Find out who you are and do it on purpose

"Find out who you are and do it on purpose" is a powerful statement attributed to Dolly Parton. It speaks to a journey of self-discovery and intentionality that is as much about the process as it is about the destination. The phrase captures the essence of personal growth, which involves understanding oneself deeply and then consciously choosing to live in alignment with that understanding.

To truly find out who you are, you must engage in an honest exploration of your personality, values, strengths, weaknesses, dreams, and fears. This journey of self-awareness requires courage, because it demands looking into aspects of oneself that may not always be pleasant. It involves the process of peeling back layers built up over time—expectations from society, roles imposed by others, and masks worn to fit in. Only when these layers are stripped away can you see the core of who you are: your true essence, unclouded by external pressures or demands. 

Finding out who you are requires time, patience, and the willingness to reflect. It may involve taking risks, trying new experiences, and stepping out of your comfort zone. You might find that the person you are is different from who you thought you should be, or even from who others expect you to be. Perhaps your passions lead you down an unconventional path, or your values challenge the norms of those around you. The journey may also entail making mistakes, experiencing failures, and learning from them—all of which are crucial elements of authentic self-discovery.

Once you have a clearer understanding of who you are, the next step is to live in a way that is true to that identity. This is where the idea of doing it “on purpose” comes in. Living on purpose means actively making choices that are aligned with your true self, rather than being passive or conforming to what is convenient. It’s about taking the reins of your life and creating an existence that is consistent with your values, beliefs, and desires. It means no longer hiding your uniqueness or compromising on what really matters to you in order to fit into someone else’s mold.

Living on purpose is also about making peace with the idea that not everyone will understand or approve of the choices you make. This can be especially challenging because humans are social beings and crave acceptance. However, true fulfillment comes not from pleasing others but from being true to yourself. When you live authentically, you give yourself permission to fully express who you are—your talents, your quirks, and your dreams. This authenticity can be liberating because it allows you to break free from the constraints of others' expectations and, instead, craft a life that is uniquely yours.

Doing it on purpose requires not just self-awareness but also intentionality. It’s not enough to know who you are; you must also decide to act in ways that reflect that knowledge. It means setting goals that align with your passions, making decisions that honor your values, and surrounding yourself with people who support and celebrate your true self. This type of intentional living means showing up every day as the person you want to be, rather than getting swept up in the tide of routine or other people’s agendas.

One of the beautiful things about this philosophy is that it isn’t static. Who you are is not fixed; it evolves as you grow and as you encounter new experiences and challenges. Therefore, the journey of self-discovery and purposeful living is ongoing. There will be times when you need to re-evaluate, to let go of what no longer serves you, and to pivot in new directions. This requires flexibility and openness to change while remaining grounded in a strong sense of self. The process of doing it on purpose involves continuously aligning your actions with who you are becoming, not just who you were.

To live in this way is not always easy, but it is immensely rewarding. It is about striving for a life that feels meaningful, where your actions and decisions reflect your true self. By living intentionally, you create a life that is not defined by what happens to you, but by how you choose to respond to life. When you find out who you are and live that way on purpose, you give yourself the opportunity to live a more authentic, fulfilling, and impactful life.

This idea resonates because it calls on each of us to recognize that we are the authors of our own stories. We are tasked with discovering who we are—our true selves beyond the roles we play, the labels given to us, and the fears that hold us back. And once we have that clarity, we must then consciously choose to write our stories in a way that honors and celebrates that self. Finding out who you are and doing it on purpose means choosing to show up in life fully, unapologetically, and authentically. It is about living with intention, creating meaning, and embracing your uniqueness in a world that often pressures conformity.

In essence, this phrase is an invitation to both self-discovery and intentionality. It challenges you to delve deep into your identity, uncover your authentic self, and then commit to living in a way that is consistent with that truth. It’s about taking ownership of your life, making conscious choices that reflect who you are, and embracing the responsibility of crafting a life that is meaningful and true. This path may require courage, resilience, and a willingness to be vulnerable, but in the end, it leads to a life that feels rich with purpose, authenticity, and joy.