It's a Monday morning; I'm sitting at Starbucks to write an upcoming talk for a big online event.

I hoped that the coffee smell would give my creativity a kick. However, my mind is as blank as the mind of a cucumber.

The event's intimidating name doesn't help: "Asia Professional Speaker Convention," gathering 500 participants all over the region, most of whom are leaders and speakers themselves.

2 months ago, the speaker curator Shaen and I agreed that my talk would be about about defining one's purpose and how that can help people lead themselves and others through difficult times.

Over the years, I've helped many clients to do the same. So it isn't hard to outline the talk. I know the teaching points, the modality, and the tools like the back of my hands.

Vulnerability is how you let yourself be truly seen,

I will also tell my story. There are many stories on my path of tracking purpose. But I know I have to choose the one that cuts the deepest. The most vulnerable story.

Because vulnerability is how you let yourself be truly seen. And the audience wants to see you, the real you, not a pretty shell.

But still, sitting here at Starbucks with a venti cup of black tea latte, I've hit a wall.

I have the teaching points, the tools, the story. But something is missing. Something important. Something that will add a touch of magic to the talk.

I stare at the blank page. I gaze out the window. I open my kindle library and look at the books. (I often do this when I need inspiration. As if peaking into the brilliant brain of others would feed mine.)

My eyes land at the poetry collection of Mary Oliver. Something sparks.

A quiet excitement rises up my body:

"I want to read poems."

Immediately, I hear a little voice in my head:

"Reading poems?! You're speaking to professional people! That's too sentimental!"

I’ve heard this little voice before. I know not to believe in it so much. So I go ahead and choose 2 poems.

What are you holding back because you're afraid of being "too much" for someone?

That "too much" might be "just perfect" for many.

A few days later, I spoke to Shaen again. She loves the idea: "We haven't had anyone doing poetry yet! It sounds beautiful. Just be you."

So I open my talk with Mary Oliver's The Summer Day and end with Lucille Clifton's Blessing the Boat.

Several participants say that it brings them to tears. They even share their texts with me right after my talk: "That was soooo beautiful!"

I remember a scene in Kungfu Panda when Po opens the Dragon Scroll and freaks out because he finds only a blank page. Later Po realizes that the page isn’t blank. It is filled with his own reflection.

The secret ingredient you seek isn't out there; it has been here all along. It's you.

What do you love?

Share that love with us.

What are you holding back because you're afraid of being "too much" for someone?

That "too much" might be "just perfect" for many.

What are you hiding because you're afraid of being judged?

The only one who judges it might be only the little voice inside your head. Even if 10,000 people send you hate-mails, that has everything to do with them and nothing to do with you anyway.

Let your light shine. It's unique. If you block it, it will not exist through anyone else and be lost.

Bring “Ingredient You” in what you do. Let your light shine. It's unique. If you block it, it will not exist through anyone else and be lost. And our world will be lesser because of that.

Be like Po, he fights Kungfu with his belly fat. It’s silly. It’s hilarious. It was never done before in the history of Kungfu.

But it works because it’s uniquely him.

Po embraces himself, especially what he was made to feel ashamed of.

You can do that too.

Embrace all that you are.

Live your life, and do your work the way only you can.

P.S: Thanks to team APSS's generosity, I'm able to share this recording with you. Here's a timestamp in case you need it.

00:47 - Poetry reading: The Summer Day by Mary Oliver

02:42 - The importance of listening to your inner voice and seeking your true purpose

07:00 - The danger of holding onto a Default Purpose

13:13 - What to do when we're lost

14:56 - The 4 elements of purpose

15:37 - Unlocking your values

17:40 - Why it's difficult to see our genius

19:04 - Discovering your passion

19:50 - Your mission, your message

21:00 - How to use your Purpose Compass

30:00 - Q&A.

40:23 - Poetry reading: Blessing the Boat by Lucille Clifton

P.P.S: Finding the work you belong.

You want to do work that matters. You know you have a higher purpose, but you also don't know what it exactly is. If you're feeling lost, know that you're not alone.

It takes deep soul-searching work to define your purpose. And a little help can go a long way.

Which is why I’ve created a beautiful Purpose Finder Workbook just for you to reclaim your long lost purpose.

Download below!