Finding Purpose: Why Your Past Challenges Hold the Key to Your Dream Career
I didn’t realise it at the time, but every challenge, every detour, and every struggle in my life was quietly guiding me to exactly where I am today.
I believe that meaning and purpose at work often come from healing the wounds of our past. Our struggles shape us, and if we pay attention, they point us toward what we’re truly meant to do.
For me, that journey started in a suburb of Glasgow, Scotland. As a child of expat parents—one from Egypt, the other from Ireland—I always felt different.
Add to that being diagnosed with an autoimmune condition at age 9, I quickly learned that standing out wasn’t safe. So I made it my mission to blend in.
That pattern followed me into adulthood. I studied business because I thought it was the “right” thing to do, but deep down, I knew it wasn’t me. So I switched to psychology (somewhere deep inside I knew the way).
After university, I pursued a career in fashion, but I soon realised this was an ego-based decision. I was far more interested in the people behind the brands than the products themselves.
That led me to people consulting, HR, and executive search, getting me closer to my true self. But still, I knew that something was still missing. I had this nagging feeling I was meant for more. I knew I had more potential, and my quest for purpose began.
In 2017, I discovered positive psychology—and everything clicked. And so I went back university in 2019. What a dream it was studying as an adult! Later, I turned my theory into practice and trained to become a Consciousness Coach and NLP Practitioner.
That’s when I realised:
❤️ Career success isn’t about how much money you make or how fast you climb the ladder. It's how much freedom, autonomy and impact you make.
❤️ When your work aligns with your true authentic self, you enjoy the process so much and motivation comes naturally, so that traditional “success” takes care of itself.
❤️ The key to meaningful work is using your innate strengths every day.
❤️Happiness and joy doesn't have to be reserved for weekends, birthday parties or holidays. It can be found every single day!
And when you do that—when you step into work that is truly meaningful—the money, the opportunities, and the impact will follow.
I know I’m privileged to think about work this way while so many people are focused on survival. But that’s exactly why, if you have the privilege of security, you must make it your mission to find your mission.
Because when we live our purpose, we don’t just change our own lives—we can change the world around us too!
