YOU ARE HERE FOR A REASON

FOR YEARS, I wondered why I was brought to this earth and what was the calling on my life. I prayed about it, attended seminars, read books ... but God didn't seem to be in a rush to enlighten me. It took a lot of self-study, countless tests of faith, and a true commitment to live out a purposeful and meaningful life to be where I currently am in my journey. As I write this book, I know that the message being delivered in it was supposed to be delivered by that 14-year-old girl who lost her brutally murdered father in 1996. I am certain that God knew then that He would use my unique perspective on life and my unique personality and way of communicating to touch the lives of countless people in a way that only I can. I know this to be true because there are countless messages that I've heard repeatedly from different people; but when one particular person says it a certain way, it clicks! It's like magic!

There is no substitute on this God-given earth for YOU! I truly believe that if you are still alive today, God is not finished with you. The plan, the calling on your life has not yet been fulfilled. Think about it. Why else would you still be here? It took me a while to make sense of this; but now, nothing else makes sense. Why would an almighty God who created something as grand as the earth; lights it up daily with the sun; then conceals it at night to reveal the stars; who created every creature with unique sounds and unique abilities; who created the trees, the ocean, the atmosphere; and who coordinates a contributive balance between all living things on this earth — why would that God create me, create you with no purpose or reason? Really? Again, the privilege of a lifetime is to be yourself. The most important work you will ever engage in is your self-discovery. There is nothing more beautiful than to uncover your hidden talents and make sense of why they were given to you.

Whether or not you've noticed it before today, you are unique. There is no one else like you. There is no one else who sees things exactly the way you do. Your personality, your thought process, and your ways are all unique to you. Only you can accomplish the calling on your life. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't step in to take your place; I wouldn't succeed. I don't have your "special sauce," that unique ingredient that only you possess.

Have you ever stopped to appreciate how valuable you are? No one can beat you at the game of being you. No one can be a better you than you! If you were patentable, you wouldn't even have to conduct a prior art search to confirm the authenticity of you! How awesome is that? Take a second to reflect on how unique you are. There is a quote by Anais Nin that explains this point: "We don't see things as they are; we see them as we are." Two people can experience the exact same event and have two completely different outlooks on the event. No one shares your exact perspective on any given subject. Your set of talents, ways, thoughts, and creative abilities are valuable and essential to the growth and development of those connected to you. You were born to the set of parents you were born to, in the country you were born in, in the skin you were born in, in the cultural and economic environment you were born in, to fulfill the calling on your life. Every single thing that has happened to you was necessary in the grand scheme of your life's calling. Those events, experiences, and circumstances have molded you into the unique being that you are and have equipped you to make your dreams a reality!

My hope is that as you read this book, you will be inspired to embark on the quest of ascertaining your own life calling. Can you imagine what impact you can have in your home, in your community, in your country, and in the world once you know what role you were sent here to play? Picture walking into a dark room: how far could you get without stumbling over things and becoming frustrated because you can't see where you're going? Picture walking into the same room that is now well lit. In the same way, you can turn yourself ON! I am not saying that there won't be obstacles, because there will be plenty. What I'm saying is that when you know where you are going, you can avoid certain obstacles; and the ones that you couldn't avoid will have meaning specific to your journey. You will cease to have life happen to you and start having life happen for you.

My dream is to see the entire population of my homeland of Haiti awakened to this truth. I would love nothing more than to see my people discover their power, resolve to figure out why they are here, and get about the business of bringing their various life callings to pass. Can you imagine how different Haiti would be if more people decided to create a life worthy of who they are? Can you imagine how many untapped industries could be developed by awakened entrepreneurs who believe that "Yes, I can"? Can you imagine the resulting economic and social growth Haiti would experience? I imagine it all the time. And I know that it is possible, because I understand that when you know why you are here, and your desire to make it your reality starts burning you up from the inside, you become an unstoppable creator. You see things differently, and you look for opportunities in everything. You become so obsessed with turning your desires into reality that you will look for a connection to your goal in everything that life throws your way. You cease to be a victim and become a victor over your life circumstances. You make everything work together for your good.

The sad thing is that most people confuse what they do to earn a living or where they are in life today for who they are. There is nothing further from the truth. Stop and think for a moment: you were once a baby, right? Are you still a baby? Can you imagine how things would be if everyone continued to see themselves as babies and never embraced their progression to adulthood? You'd have a bunch of big people walking around in diapers and throwing tantrums every so often! I know I'm exaggerating, but the point is: we all evolve, and depending on where life places us, we fill different functions in society at different moments in time. However, that is not the essence of who we are. While what you do for a living can be a vehicle, a stepping- stone for you to live out the calling on your life, your daily tasks are not who you are. You are above that, and getting enthralled in your daily activities tends to dim this truth. Whatever you currently do for a living,...