A Year of Sundays: The 46th Sunday (11/16/25)

Remember Who You Are

To every season, there is a reason — and to every life, a purpose.

This week, I found myself reflecting on identity, purpose, and the quiet strength that emerges when we pause long enough to remember who we are. The world around us is loud right now—politically, socially, emotionally—and it can easily drown out our inner voice.

But underneath the noise, we each carry a deep, unchanging truth. If you do not know your purpose, there is one sacred place to find it: within. You must go into your own mind, your own silence, and sit with yourself long enough to listen.

This is not always comfortable work. Stillness can feel like standing in a room full of mirrors. But it is only in that quiet space that you begin to see yourself clearly—not through the lens of others’ expectations, but through the light of your own being.

You are more than your stressors. More than your to-do lists.More than the state of the world. You are a miracle in motion.

Grounding in Purpose

Modern psychology and ancient wisdom converge on one simple truth: knowing oneself is foundational to living well.

Psychologist Carl Jung (1959) described this process as individuation—the journey of integrating all aspects of oneself into wholeness. Jung believed that meaning and fulfillment arise when we recognize and align with our authentic selves, not the masks we wear for approval.

Viktor Frankl (1946), a Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist, echoed this in Man’s Search for Meaning, writing that “Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.” Purpose, he argued, is not found externally—it is created internally through conscious choice and reflection.

In the realm of mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn (1994) reminds us that stillness and awareness are not luxuries but necessities for self-understanding. His work in Wherever You Go, There You Are teaches that mindfulness reconnects us to our essence by quieting external chaos and amplifying inner clarity.

And Brené Brown (2010), in her groundbreaking work on vulnerability and authenticity, underscores that embracing our imperfections is not weakness—it is the gateway to courage, creativity, and connection.

Together, these perspectives affirm a timeless truth: when we are still, we remember. When we listen inwardly, we realign with our purpose.

Reflection Prompt: When was the last time you sat quietly, without a goal or distraction, and simply met yourself again?

Take ten minutes this week to do nothing but breathe and observe your thoughts—no judgment, no pressure. You might be surprised by what your inner self has been waiting to tell you.

Affirmation of the Week: “I remember who I am: whole, worthy, and guided by purpose. My stillness reconnects me to my truth.”

References

Brown, B. (2010). The gifts of imperfection: Let go of who you think you’re supposed to be and embrace who you are. Hazelden.

Frankl, V. E. (1946). Man’s search for meaning. Beacon Press.

Jung, C. G. (1959). The archetypes and the collective unconscious (2nd ed.). Princeton University Press.

Kabat-Zinn, J. (1994). Wherever you go, there you are: Mindfulness meditation in everyday life. Hyperion.