Are You Living Your Purpose, or Just Paying the Bills? Annecha Smart Fullerton
Do you ever feel like you’re just going through the motions, living in a bubble defined by a salary and the expectations of others? It’s a common feeling, especially for high-achievers in our community who have ticked all the boxes but still sense a void. You’ve built a life, but is it the life and legacy you truly desire? This deep-seated need to connect with something more meaningful, a true calling, is not just a fleeting thought. It’s the core of a fulfilled existence.
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In a powerful conversation on The Obehi Podcast, I sat down with Annecha Smart Fullerton, a Co-Creative Transformation Coach, to explore this very topic.
We dove deep into the barriers that hold us back from our purpose and uncovered the practical steps to rediscover the internal GPS that guides us toward a life of joy and impact. It’s time to move from roots to relevance by understanding and owning your unique calling.
See the full interview with Annecha Smart Fullerton
The Childhood Dream We Left Behind
How often do we dismiss our earliest ambitions as childish fantasies? Annecha suggests that these dreams are often the purest expression of our innate purpose. Long before the world told us what was “practical” or “sensible,” we knew who we were meant to be.
Annecha shared a moving story from her own life that perfectly captures this idea. In grade four, her teacher asked the class what they wanted to be when they grew up. “I don’t know where the words came from,” Annecha recalled, “but I heard myself say, ‘I want to be someone when I grow up who helps other people to solve their problems.'” Her teacher, seeing this gift in her, replied, “If you had said anything different, my name would not be Sharon Edge.”
This is a powerful reminder that our purpose is often an indwelling script we carry from birth. However, for many of us, this script gets overwritten. Well-meaning family and friends, focused on financial security, might say, “The money is in banking” or “What do you mean you want to do X, Y, or Z?” As Annecha puts it, people can have their dreams “knocked out of them.”
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They learn to disassociate themselves from what they truly want and instead pursue what others recommend. This path may lead to a successful career, but it rarely leads to deep, soul-level satisfaction.
What’s Really Holding You Back?
If the desire for purpose is so strong, why do so many of us remain stuck? The barriers are often invisible, operating just beneath the surface of our awareness. During our conversation, Annecha identified several key roadblocks that prevent people from pursuing their calling.
- Mental Roadblocks: This is the biggest hurdle. Limiting beliefs, a fear of failure, negative self-talk, and a lack of self-trust can paralyze us. Annecha notes that many people struggle with “constantly comparing yourself with other people.” This constant comparison steals our joy and blinds us to our own unique path.
- Unhealed Trauma: Past wounds act like colored lenses, clouding how we see the world. “Unhealed trauma,” Annecha explains, “clouds your lenses that you use to see life through… if the lenses are pink, everything you look at is pink.” If that lens represents exploitation, you’ll see every opportunity as a threat, preventing you from engaging with the very connections that could help you grow.
- Systemic and Environmental Challenges: Sometimes, the environment itself isn’t conducive to growth. This is particularly true for many in the diaspora who navigate complex cultural and systemic biases. Annecha powerfully contrasted her experience growing up in Jamaica, “where everybody in leadership looks like me,” with those who grew up in the UK expecting limitation. Your mindset is key, she advises, “go into the experience expecting success.”
- Lack of Support: The journey toward your purpose can be daunting, and a lack of support can make it feel impossible. When you don’t have mentors or a community cheering you on, it’s easy to retreat to the “safety” of a job that pays the bills but starves your soul. But Annecha warns, “that dream will never forget about you. It will nag you… until you exit this planet.”
Finding Your Internal GPS
So, how do we find our way back? The answer lies within. You have an internal GPS, an inner voice that is always pointing you toward your true north. As I often say, if you are in Manchester and your destination is London, you must take the train specifically going to London.
Your purpose is your destination, and your inner voice is the compass that ensures you’re on the right track.
This is a journey I explored in depth in my 2019 book, Discover Your Life Purpose. It’s not about finding the perfect job title. It’s about understanding the core contribution you are here to make.
Are you a teacher? A reclaimer of lost stories? An influencer for good? As Annecha clarified, “Find the purpose, then explore what the ways are that would light you up to get that purpose manifested.”
The beautiful truth, rooted in African philosophies like Ubuntu, is that your purpose is not just for you. “What’s inside you is not for you, it is for someone else,” Annecha said. “That’s how the master designer has crafted life so that we will always be interdependent.”
When you align with your purpose, you don’t just find personal fulfillment, you also find your place in the web of connection and collaboration that strengthens our community.
Your First Step to a Purpose-Driven Life
Unlocking your purpose requires intentionality. You must create the space to listen to that quiet inner voice that life’s busyness so often drowns out. Here are a few actionable steps you can take today:
- Embrace Silence: Start by sitting in silence for just a few minutes each day. Allow the clutter to settle so your inner voice can rise to the surface.
- Journal Your Energy: Keep a journal to track your experiences. Note what activities and conversations light you up and energize you, and which ones leave you feeling depleted. The things that excite you are clues pointing toward your purpose.
- Reflect on Your Past: Look back on your life, even to childhood. What were the moments when you felt most alive, vibrant, and joyful? As Annecha did when she remembered teaching the trees, these memories hold powerful information about your natural gifts.
- Seek Guidance: You don’t have to walk this path alone. Investing in a coach, mentor, or a program designed to unlock your purpose can provide the structure and support you need to move forward with clarity and confidence.
Ultimately, excuses like low self-esteem or lack of money are secondary. Annecha reminds us, “When you align with your purpose, everything else falls into place.” The resources, the people, the opportunities, they all appear when you commit to your path.
Own your story. Your journey, your passions, and your unique gifts are the assets you need to build a life of meaning. It’s time to stop living in a bubble and start living your calling.
To continue your journey of self-discovery, explore the over 2,000 articles at AClasses Media and tune into The Obehi Podcast for more than 1,000 interviews with inspiring professionals.
