Pointers on the Pursuit of Purpose: Dream in Soul Magazine Interview with Life Coach Leslie Denman
Here’s an inspiring interview I did at my magazine for young adults DreaminSoul.com – I love what my friend Leslie Denman, a life coach, author and mentor, shares about discovering your purpose…
Society sometimes sets aside “teenhood” and the early twenties as those fun, carefree years – but what better opportunity to discover who you are and explore what you were made for when you don’t yet have all of the responsibilities that come later in life. Everyone has purpose and we as young people can serve God right where we are, impacting our friends, using our gifts and serving others in our corner of the world…
Leslie Denman is passionate about young people and helping them to find and pursue their purpose while they are young. She is a certified Life Purpose and Teen Empowerment Coach (in other words when it comes to purpose, she knows her stuff;) and the founder of the organization Girls Living Life On Purpose, Inc. based in Dallas, TX. In this Interview Coach Leslie gives pointers on pursuing God and purpose boldly right where you are…
Dream in Soul: Hi, can you tell us a little about you and what do you do?
Coach Leslie Denman: I am a believer passionate about empowering people for purpose. As a Christian Life Coach, I am a Missionary of Hope to the countless women and girls that God assigns to me. I partner with the Holy Spirit to bring about transformation to the lives of people through coaching, speaking and training. I have a wonderful husband of fourteen years and two beautiful daughters and my most recent accomplishment that brings me so much joy is answering the call to ministry as a licensed minister.
DS: What inspired you to work with teens, especially young women? What were your own teen years like and how did you get grounded in God into your own purpose?
Leslie Denman: My inspiration to work with teen girls and young women started with my own search for significance and purpose. The last thing I thought my calling was – was to work with teens especially girls. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 29 and I asked God to reveal His purpose for my life. I declared to God that if He spared my life and revealed my purpose, I would spend the rest of my life fulfilling that purpose. I am happy to say that I am still here.
This journey has been remarkable. Looking back over my life and growing up in Omaha, TX, I remember standing in the mirror of my room hearing this small voice telling me that I was going to be great. I had no idea what I would be doing or how it was going to happen but I believed that voice. I carefully and secretly tucked that belief away in my heart. I had great parents and our life was pretty normal that is until I found myself pregnant at the tender age of fourteen and even then, I felt God’s hands of grace and mercy upon me. My parents made sure we were active in church and grew up hearing the word of God. God used that experience in my life to draw me closer to Him.
I remember going to church and watching people sing, shout and praise God and I would think “What is that all about.” I was a young girl with a heavy burden and I wanted to feel what those people were feeling. I wanted to be free. I would ask God in my own lil’ way to help me know Him like that. Soon I would find myself angry and frustrated for many years to come. At the time I did not know that God was answering my prayer.
DS: What is the first thing you would say to someone about pursuing their purpose? How does s/he discern what it is and move forward to pursuing it?
Leslie Denman: Great question. The first thing I would say is “WHY? Why are you pursuing your purpose?” May seem like a simple question, even strange to some but it is the answering of this question, you hear the heart and motive of the individual. Luke 6:45 says “for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Discovering your purpose is just the tip of the iceberg. Walking it out is like an award-winning drama complete with plots, schemes and twists. An individual clear about their WHY will not only discover their purpose but they will walk it out in a spirit of excellence. Discerning one’s purpose can be both exciting and yet frustrating. It’s exciting in that you will discover that you are gifted and passionate about so many things; frustrating in that you don’t know what to pursue…
Be Free to Be Yourself
I used to be afraid to be myself, but am learning that trying to be “normal” to fit in is pretty time-consuming & boring…💁🏽
It really is the ones who are misfits who are crazy enough to believe they can change the world that will! Embrace your freedom – you were created in Love💖 to dream and to be different, unique, creative, yourself – so be free and be YOU! 😘 Shine your light cause the world is a whole lot brighter🔥 with you in it, living on #Purpose…🎆 (P.S. if you can’t tell I love all things Disney, Minnie is my home girl;)
Join Me On A Creative Journey You Were Made For…
We were created to create. Life is meant to be a colorful adventure full of wonder and discovery…but sometimes “reality” happens and we abandon our creative dreams for a life that is more – well, practical.
Join me as I pursue my creative dreams of inspiring others through art, words and music. I hope sharing my journey will inspire you to overcome hurdles to live your dreams too…
Here at the Dare Dreamer Movement on DreamFleur.com you’ll find inspiration and resources that will motivate and assist you in pursuing your passions and building your creative business or career.
Boldly live out your purpose and dreams to brighten the lives of others!
I know how it feels to be discouraged, afraid and trying to live out your dreams alone…Need a cheerleader (that’s me;) to motivate you on your journey of dreams? Join Our Community to Share Your Dreams, and Get Support, Inspiration and Motivation for Your Purpose! – Julene Fleurmond
Inspiration from Walt Disney On Reviving Hope and Reclaiming Your Imagination and STORY
The promo video for STORY in Chicago (for more on the event visit storygathering.com) caught my attention and was like God drawing me in to see what He’s been speaking to my heart over the past few years, about reigniting our creativity to dream like children again:
What if we can reclaim the places where imagination has been lost and find the whisper that beckons us to look past the ordinary…what would we discover?
This is your Invitation to Another World…
“That’s what we storytellers do. We restore order with imagination and instill hope again, and again, and again.” – Walt Disney
These words from STORY are a call for creatives to step into their calling:
“While all is chaos and grief and anger and confusion – we are called to instill hope again…We each need to be reminded of the power we have as storytellers.
“You’ve heard, “look for the helpers,” which is part of a quote from childhood icon Fred Rogers about where to find inspiration following a crisis. I say, look for the storytellers. You and I have a tremendous opportunity to re-write the narratives society plays out day after day.
Because you can tell a story well, you have influence. More than you know…” – via the STORY blog
“My Last Day Without You” A Love Movie to Love and Filmmaking Inspiration
