Sometimes life smacks you upside the head with an epiphany when you’re least expecting it. Like when you bite into a chocolate éclair only to discover it’s filled with lemon—surprising and a bit disconcerting, but somehow it works out perfectly in the end. That’s how it felt when I stumbled (quite literally) into my purpose on an unremarkable Tuesday afternoon, somewhere between aimlessly wandering Brooklyn and overthinking my last five life decisions.

I suppose I should rewind. After all, isn’t that the only way we get to the good stuff? Let me set the scene: a twenty-something Julian, brimming with post-MBA ambition but also grappling with that millennial existential itch: What do I really want to do with my life? The pressure didn’t help. My parents—amazing, ever-supportive, intimidatingly accomplished as they were—taught me to aim high. But what no one ever tells you is that aiming high also means you’re constantly looking down and wondering, “What if I miss?”

This story isn’t just about my crash course in self-discovery. It’s about the surprising way it blindsided me—and how you can take a page from this playbook (or, you know, avoid slipping on proverbial banana peels like I did).

The Misstep That Changed Everything

I was fresh out of Harvard with an MBA and back in Brooklyn, navigating a labyrinth of corporate suits and killer PowerPoint decks. Don’t get me wrong—I wasn’t miserable. It’s just that every day, I felt like I’d donned a superhero costume that didn’t quite fit. You know, like a thrifted Spider-Man suit where the pants ride up and the mask smells suspiciously like cheese.

Then came that fateful afternoon. I decided to take a long walk (pro-tip: every existential crisis deserves a good urban wandering). Somewhere near my favorite café in Dumbo—a perfect intersection of cobblestones, overpriced lattes, and oddly photogenic tourists—I tripped. Not figuratively. I tripped over an actual, very real crack in the sidewalk and went flailing. Think Bambi on ice but less graceful.

I landed in front of a charmingly cluttered bookstore that I’d passed a hundred times but never entered. Embarrassed and with a scraped ego (not to mention a bruised knee), I took it as a sign to duck in. And that’s when it hit me—it, being a stack of books an enthusiastic staffer was unloading in the aisle.

And suddenly, surrounded by stories, something clicked.

What Does a Pile of Books Have to Do With Purpose?

Here’s a question: When was the last time you asked yourself what lights you up? Not what’s “logical” or what makes people nod approvingly at family dinners. But what actually makes you lose track of time?

For me, it was love stories. Not necessarily the mushy rom-com clichés (although, don’t knock “When Harry Met Sally”—that’s a cinematic masterpiece). What captivated me was the way stories of human connection reflected our messy, complicated selves. I spent years analyzing literature, piecing together themes from Baldwinesque narratives about race and identity to Murakami’s surreal dreamscapes of love in liminal spaces. But I’d abandoned that passion for the practical grind of spreadsheets and corporate key performance indicators.

That bookstore not only reignited my love for storytelling—it made me realize I wanted to shape stories too.

Finding Purpose in Chaos (and Cluttered Aisles)

So, how did an awkward stumble lead to clarity? It wasn’t just the physical trip (though that was a solid reset button). It was the simple act of leaning into something that felt entirely, unapologetically me. Here are three things I took away from the experience—and some tips for your own accidental epiphanies:

  1. Listen to Your Inner Nerd (Or Whatever Your "Thing" Is):
    You know that niche interest or quirky passion you sometimes second-guess because it’s not “practical”? Hint: That’s where your magic lies. For me, it was my fascination with how stories shape relationships and reflect identity. For you, it might be baking, urban gardening, or curating Spotify playlists no one asked for (but low-key needs). Pay attention to the things that make you weirdly, inexplicably happy.

  2. Let Life Interrupt You:
    Most people don’t stumble onto their purpose during yoga or while perfectly styled for Instagram. Purpose usually smacks you when you least expect it—between errands, on your commute, or yes, while face-planting into dusty bookstore carpets. The trick is to embrace the detours and sidetracks, even when they seem random.

  3. Take Micro-Risks Daily:
    Sometimes discovering your purpose begins with saying yes to curiosity and no to autopilot. Step into an antique shop you always walk past. Sign up for that fencing class you’ve bookmarked for months. For me, purpose didn’t arrive gift-wrapped after years of calculated planning—it came after a series of small, impulsive choices.

Turning Epiphany into Action

Flash-forward to today: That serendipitous Tuesday eventually led to a career redefining what storytelling could mean. No longer stuck in corporate monotony, I started curating and editing literary anthologies, collaborating with emerging writers, and exploring urban love stories from Berlin to Hong Kong. My days now revolve around words, yes—but also people. Relationships. The way love—universal yet deeply personal—shapes and reshapes us.

Here’s the beauty of stumbling into your purpose: It doesn’t end at the “aha” moment. That’s just the ignition. The hard part (and the rewarding part) is the work that follows. It’s messy, nonlinear, and, honestly, terrifying at times. But it’s worth every trip and tumble. Even the metaphorical bruises.

Your Takeaway: Embrace the Stumble

I won’t pretend to have all the answers, because let’s be real—finding your purpose is less about achieving enlightenment on a mountaintop and more about tripping over cracks in the sidewalk. It’s messy, imperfect, and delightfully human.

If you’re still searching for your thing, don’t stress it. Life has a weird way of handing you clues when you least expect them. All you really need to do is stay curious and keep showing up—whether that’s to new bookstores, uncharted career paths, or even the next chapter of your love life.

As for me? Well, these days I leave my purpose open-ended, letting it evolve alongside me. But whenever I get stuck, I remember that stumble on a Brooklyn sidewalk—the one that led to a life I hadn’t even imagined yet.

So if you’re unsure of your next step, here’s my advice: Lean into the stumble. You never know what surprises are waiting just a crack in the pavement away.