Have you ever felt like you’re waiting for the “right moment” to start pursuing your dreams or finding your true purpose in life? Maybe you’ve been putting it off, waiting for the stars to align, or hoping that one day, you’ll feel “ready.” But what if I told you that the key to discovering and living out your purpose isn’t about waiting for the perfect opportunity, but about preparing for it every single day? Patricia Lloyd, in her powerful book I Love Me, teaches us a crucial lesson: the journey toward fulfillment begins with small, consistent actions. It’s about daily preparation and being intentional with how we approach life. Let’s dive into why preparing for your purpose is the most essential step in fulfilling it. In I Love Me, Patricia shares a clear dream that she had about being a bride, eagerly awaiting the day she had dreamt of. The wedding was all set—the guests were waiting, the music was playing—but when it came time for her to make her entrance, she wasn’t ready. She was still in the dressing room, without a wedding dress. The rags in the garment bag symbolized the distractions and unaddressed pains that held her back from truly preparing for her purpose.

This dream, though a metaphor, speaks volumes about how many of us approach our lives. We spend time dreaming of success, imagining our ideal future, but sometimes we fail to prepare ourselves adequately for the moment when that future arrives. We delay taking action because we feel unprepared or distracted, not realizing that preparation is the foundation of success. The concept of preparation is not new, but Patricia Lloyd takes it a step further in her book by showing us that it’s the daily actions—small but intentional—that set us up for success. It’s easy to get lost in the idea of “one big break” or “the perfect moment,” but in reality, purpose is realized through consistent, everyday decisions. Whether it’s dedicating time to hone your skills, working on your mindset, or taking care of your emotional and spiritual health, every small action contributes to building the life you desire. Lloyd emphasizes that “Preparation for purpose became a daily reminder in my activities.” She urges us to stop being passive observers of our own lives and instead, become active participants in the process of growth and development.

When we focus on daily preparation, we’re essentially setting up the foundation that will allow us to seize the opportunities that come our way. Just like a bride needs time to find the perfect dress, we need time to build ourselves up, acquire knowledge, and strengthen our minds and hearts for what’s ahead. Another important lesson Patricia shares in her book is the shift from living for “me” to living for “we.” This transition is key to preparing for a life of purpose. It’s not just about pursuing personal goals, but about how we can use our gifts and talents to serve others and make a positive impact on the world around us. Lloyd talks about how serving others is not about solving their problems for them, but about guiding them to find their own answers. By focusing on preparing ourselves to be better equipped to serve others, we align our purpose with something greater than ourselves. It’s the process of becoming selfless—of putting the needs of others alongside our own, and in doing so, we fulfill a higher calling.

This “preparation to serve” is transformative. As Patricia beautifully writes, “Preparation can lead you to the planting stage… where you are allowing your gift or talent to be used for a greater purpose beyond yourself.” It’s not just about achieving success for personal gain; it’s about planting seeds of positivity, compassion, and love that will eventually lead to a bountiful harvest. Patricia also acknowledges the challenges that come with the journey toward purpose. There will be setbacks, moments of doubt, and challenges that test our resolve. But she encourages us to see these setbacks not as roadblocks, but as stepping stones. Every failure, every obstacle, is an opportunity to grow stronger, wiser, and more prepared for the next step.

Growth, according to Lloyd, is not linear. It involves triumphs, yes, but it also includes setbacks and failures. And that’s okay! The key is to keep moving forward, learning, and evolving. By embracing setbacks, we allow ourselves the grace to keep going. The more we grow through adversity, the more we equip ourselves to fulfill our purpose with strength and resilience. So, how can we apply this daily preparation to our own lives? Patricia encourages us to be intentional about how we spend our time, the people we surround ourselves with, and the thoughts we allow into our minds. Each day is an opportunity to lay one more brick in the foundation of our future success. In the end, success doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built through daily, purposeful actions that prepare us for the life we desire. So, start today. Prepare for your purpose with intention, consistency, and trust. Your future self will thank you for it.