A simple guide to living authentically and intentionally.
By Ali Ansari
Albert Einstein once said:
“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.”
It’s a simple image, yet it captures a truth many of us ignore. Too often we climb trees that were never ours, chasing careers, roles, or measures of success defined by others. We might achieve, but inside we feel hollow.
Fulfilment comes from a different path: discovering your identity, uncovering your purpose, and aligning your actions with both.
Identity: Who You Are
Identity is the starting point. It’s not a job title or an external label. It’s the truth of how you are naturally wired; the environments where you thrive, the qualities that energize you, the strengths that consistently surface.
For me, I’ve come to see my identity as a performer and problem solver. I thrive in environments where I engage with people; whether it’s selling, presenting, or singing. I also flourish in uncertain situations, where solutions must be shaped quickly using intuition, gut, and logic.
At the heart of that identity are two key traits: energy and hope. Energy fuels my performance. Hope empowers me to see possibilities when others feel stuck.
But this is only one type. Some may bring strength through deep analysis, quiet creativity, steady consistency, or empathy. The point is: fulfilment begins when you stop mimicking someone else’s wiring and embrace your own.
Purpose: Why You’re Here
If identity answers who you are, purpose answers why you’re here. Purpose takes your natural wiring and directs it outward; toward service, impact, and contribution.
Robin Williams offers a timeless example. His identity was humour and vitality. But his deeper purpose was to make sure others never felt the worthlessness he sometimes battled within himself. As he once said:
“I think the saddest people always try their hardest to make people happy… because they don’t want anybody else to feel worthless.”
Williams’ identity was humour and energy. His purpose was hope.
Alignment: Living the Truth
Identity and purpose by themselves are not enough. Fulfilment arrives only when you align your actions with them.
That means:
- Work choices that fit your wiring. If you thrive on human connection, don’t bury yourself in solitary roles. If you thrive on detail, don’t force yourself into chaos.
- Daily habits that reinforce your energy. For some, it’s movement or music. For others, reflection or quiet focus.
- Contributions that extend your purpose; where what makes you thrive becomes what lifts others.
This is where Stan Lee’s story shines. By his late 30s, after years of writing formulaic comics, he was ready to quit. His wife urged him to finally write the kind of stories he believed in.
So he did. And instead of perfect superheroes, he created flawed, human characters; Spider-Man worrying about rent, the Hulk wrestling with rage, the X-Men facing prejudice.
That was alignment: his identity as a storyteller + his purpose of entertaining and inspiring people + his actions of writing authentic stories.
The result wasn’t just commercial success. It was deep fulfilment, because his work reflected his truth and touched millions.