What am I doing? Why am I here?

It's not that I'm having an identity crisis or feeling like an imposter. It's more about questioning my place and purpose. Maybe you can identify with how I'm feeling and help me figure it out.

I’ve been an entrepreneur, running my own businesses and being my own boss for the last 10 years. There was a lot of change in those first few years as I figured out what skills I was passionate about enough to a) give me a meaningful sense of purpose, b) carve out a career path for myself and c) become a profitable, sustainable business so I could support myself and my two young children. I also needed something that would hold my attention (or maybe, intention) so I wouldn’t get bored. I’m a very action, goal-oriented, purpose-driven, problem-solving person. Like what are we doing, why are we here, what’s the goal, what’s the objective? Once I know that, I’m focused, disciplined and determined enough to achieve whatever I’ve set out or need to achieve.

But every once in a while (usually once a year) I have a wobble. It’s not an identity crisis as such, and it’s not that I’m questioning who I am. It’s not that I feel like an imposter, but more like I’m not quite sure what I’m doing here. What’s my purpose, where’s my place, how do I fit in? I’ve often asked my Instagram followers, why are you here? Maybe if I can understand what you came for, what you’re looking for, I’ll be able to find my purpose and place somewhere within those answers. And it’s happening again…

Trends vs Longevity

I’m not always on board or even aware of the latest trends, because I prefer a slower pace of consumption and prefer to create and connect rather than consume and conform. I also find a lot of trends pointless, like what is the point of this, what are we doing? Again, it’s down to purpose, and intention. I’d rather forge a path of my own than follow someone else’s (how very Aries of me). Which can be liberating because they’re are no rules, but you can also get lost because there’s no path, no guide posts.

I started blogging almost 10 years ago and instantly fell in love. I liked everything about it, taught myself everything I know and have built a successful career and profitable, sustainable business out of it. When social media and short form content really took off, I stayed in my slow-paced lane and continued to write. And I haven’t stopped writing, through all the new trends, platforms and apps. My website Curl Maven now has over 10.5 MILLION hits less than 7 years!

Substack + Me

Then Substack came along and it finally felt like a platform that I could get on board with, one that I didn’t have to change my content style or learn anything new. I spoke about it my very first post, “When the glass slipper fits.” It felt like the latest trending platform had finally circled round to what I’d been doing all along. A slower-paced platform and longer form content that was perfectly suited to me. Everyone’s loving and starting their own Substack, it feels a lot like the old Tumbler days. But…