Summary: How to Know Your Intentions Are Aligned (Even When Life Feels Messy)
When life feels chaotic, it’s hard to know if you’re actually on the right path. This article shows how your intention—more than your situation—reveals whether you’re living in your purpose.
– Your current situation doesn’t define your purpose—your intention does.
– People pick up on authentic intention, even when life looks messy.
– When intention and purpose align, you feel it instantly.
– Strangers often respond to your purpose before you even realize it yourself.
Why I Started Asking Myself This Question
Nobody asked me this out loud, but it’s the question I kept hearing in my own head:
“How do I know if I’m living in my purpose when life looks like it’s falling apart?”
For me, this came up when LA started getting rough. Nina and I were grinding—looking for jobs, trying to pay bills, doing what we could to stay afloat. It wasn’t glamorous. It was survival mode.
I started selling off some of my photo and video gear on Facebook Marketplace. Stuff I wasn’t using anymore since we’re shifting toward full-time travel and remote work. At first, it felt like defeat.
But then something happened I didn’t expect.
Selling Gear Turned Into Something Else
Every time I met someone to sell a lens or a camera, we ended up talking about life:
– How to get more work as a creative
– How to handle imposter syndrome
– What steps they should take next in their career
One conversation sticks out. A young photographer asked, “Do you ever deal with imposter syndrome, or is that just me?”
I laughed, because I knew that feeling well. Back when I worked as an engineer, I felt it almost every day. I was surrounded by some of the smartest, most technical people in the world and always felt like I didn’t belong. And I realized why: I left too many unknowns in my career. I wasn’t a strong programmer, I didn’t know enough backend stuff to be confident day to day.
But with photography and video? That’s different. If I have a camera in my hand, I will always deliver more than you expected. I know my craft. I love learning more. That’s what confidence feels like—the difference between doing something because you have to and doing something because you live and breathe it.
I told him: “You’ve already got the passion. Now you just need the experience. Mess things up, figure out how to fix them, and don’t be afraid of that process. That’s how confidence gets built.”
(That’s a whole other article I’m writing next—because imposter syndrome is real, and it’s not the enemy people think it is.)
The Moment I Thought I Needed a Job
One night I told Nina, “Maybe I should go work for a camera shop or rental house. I clearly like sales.”
For a week, I thought that was the answer. Until I watched a video about intentions. It hit me hard:
I don’t want to work for someone else. That’s not my purpose.
I want to help people. That’s what lights me up.
That’s why I started Keflon61 and Eat Sleep Kreate in the first place. It’s not about selling gear. It’s about using my experience to help other people succeed.
Why Intention Is the Compass
One guy I sold an older cinema camera to wanted it for a passion project. It wasn’t cutting-edge, but it was perfect for what he wanted to shoot. I showed him how to get the most out of it, gave him a couple of tips, and even pointed out what accessories would make life easier.
Later it hit me: I wasn’t just selling a camera. I was helping him move closer to his dream project—the thing that really mattered to him.
That’s when I realized something important:
– People pick up on intention.
– They knew my intention wasn’t just to make a quick sale.
– They felt that my heart was to help them win.
And that felt right. Even in the middle of my own struggle, those moments were aligned with my purpose.
Intentions aren’t just fluffy affirmations—they actively guide your behavior. Discover the benefits of intentional daily habits and how setting intentions aligns daily actions with values.
3 Ways to Know You’re Living in Your Purpose (Even When Life Feels Messy)
- You feel a spark – Even when life is tough, some moments feel right. Pay attention to them.
2. People respond to you – Strangers and peers alike naturally look to you for insight or guidance.
3. You feel aligned, not forced – Even in messy times, certain actions feel honest and energizing, not heavy and forced.
People pick up on intention and alignment—especially when life is messy. These are proven signs your intentions are aligned in challenging times.
So How Do You Know?
Your situation doesn’t determine your purpose—your intention does.
If what you’re doing makes you feel connected and honest—even if it’s small, even if it’s temporary—that’s purpose showing up. That’s your compass.
When you feel that spark in the middle of something ordinary? That’s your purpose saying, you’re in the right place, keep going.
Quick Reflection
Ask yourself:
– When was the last time something felt right even when life felt wrong?
– What were you doing?
– Who were you helping?
Chances are, your purpose was showing through your intention at that moment.
FAQ
Q: Can I be living my purpose if I’m struggling financially?
A: Yes. Purpose is about alignment, not income. Intention tells you more than your bank account does.
Q: What if I don’t know my purpose yet?
A: Start by looking at your intentions. What do you want others to experience because of you? That usually points to your purpose.
Q: How do I stop imposter syndrome from holding me back?
A: Accept it as part of growth. Confidence comes from experience—and messing things up is how you build it. (More on this in my next article.)
Revisit your goals: Instead of asking what you want, ask why. That single word changes everything.
