Discovering Your I Am: The Foundation of Your True Purpose

Well, hello, my valued listeners, and welcome back to another episode of Living in Your Power. I'm your host, Marleen Greenleaf, and today I want to explore something that I find really profound and personal. It's the power of your I Am. Now, you've probably heard people talk about finding your why, Your purpose, your driving force. But I believe before you can know your why, you need to know who you truly are. So today we are focusing on your I am, defining who you are at the core. So let's dive in. When we talk about finding our why, we're often asking, Why am I here? Or what drives me? But before we can truly answer those questions, we need to ask, who am I? It's easy to get caught up in the roles we play, be it mother, father, partner, employee, leader— the list goes on. But those roles don't necessarily define who we are deep inside. Your I Am is the foundation. It's who you are beyond these roles, beyond the titles, and beyond what the world expects of you. Knowing your I Am means understanding your strengths, your values, your passions, and even your flaws. It means owning every part of yourself, both the light and the shadows. Only then can you understand your purpose, your why. I want you to take a moment right now. Close your eyes if you can. Take a deep breath in and ask yourself, who am I? What comes to mind first? Maybe you think of your job title, your relationship status, or where you live. But I want you to dig deeper. Who are you beneath all of that? Are you kind? Are you resilient? Are you curious? These qualities are part of your true self, your I Am. I am. So defining your I am, it's a powerful exercise, and one way to do this is by creating I am statements. These are affirmations that speak to who you are, not just who you think you should be. They are statements of truth that ground you in your authenticity. So for example, Instead of saying, I am successful because I have a great job, try instead saying, I am capable, creative, and driven. Now, these are qualities that no job or external validation can take away from you. Your I am statements should reflect the qualities that define you on a deeper level. So let's create a few I am statements right now. Grab a pen and paper if you can, or just think about them in your mind. I have a few that comes to mind. For me, it says, I am resilient. And this means you have the strength to overcome challenges. I am compassionate. You value kindness towards yourself and others. And how about, I am worthy. You are worthy of love, success, and happiness simply because you exist. Now, these are 3 simple I Am statements, but they are also declarations. They are powerful tools to help you anchor yourself when the world feels chaotic or when doubt creeps in. Now, let's talk about why understanding your I Am comes before finding your why. Your why is the purpose that drives your action. It's your mission in life, but it's shaped by who you are. If you don't understand your I am, how can you set an authentic course for your life? Imagine trying to set a destination without knowing your starting point. That's what happens when we jump straight into finding our purpose without understanding our true selves. Your I Am is that starting point. It's the foundation that everything else is built on. So maybe your why is to help others, to create art, or to be a leader in your community. But your why will most— will be most powerful When it comes from a place of deep self-awareness. When you know who you are, when you know you are compassionate, creative, and strong, you can align your purpose with your true self. That's when you begin to live in your power. I want you to take time each day to reaffirm your I am statements. Say them out loud, write them down, or meditate on them. The more you connect with who you truly are, the clearer your purpose will become. Remember, your why will change as you grow, but your I Am is your core. It's your essence. Embracing your I Am It's about more than just knowing who you are. It's about accepting and loving who you are. So this means acknowledging the qualities you love about yourself and also accepting the parts you might not always like. It means being okay with the fact that you are a work in progress, and that's a beautiful thing. We live in a world that often tries to tell us who we should be based on society's expectations of us. social media, or even the people around us. But true power comes from rejecting those expectations and embracing who we are at our core. I want you to ask yourself, what parts of myself have I been hiding or downplaying because I thought they weren't good enough? And what would happen if I fully embraced all of who I am? Let me tell you, the moment you stop trying to fit into someone else's definition of who you should be is the moment you begin to truly live in your power. So as we close today's episode, I want to leave you with this Your I Am is your truth. It's the foundation upon which your why is built. So before you chase after your purpose, take the time to know yourself, to embrace yourself, and to celebrate all that you are. When you truly know your I Am, your why will naturally follow. naturally come into focus, and it will be aligned with the person you were always meant to be. I want to thank you for joining me today on this episode of Living in Your Power. Take some time this week to reflect on your I Am statements and remember that you are more than enough just as you are. So until next time. Bye. time. Stay true to yourself, stay empowered, and keep living in your power. This is Marleen Greenleaf signing off. And remember, your journey to purpose begins with knowing and loving who you are. Embrace your I Am and watch your why unfold.