The Courage to Find Purpose in Our 30s

Over the past two months, I’ve found myself deep in personal conversations that have been both intense and enlightening. Through these talks, I’ve uncovered many untold stories, all intricately woven together. It’s fascinating how human life can be like a library of wisdom—there’s so much to learn from each other simply by listening to someone else's experiences without having to live through them yourself.

One topic that keeps coming up is the purpose of life and how to find happiness. It’s interesting because happiness, by its very nature, is deeply personal. What makes one person happy might be entirely different for someone else. Yet everyone seems to agree on one thing: true happiness can be felt not just by ourselves but also by the people around us.

But there’s also so much fear that holds people back from chasing their dreams, especially as we hit our 30s. It’s this transitional age where many of us have been in the same job for a few years, are starting families, juggling more responsibilities, and perhaps even feeling a bit restless with life’s routine. There’s this underlying sense of pressure to figure everything out, whether you’re 30 or in your early 30s.

The reality is not everyone in their 30s has the freedom to make bold or extreme decisions. If you have a family, every decision you make impacts not just you but your partner and children. It’s not as simple as quitting your job to travel the world, changing careers, or making big life changes. At the same time, it’s also not easy to stay stuck in a situation that no longer brings joy or purpose.

I’ve realized in these conversations that sometimes, deep down, we already know what we need to do to find happiness or fulfillment. But the problem is courage. Courage in your 30s is a rare and precious thing. It’s expensive because the stakes feel so much higher. Not every family understands that life doesn’t have to follow a straight line. Not every partner is on the same page when it comes to supporting each other through changes, especially when those changes come with risks. Not everyone has a strong enough support system to remind them that life shouldn’t feel like you’re just going through the motions—without passion or purpose.

At some point, we all reach a crossroads where we question the direction we’re heading. What am I really striving for? Am I truly happy with where I am and what I’m doing? These questions linger in the back of our minds, and maybe the answers will come with time—or with the courage to take that first step toward something new.