they should never be lost. Everyone deserves the chance to follow their dreams, and Matuz makes that happen.

5.)    Fatou Bensouda –

Phot courtesy of
time.com

             On June 16, Fatou Bensouda will become chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and the first African American women to hold this title.

As a previous prosecutor in Gambia prosecuting Rwanda’s “genocidaires,” Bensouda now wants to take her experiences to prosecute those who have gotten off on a domestic level for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Bensouda stands for justice. She shows us passion and conviction of your beliefs will always make justice prevail.

                These people have each found their purpose.

                Whether speaking for those who have no voice, giving educational opportunities to those who have none or bringing about justice, each person lives their life for that specific purpose.

                They have defined their lives and their actions based on what they hope to do in the world, what they hope to change or what they hope to teach us.

                No one says you have to have your purpose figured out now. I sure don’t. But I take all five individuals’ purposes to heart when I search for my own purpose.

Search for something you love to do, something you want to change or something you want to teach the world. Take that something and define your life by it. I hope then, we will have all found our purpose.