What if the hardest moments in your life were actually clues to your purpose?

In this episode of Wisdom For Working Mums, I’m exploring how we can “decode” our purpose by looking back at the meaning markers in our lives – the losses, turning points and everyday moments that quietly show us what really matters.

As working mums, we hear a lot about purpose and purposeful leadership. It’s everywhere in the leadership and coaching world.

But what does that actually mean when you’re spinning plates – work, children, home, life – and just trying to get everyone out of the door on time?

In this solo episode, I share how losing my mum suddenly at 58 – and my uncle just weeks later – cracked me open to a completely different way of living and working. I talk about the idea of meaning markers: those powerful moments in our story that shape who we are and what we care about, often long before we have language for it.

I’m not handing you a neat 3-step formula. Instead, I gently guide you through how to look back at your own life and start joining the dots. You’ll hear how your experiences – including the painful ones – may already be pointing towards your deeper purpose, and how you can begin to honour that in the way you live today.

This is an honest and ultimately hopeful conversation about grief, growth and crafting a life that feels good on the inside, not just one that looks good on the outside.

Why Listen to This Episode?

You’re craving more than “just getting through the week.”
If you’ve ever felt that quiet “Is this it?” rising up between meetings and mealtimes, this episode will help you see that question as an invitation rather than something to be pushed down.

You want purpose to feel human, not corporate.
I strip purpose back from the buzzwords and strategy decks and bring it into real life – as a working mum, with limited time, energy and capacity.

You’re holding hard experiences and wondering what to do with them.
Loss, burnout, identity shifts, big transitions – they can feel like they’ve broken you. I offer a different perspective: that they can also become meaning markers, quietly shaping your future in powerful ways.

You don’t have the bandwidth for big dramatic changes.
This isn’t about blowing up your life or making huge decisions overnight. It’s about small shifts: one reflection, one insight, one tiny action that brings your life a little more in line with what truly matters to you.

You want to step into 2026 more intentional.
As we close out this year, this episode gives you a gentle structure to look back, join the dots and choose what you want the next chapter of your life to be in service of.

Key Takeaways

In this episode, I’ll help you:

Understand what I mean by meaning markers and how to spot them in your own life

See how grief and loss can sometimes lead to post-traumatic growth and deeper clarity about what matters

Reframe purpose – not as a job title or grand mission statement, but as the meaning you choose to make from your story

Use simple reflection questions to decode your purpose, including:

What moments of loss, shock or big change stand out in my life?

When have I felt most alive and most me?

What patterns keep showing up in my story?

What’s the quiet whisper I’ve been ignoring?

Notice where your story might be nudging you – towards boundaries, support, rest, courage or change

Take one small, compassionate step towards a life that feels more aligned, alive and sustainable

This conversation will really support you if:

On paper you’re “doing well”, but inside something feels off

You’ve been through a tough season and want to make some sense of it

You’re longing for more meaning, but you don’t know where to start

You want 2026 to feel more intentional, not just busier

Your life has been sending you clues about your purpose for years.
This episode is your invitation to pause long enough to notice them.

And if the episode resonates, I’d genuinely love to hear from you – share your meaning markers or your biggest insight with me.

Links in this episode

The Power Of Your Purpose – Podcast Episode with James Glover

Read the transcript here