Redesigning My Life: A Journey Toward Clarity and Purpose

Pruning is a key part of change.

After sharing Part One and Part Two of The Move, much has unfolded quietly, sometimes painfully and often beautifully. What I didn't expect was how much my life would continue to evolve even after the relocation. That move marked not an ending, but the beginning of a new season of learning and unlearning.

The Catalyst for Change

Let me be honest with you: this new chapter wasn’t something I intentionally orchestrated. It was forged in the pause of a global pandemic. In 2020, the world was locked down, and so was I, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

I had moved back home to apply for the Exceptional Talent Visa, which would allow me to return to the UK. Beneath the paperwork and logistics, I was experiencing a personal reset I hadn’t seen coming. I found myself in a standstill, waiting for clarity and direction. There were no distractions, no flights, and no performances, just me.

A Period of Reflection

I was in the middle of what some might call a quiet midlife reckoning. My projects were stalled, and parts of my past still felt unsettled. Financial threads I hadn’t fully untangled haunted me. From the outside, this seemed like a transition. But on the inside, it felt like exposure. My life looked nothing like success. It didn't feel glamorous. I felt suspended, as if I had missed my moment.

But something was being made in that stillness. That season was humbling. The pandemic stripped everything back to the core. I began asking myself hard questions I had been too busy or too afraid to confront before:

Who am I without the doing

What dreams had I shelved under survival

What parts of my identity were never really mine to carry

The Power of Reading

During this time, I browsed my small library in Nigeria and picked up The Smart Money Woman by Arese Ugwu. I had bought it before I left, fully aware I wouldn't have time to read it during my academic pursuits. Yet, it was one of the books I always planned to return to. Now, I was still stripped back, searching for direction.

I had emptied my savings and taken on some debt in pursuit of growth. I began to realise that while purpose was vital, financial clarity mattered too. It made sense to reach for a book on financial literacy, but what I found was even more profound: an unexpected mirror reflecting my own reality.

If you haven't read it, I hope you do. Here is an Amazon link to the book if you are in the UK.

Somewhere in The Smart Money Woman, the character Zuri is mentored by her friend Tsola. He helps her face her financial reality and challenges her to document the future she wants. Tsola encourages her to be brutally honest about her current situation and the gap between where she is and where she wants to be.

That resonated deeply with me. It wasn't just about money. It was about ownership: of vision, voice, and the kind of life I dared to imagine. Tsola’s advice was practical and aligned with the business case analysis approach I had previously learned. He guided Zuri in confronting her debt and taking small, deliberate steps toward financial freedom. This reframing didn’t just apply to finances; it extended to the broader tapestry of life itself.

Defining My Ideal Life

I took Tsola’s advice to heart. I wrote down my ideal life, where I was at that moment, what was working for me, and what felt draining. I also revisited my aspirations that had been buried under survival mode. On paper, it looked ridiculous, unrealistic even. But it was honest, and that honesty gave me a sense of purpose and direction.

I started to rebuild, not from scratch, but from the parts of me that had always worked. I paid attention to my patterns and behaviours, noting where I thrived and where I struggled. Rather than chasing perfection, I started taking small steps.

Embracing a Design Mindset

I had learned about design thinking during my studies, recognising its utility beyond product development. It provided a framework for navigating uncertainty and solving complex problems. So, I turned that lens inward, treating my life like a design project. I became the product, the prototype, and the designer of my own journey.

By empathizing with myself, I began to listen to my actual needs rather than the expectations imposed on me. I defined my 'why', the joy and motivation that made waking up worthwhile, even on hard days. I made minor adjustments to routines and boundaries. I observed what gave me energy and what drained it.

I sought honest feedback from those who knew me best. I prioritised surrounding myself with positive energy, people, and spaces where I could be authentic, no more shape-shifting to fit in, just genuine connections and simple joys.

A Quiet Becoming

Redesigning my life didn’t happen all at once. In reality, it is still happening. It came through silence, surrender, and stillness. I learned to let go of what I thought should be and instead listened for what could be. But most importantly, it came through discipline.

I started walking 14,000 steps a day, not just for fitness, but for clarity. I read more, not only for career advancement but for depth, perspective, and clarity. I embraced frugality, not as a sign of lack, but as a means of aligning with my purpose. I invested what I could, primarily in myself. I began building a side hustle, step by step, mentored others, and shared what I had learned. Meaning multiplies when it’s shared.

Amidst all this, I sought beauty in chaos and quiet amidst the clamour. I rested in the ordinary unfolding of grace and becoming.

Encouragement for Your Journey

You may resonate with my experiences. Perhaps you're somewhere between what was and what’s next. If that’s the case, let me reassure you:

You are not a fool for starting over. You are not behind, nor too late. You are becoming, quietly and bravely, on your terms. That matters far more than any perfect plan.

If you haven’t started yet, I encourage you to take that first step now! In Part Two, I will share unexpected lessons that reshaped everything I am and do today. I will discuss how my mindset around freedom, empowerment, and money evolved, and what it means to build a life that is sustainable in the long run.

For now, I leave you here. In the middle of the pause, something new begins. Take the time to ponder your journey; I hope you find the stillness to reflect as I did.

With grace & grit,

Mofoluke