Purpose Is What Happens in Others
For a long time, I believed purpose was something tangible. Something you could point to. A job title, a role, a goal ticked off a list. Like many of us, I chased achievements, convinced that once I reached a certain place, I’d finally feel settled, fulfilled, “on purpose”.
But no matter what I achieved, something always felt unfinished.
It wasn’t until I began paying closer attention to the people around me that my understanding of purpose began to change. I started noticing the quieter moments—the ones that don’t show up on CVs or social media. A conversation that shifted someone’s perspective. A few words that offered reassurance at the right time. Simply showing up for someone when they needed to feel less alone.
That’s when it became clear: purpose isn’t what you do. It’s what happens in others because of you.
Purpose lives in the everyday choices we make—to listen rather than rush, to respond with patience instead of frustration, to lead with compassion even when it’s inconvenient. It’s found in our relationships, our presence, and the way we make people feel. When someone walks away feeling more confident, more capable, more seen—that is purpose in action.
These moments often feel small, but they ripple far beyond what we can see. The encouragement you offer today may become someone else’s courage tomorrow. The belief you hold for another person may help them trust themselves when it matters most.
I’ve come to realise that the mark we leave on the world isn’t measured by recognition or success. It’s measured by the lives we touch and the quiet transformations we help make possible.
This truth shows up so clearly in doula work.
As a doula, I witness purpose unfolding in real time—not through fixing or directing, but through holding space. There is nothing quite like seeing a parent’s confidence grow before your eyes. Watching them begin to trust their body. Watching fear soften into belief. Watching someone realise that they already carry everything they need within them—and that their baby does too.
Doula work isn’t about taking over. It’s about walking alongside. It’s about reminding parents of their own strength until they can feel it for themselves. And when you see that shift—the moment they stand a little taller, breathe a little deeper, and believe in themselves—that is purpose made visible.
If you feel drawn to this work, if you feel called to support, nurture, and empower others during one of the most profound transitions of their lives, you’re not imagining it. That pull is worth listening to.
If you’d like to explore this path further, I invite you to join my doula trainings. Birth Doula training here and Postpartum Doula Training here It is not just about learning skills—it’s about developing presence, confidence, and trust in yourself, so you can help others find the same within themselves.
Because purpose isn’t something you chase.
It’s something that grows—when you help others grow too.
Jen x
