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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / inspiration / Faith / What is your purpose?

What is your purpose?

May 28, 2015 · 15 Comments
Filed Under: Faith, family, inspiration, mamahood

zack maggie whitley

It’s been almost seven years since I wrote my first blog post. I’m not going to link to it or re-read it, but I can only imagine it holds a bit of scatter-brain text, with the purpose of those posts being vastly different from my posts five years ago, three years ago, and even, this year.

Seven years ago Zack and I were living in Detroit and had been married for just a couple of months. Seven years ago we didn’t have a strong vision for our family or our financial goals. We didn’t have our dog or our two babies, and we certainly had gone on a lot less adventures & moves. Seven years ago I was getting ready to walk into the handmade scene and begin my five year journey as a shop owner.

notes maggie whitley

Seven years ago I barely had a purpose statement for my blog or my day-to-day life. I wasn’t bothered by that, but I also had much less going on compared to today. And to think seven years ago I was “always so bored” ;) Side note: I hardly remember what bored feels like. The things (and people) that kept me busy seven years ago are vastly different from today.

Take the broken terra cotta pot on our counter. I’m honestly not sure when I’ll re-pot it, but the grace-filled truth is that’s fine with me. I am not losing sleep over that broken pot. I kinda like it’s broken self and seeing it’s roots throughout the day. It’s bearing it’s authentic soul to all who pause to look.

home maggie whitley

Today we are living in Los Angeles. Today we have two healthy, gorgeous, happy babies. And don’t forget about our energetic, spunky dog! We are living in a cozy apartment with very limited space and items, but just like you I suffer from owning too much stuff (and at times, struggle with not owning “more”). We are deeply invested and aware of one other, that’s for sure.

Today we have a very concrete vision for our family and our financial goals. I am so happy with our goals in these areas, oh my goodness. I feel challenged daily and in wonderful ways, and I feel so overjoyed to be creating a home alongside my husband. He’s the best mate for me, the best friend, the best anything-I-need-him-to-be.

texture maggie whitley

Our purposes with our careers and our roles at home have shifted a little bit in the last seven years. Because my heart is set on specific goals it’s been a bit impossible for me to commit to the same amount of time to this blog as I have in years past. But at the same time, I very much take delight in who is taking up my time :) They sure are cute teammates.

My purpose has changed compared to seven years ago, but it has changed for the better. The reward of having such specific goals is better than any “impossibility”.

Year after year I continue to write here because I enjoy this community. Despite what an average day looks like, how much time I have to write or how little time I have, I enjoy the process of blogging. It blesses me that we can share our struggles and our highlight reels and general lists of “things I learned today”.

plants maggie whitley

Just like running helps me to clear my mind, writing is restorative as it helps me to see life from a different angle.

It has been incredibly valuable to spend time at least once per year asking myself, what is my purpose? I apply this question to my personal life and my career life, and I remind myself there is no wrong answer.

ergo kids maggie whitley

Here are six additional questions that have helped me find my purpose:

How do I want to remember most this year?

What personal/career obstacles am I trying to overcome?

What brings me great joy?

What activities do I avoid?

What strengths do I assign myself? What strengths would my family assign to me?

Do I realize saying “no” can later become “yes” (and vice versa)?

 

I believe we grow insurmountably as women when we recognize it’s OK for our purpose to change from year to year.

If what I was doing today was the same thing I was doing seven years ago then I’d be missing an immeasurable amount of life.

It’s easy to wonder with doubt: What if I have failed to notice that my purpose has changed?

But even better than that: Thank God I recognize I have a purpose (and it can change every year).

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15 Comments
Filed Under: Faith, family, inspiration, mamahood

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Comments

  1. Darcy says

    May 28, 2015 at 7:43 am

    So true! Thanks for sharing Maggie!

    Reply
  2. Hannah says

    May 28, 2015 at 8:35 am

    I loved this! Especially…”I believe we grow insurmountably as women when we recognize it’s OK for our purpose to change from year to year.” So encouraging to read since this is something I’ve been challenged with lately.

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      May 28, 2015 at 2:05 pm

      Thanks for sharing, Hannah! ♥

      Reply
  3. Allison says

    May 28, 2015 at 8:58 am

    I’m so glad I found you three years ago, when I was married for a couple months and wanting to start out. You were the second blog I ever followed. You continue to be an inspiration to me to make my life better and my blog.

    xo Allison

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      May 28, 2015 at 2:06 pm

      I’m so glad you took a moment to share this. I’m so encouraged by your comment! SO glad you’re a part of this community, Allison ♥.

      Reply
  4. Laura says

    May 28, 2015 at 11:49 am

    Truly loved this post, Maggie. It’s so beneficial when we can take a step back, evaluate where we’ve been and where we’re going. I think your questions toward the end of the post are going to be super helpful for a lot of people – great journaling starters! XO

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      May 28, 2015 at 2:06 pm

      …I should tape them to the inside of my journal (or coffee cup cupboard)! xo

      Reply
  5. Leighann says

    May 28, 2015 at 12:21 pm

    Found you today via Instagram. Love, love, love this post! It wasn’t until a few years ago that I realized I was allowed to change my mind, and not only that, if I never changed my mind (or purpose) I probably am not growing as a person. Great post!

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      May 28, 2015 at 2:07 pm

      Hi Leighann! You’ve added a great perspective to the post, thank you for your comment :)

      Reply
  6. Christine says

    May 29, 2015 at 9:10 am

    I loved this post. This post really meant a lot. Again, more like your other posts I am finding they help me through a situation I am going through.Right now I am stuck in a rut. Work is going no where…I am debating to go back to school, I am taking a job transfer in 6 months to California. I am hoping things will open up for me about and I will feel like I can move on. I feel like I am doing the same thing week after week and I am simply “bored”. I am definitely ready for a change… but I know a year from now I hope to be looking back and things will be different.Thanks for sharing this post Maggie!

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      August 11, 2015 at 4:23 pm

      Hey Christine, it’s been a couple months since you left your comment. I’m wondering if you’ve been able to make any changes and/or feel like you’re in less of a rut? xo

      Reply
  7. Melissa says

    May 30, 2015 at 1:32 pm

    Love this message… it rings so true and close to my heart. You don’t have to have it “all figured out” things change, you change, we all grow, and good things can and will unfold!

    Reply
  8. Laura says

    May 30, 2015 at 2:40 pm

    Well this post came along at just the right time! :) Thank you Maggie!

    Reply

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    June 3, 2015 at 4:06 am

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ABOUT MAGGIE WHITLEY DESIGNS:
Maggie Whitley weaves her writings around joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith, and simple living. She homeschools her children, enjoys a quiet room while reading, and roars with laughter over the challenges & delights of motherhood. Maggie and her husband, along with their four young children, live in metro-Detroit. She has been writing online since 2008.
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JOY in motherhood & homemaking 🧺🌿💓✨

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Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect o Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect on the moments I’ve felt my mind spinning, my emotions swirly, it’s almost always when I’m not feasting on the word of God. Not that reading scripture is the cure for anxiety —no! Rather, it’s hard to worry when we’re worshipping.
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I fought every internal comment I could think of a I fought every internal comment I could think of and took my kiddos for a looooong walk today before dinner. ❄️✨ There’s just so much work required to raise children! I’m feeling like a tired lady. But sunshine & fresh air are good companions to keep around. 

We came home and I made “the best dinner ever”. Max specifically announced, “it’s so great you’re launching new meals to the world”. LOL— kids! 🤣👏🏻💓
How about a little Wednesday night introduction? 😘Social media sure has changed over the years and we don’t always SEE who we’re following or remember WHY we’re following certain accounts. 

So, hello! As you can gather, my name is Maggie ;) 

I started writing online (almost 13 years ago) to share the handmade products I was sewing. My shop was called Gussy Sews. ✂️👛I love the community that has grown from sewing & sharing online.

Let’s FFW to today: Zack and I live in Michigan and have four young children (2 boys & 2 girls). I slowly left the handmade industry and walked right into homemaking, homeschooling, and encouraging women through writing. 💕📝

Motherhood has been very hard on me. (And not just because of how close in age our four children are.) It’s been hard for me because I fought for years to accept that *it’s supposed to be hard*. 

I mean, how do you effectively teach another person to know and love the Lord? Bc that’s how I think of motherhood: a calling to nurture others by studying the One who nurtures me. So I gotta make the first move: study the Bible and seek Him first. As my friend Autumn reminded me, vulnerability births transformation. 

(I’ve had to be really vulnerable!)

So, yes motherhood has fully transformed me. But even more so, Christ has fully transformed me. My list of “all that He’s done for me” is off to a beautifully long start.

Something else I want you to know about me: I stalled for years before acknowledging I have anxiety and depression. It’s hard to talk about this because of course this isn’t forever “my hardship”, but rather because acknowledging this means to heal I have to work through some really difficult things. ✨

But my friend Jesus walks alongside me. He’s already done a mighty work in my heart, including helping me process my anger in healthier ways. I’ve also adopted a heart for sisterhood, mothering, and Titus 2 mentorship.

Sometimes our greatest losses are our greatest gains? That’s what I’m clinging to!

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Just a few cheery memories from my week! How about you?
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What are you reading this year? Currently?

How many books are you planning to read? What’s your goal?

I’ll share what’s on my list for 2021 soon as I received some nice titles at Christmas. 📖✨🤍
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