Pondering with Purpose

ABOUT ME

Growing up in a high-demand Christian church has deeply shaped many of my life choices. While these decisions were often viewed as commendable from a religious standpoint, my journey took a turn when I began to question my faith about a year ago. Suddenly, I found myself contending with existential questions: Who am I, why am I that way, and what do I aspire to become? As a 21-year-old college junior, it’s not uncommon for people my age to undergo this developmental phase of self-discovery. However, that does not mean navigating this process has been easy.

Wrestling with my identity and contemplating the role of religion in my life has been filled with uncertainty. In my quest to understand myself and integrate my beliefs into my daily life, I’ve often wondered: Who else shares these struggles? The weight of guilt and shame, and the fear of how my decisions will impact my friendships and family relationships has been a large part of how I have felt along this journey. But I know that I am not alone in experiencing these emotions. That’s why I created Ponderings with Purpose—to reach out to others who may be facing similar challenges. Through this blog, I aim to connect with those people while exploring my own values as I go on my journey of faith consideration. I am just beginning this journey of discovering the answer to the question of who I am. As I embark on this voyage and share it through Pondering with Purpose, I hope that others will join me as they embark on their own journeys of finding their authentic selves.”