A version of truth or being true came up in all three of my morning readings today. The truth is… truth can be slippery.
My books told me that originality and individualism are not as important as being true to the work—true to purpose. Another reading: stay true to my own spiritual and emotional growth, success will follow. The third: I should not be distracted by the opinions of others. I should stay true to myself.
Authenticity. Truth. Purpose.
And all the advice that comes with them, like be true to yourself and find your purpose.
This is where truth gets slippery.
This is where advice becomes annoying.
When my kids were younger, teachers and mentors filled their heads with the notion that they had to find their true purpose. This created more anxiety than clarity.
Losing sleep over What will I do?
Biting nails about What will I become?
Freaking out about What is my purpose?
The Wrong Questions
The questions seem legit, but they’re too narrow.
Because, if we’re lucky enough to live into adulthood—even young adulthood—we will:
- do many things
- become many versions of ourselves
- serve a variety of purposes
So maybe the better question isn’t What is my purpose? Maybe it’s How can you live purposefully?
That’s what I told my children. And I added I could be wrong.
“But what if I get lost?” they might ask.
Getting lost is scary.
It’s also a gift.
Getting lost loosens the grip of binary thinking:
this is my way / that’s not my way
this is good / that is bad
I like this / I don’t like that
A wrong turn becomes a chance to discover:
Oh… I actually like this.
Or: I don’t—at least now I know.
And sometimes, getting lost introduces us to people and possibilities we would never have found on the “right” path.
I think we often cling to find a path, even when it no longer fits. We close ourselves off to what else might be possible.
One of the things I admire most about my children and their friends—maybe it’s generational—is their willingness to pivot. They’ll tuck away a degree, try something new, and leave the rest of us saying, Wow. I didn’t see that coming.
An Invitation
So in this season of graduation, here’s my invitation:
Consider what feels true for you—without the noise of what others expect.
Follow what feels right for now.
And stay open to the pivot.
Keep tending your spiritual and emotional growth—whatever that looks like for you—so your inner voice stays clear.
The truth is…
you’ll know.
©Pennie Nichols. All Rights Reserved. 2026
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