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March 1, 2025
Purpose and self-discovery is a journey that can make us feel as if we are alone in our struggles. The Purpose Press highlights the narratives of our community members.
On self…
Name?
Marsheda Patrice, Esq.
Where are you from?
Lansing, MI
Where are you based?
Chicago, IL
What do you do for work?
Policy attorney and business owner
How would you describe yourself in your own words?
Authentic. I am unapologetically myself.
Lover. I am fiercely protective and passionate about what I love.
Adventurer. Whether it’s a geographical space or an intangible concept, I am genuinely curious about God’s wisdom buried in every interaction I have.
Warrior of Light. I have an undestroyable spirit; I may break, fall, or falter. But I will never remain shattered. I alchemize and transmute my experiences into light lessons to become a beacon for other warriors.
Strategist. I love cake and want to not only have it, but eat it too. With life’s consistent inconsistencies, the only way to achieve life’s fullness and abundance is through intentionality. So I strategize because the standard of my life literally depends on it.
What experience has shaped your sense of self the most?
I’m a pretty reflective person, so I could point to any and everything. However, the instance that let me know I was exactly who I said I was when I decided to part ways with someone I had been close friends with for 18 years. I had made a promise to myself, to believe myself and God the first time I sensed something. You see, I was unlearning the bad habit of unseeing the pink and red flags as it related to the people I loved and was in deep relationship with. I had conceptualized that loving people meant accepting all things about them, even if it violated a personal boundary because they often couldn’t help their hurt. While people cannot control when they are triggered, they are responsible for their management.
In this relationship, because I knew that they had encountered significant harm and abuse, I made excuses for how exhausting it was to be in connection with them. However, there came a point where my worth was challenged and instead of acquiescing, like I usually would, I demanded the enforcement of my boundaries and expectations because of how I viewed my own personal worth. It was hard, yet liberating because for years, the shadow work that I had engaged in was adopting God’s view of my worth for myself. And being willing to not only stand up for myself to someone who I cared about deeply, but also be so zealously protective of myself that I would be willing to see the flags and do what is necessary for my story of self to remain compatible with my outer world became a marker of truth for me. I did not lie to myself or God about believing me and doing what was necessary to ensure that in every interaction and connection I have I am saying, “l love you,” to myself. It was hard, but so worth it. Sometimes we are gifted with tough experiences so that God can show us who we really are.
When do you feel most at home in yourself?
Probably when I’m laughing or making someone I adore cackle. I love delivering joy.
What contributes to your feeling of self?
My intimacy with God. Even when I doubt myself, because I know Him to be who He said He is, I feel anchored in my journey. He is my only constant. He is always with me. It doesn’t matter if it’s the mountain peek, the valley, or the hallway of transition, Him and His various manifestations of His presence surround me. So when life inevitably starts lifing, I ask for more of His presence, or at least for me to become more sensitive and cognizant of it and He brings me back to me. I feel Him in my chest and outer biceps. It’s like He’s embracing me from behind to remind me that He’s here and He has me.
I get emotional because there was a time I didn’t know that I could be so unconditionally loved. And it was like God made it His mission to make sure that I both knew that He loved me, but also that I felt like He loved me.
How has your identity evolved over time?
I would say I started very grounded and rooted in myself as a child and as life happened, I became more of a people pleaser and perfectionist in order to feel safe. However, with a shattered engagement, unexpected violent deaths of loved ones, and being quarantined in 2020, I had to shed the masks that once protected me. The once armor became a suffocating prison. So the last four years have been a deep confrontation of getting back to me and prioritizing that little girl who knew herself and her God. So I would say it has definitely been a season of full circle moments.
Are there any aspects of your identity that you’ve struggled to accept or embrace?
I don’t know if this is an aspect of identity, but I definitely battle the idea that I have to do everything “right” the first time. Everything felt urgent and like it was life or death. I have gotten a lot better, but I have to intentionally pace myself and check-in with myself. I get to learn in grace. Life isn’t about being wrong or right. It’s about becoming more and more aware of the choices we make so that can live fully on purpose.
If your inner child could say anything to the you of today, what would they say?
I hope she would say, “You cute sis.” Lol. But seriously, I hope instead of saying anything to me, she would just leap into my arms and expect me to hug her while twirling her around in a circle. My baby girl is about five-years-old and I want her to feel safe and loved enough to act like a five-year-old. She’s my baby and I truly desire to ensure that she feels that way.
On purpose…
What does "purpose" mean to you?
I define purpose as the reason why an individual was uniquely crafted. Another way to think of it, is the role that we were specifically called to play in all of creation. So purpose means identifying and playing my role to the fullest. I just want to be who I was called to be and do what I was called to do well for who I was called to do it for.
Do you feel like you’ve discovered your purpose?
Yes. I believe that I am called to guide others to their purpose by modeling walking in mine. I have a unique calling to shepherd the shepherds. Leaders who are charged to protect and guide a flock encounter a lonely often indescribable painful journey to glory that forces them to harness their gifts. I’m here as a teacher and guide for them to encourage them, create spaces of solace, and provide tangible resources that act as useful tools on the journey.
What questions are you still asking as you continue to seek your purpose?
What does it mean to be me in this season? What does it look like? What are the appropriate ratios work, play, and learning in order to achieve joyful fulfillment on the journey?
In process…
Was there a specific moment or experience that made you realize you wanted to find your purpose?
I didn’t have a moment where I said I was going to figure out my purpose. Instead I had times where I was feeling so misaligned that I eventually crashed and burned and was met with the choice of making drastic changes or losing my sanity. So discovering self and inevitably purpose became a survival tactic.
Do you ever struggle with feeling lost or uncertain about your purpose? How do you navigate that?
I feel confident about my calling now. It took me tracking the times when I felt most aligned in order to identify a pattern to bring before God and get confirmation. However, I am constantly inquiring about the best ways for me to execute my assignment. The “how” tends to be in constant influx. I navigate the uncertainty by trying quickly, failing forward, and looking at the outcomes as information and opportunities for clarity. So I pray, journal, and talk to myself a lot. I check in with myself quite often.
What advice do you have for someone who is seeking to walk in their purpose?
Stay plugged into Ewulomi Works. Join the listserv because we will have courses, workshops and other resources that are coming to help and support you. Additionally, I would also say to begin checking in with yourself and being honest about what you feel and why you feel it.
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