Let’s talk about your life’s purpose. I know, you thought you were just coming here for some delicious chia pudding and I had to go and make things all heavy for you. Sorry not sorry.
For so many of us 20-somethings, we spend a lot of time obsessing over finding our purpose. Let’s be real, 99-percent of us have graduated college in the past few years, or will graduate soon, and head into a job or career path that for a lack of a better word…sucks. We are told to sit still for 40+ hours per week, to work toward something that doesn’t hold any value or meaning for us. So then we enter quarter-life crisis mode and begin obsessing over our purpose.
This is where things get funky. We then go from innocently wanting more fulfillment, to chasing around our mysterious purpose like a Pokemon. Gotta catch it!
Stop. Slow down. Take a deep breath, or a chill pill if we really want to get all 90’s with it. Know that your purpose is not a noun. It is not an object that you will stumble upon while walking down the street. It will not fall from the sky. It is not under a rock.
The good news is, you already have it. You don’t need to go looking for your purpose because it’s already in you. That sounds mad cheesy, but I promise it is the truth. Instead of looking for your purpose like it is a blouse you saw on Pinterest and can’t find in stores, engage in the conversations, thoughts and activities that feed your purpose.
Add more purpose into your everyday tasks. Don’t just go through the motions while you make your morning cup of coffee. Make it the best damn cup of coffee you have had every morning. Don’t just mindlessly scroll through social media to creep on others and judge (#guilty), scroll through looking for opportunities to lift others up. Then engage accordingly.
Recently, I have made an effort to add more purpose into my everyday activities, and let me tell you it has made all the difference. Do I still have a job that I’m not 100-percent in love with? Yes. Do I wish I had more success with this blog, or that I had more money or owed less in student loans? You bet. But over the past few weeks, as I have slowly added more intention to my everyday life, I have noticed a shift in my attitude. My mind is opening up to new possibilities and ways of thinking that is getting me closer and closer to the life I want to live. I can feel it in my gut, and it is incredibly exciting.
With that, comes purpose. And I want you to feel the same way.
What does this have to do with chia pudding? Well, nothing really. I just want you to feel damn good about the life you live and the future ahead of you. And if you can eat some bomb mango chia pudding while doing it, that’s even better.
- ⅓ Cup Chia Seeds
- 1½ Cups Unsweetened Almond or Coconut Milk
- 2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 Cups of Fresh Mango, cubed
- Juice of 1 Lime
- 1 Inch of Fresh Ginger
- Toasted Coconut
- Raspberries
- Fresh Mint
- In a medium bowl, combine the chia seeds, almond milk and vanilla. Whisk to combine. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
- In a blender, combine the mango, lime juice and ginger. Puree until smooth.
- Layer the chia pudding and pureed mango evenly among two mason jars or glasses.
- Top as desired. I used toasted coconut, fresh raspberries and mint.
- What is your favorite way to live in purpose?
- Can you relate to the quarter-life crisis?
- Are you super excited for fresh spring/summer fruit!?
This is a nice twist on the traditional one I do with almond slivers, cinnamon and honey.
YUM! I love chia pudding with those flavors as well!
Beautiful recipe. Pinned to two boards!
Thank you so much Linda!
OMG, this looks so good. I must make this ASAP!! XO
Thank you Scarlett – I hope you love it!
This looks so delicious! I adore chia pudding and the colors in this are so stunning and perfect for summer.
Thank you! I am definitely ready for summer to get here and was excited to use summery colors 🙂
This looks delicious….and so healthy! YUM!
Thanks Allison! The best part is it’s SUPER easy 🙂
I finally made chia seed pudding a few days ago and loved it. Mango sounds like a great add in. I’ll have to try it next time.
What kind of chia pudding did you make? Let me know if you give this a try!
Ohmy 🙂 It looks like a work of art! Pinned anyway!
Thank you! 🙂
Thank you for posting this and sharing your amazing wisdom! As I’ve already told you, yes to quarter-life crisis. Trying to stay positive and keep on keepin’ on has been a struggle lately but I am actively trying and this post seriously helped. You make me smile, my love <3
Oh, and the flavors in this pudding sound freaking amazing! I don’t buy mango often but I seriously need to try this.
Thank you! I love mango but don’t buy it often either. But it was on sale so I had to load up! haha
Aaaaaand you totally made my day. I am SO glad this helped <3 sending you lots of love! PS: we gotta skype soon. How have we not done that yet?
Beautiful! What a two for one 🙂 I love that you talked about living your purpose rather than looking for it, that’s exactly what I’m trying to do. Being present is so important even when you have goals to achieve. Oh and I’ve pinned your chia pudding recipe – looks delicious.
Thank you so much Alison, I’m so glad you liked the post and can relate to the message. Thank you for your thoughtful comment, and for pinning! <3
SUCH an important message for everyone to hear. I think you captured it beautifully, Lestraundra! I’m absolutely in love with your point of adding purpose into *everything* you do. Definitely sharing this with my FB peeps tomorrow. Thanks for this!
Thank you so much Alexa – and can I just say I am SO excited for you and your new ventures! Thank you so much for sharing <3
Thank you for this post!! You’re so right – we need to live in our purpose, a make every day as amazing as we can. Also, that parfait looks Delish 🙂
I am so glad you agree Christina <3
The downtown farmer’s market doesn’t have much fruit so I only get fresh veggies. I tried to make chia pudding last year but it never set.
That’s a bummer! It’s definitely worth trying again
Oh my goodness my usual smoothies are so boring compared to this! Gorgeous photography and pinning to try!
Thank you SO much Matt – that is a huge compliment coming from you as you guys always have the most incredible photos!
Check out that turquoise board 😉 I love it! I also love this recipe aaaand we are sharing a brain because I have a chia pudding recipe going up tomorrow! YUM.
Yasssss, you have great taste 😉 and your chia pudding recipe from today is AMAZING. Reminds me of bananas foster, yummmm
I’ve never had chia pudding, but your photos are absolutely beautiful! I definitely want to try some now! Those are nice words to live by, on living a life of purpose. When I was in my 20s, it was definitely something my friends and I would constantly chat about. Heck! It seems like we still do!
Thanks Lex! It is definitely a never-ending journey 🙂
Mmm this looks too good, I bet it tastes great with the kick of lime. I really like fresh mango but haven’t had one in a while.
Thank you Chantal! The lime totally makes it 🙂 I love mango too, and was so excited when I saw good ones in the store
YUM this looks so good! The mango color is stunning.
Thank you so much!
I so needed this today (and honestly every day). I’ve been so unsure about everything since graduating last year and I feel like I’m in some kind of complacent limbo. I need to print this post out and read it every morning to remind myself that my purpose in life isn’t just gonna drop into my lap.
Thanks for sharing <3
Giselle – I wish you weren’t so far away so I could give you a big ole hug girl. I’m totally there with you, and partially wrote it because I feel the exact same way. You got this <3
Your pictures here are so beautiful! I love the bold, zesty color of the mango. Now I’m gonna go make the best damn cup of coffee! 🙂
Yasssssss, I love it <3
Yum!! This looks like the perfect spring/summer treat!
Thank you!
yummm! i’ve been meaning to make something like this recently, so i went out and bought a bunch of mangos!! im so excited, they are so good at this time of year!
Right? Mangoes were 5 for $5 at the store last week and I went a little cray. Which explains this recipe haha
Love these! They’re so pretty! Chia pudding parfaits are awesome.
Thank you so much Emily!
Just the recipe I’m looking for! I’m all about living and eating mindfully. It’s so easy to forget the real purpose of our actions, but it makes a difference to slow down and pay attention to the little things.
Totally agree Christine – so glad you liked the post!
Yum! That looks delicious!
Thanks Heather!
This looks AMAZING and I love everything about it. Plus, your photos are beautiful.
Thank you so much Heather!
The is taking me back to the mexico were there was plenty of fresh mango! So fresh and delicious, thanks for sharing 🙂
Fresh mango is the bestttttt.
Oh yes please I have all of these ingredients at home too! Stunning photos by the way <3
Let me know if you give it a try!
I have kind of a mango obsession- I’m sure I’d love these! Delish!!!
I have a mango obsession too – it’s just too good!
Gorgeous recipe, wise words. Loved this post Les, keep doing your thing <3
Thanks so much C <3
I love your point about purpose being in you. It’s so true! I think we find ourselves chasing after this huge idea of “purpose” that we forget to find it in the little things. I just made a similar recipe with coconut chia pudding – it’s the perfect recipe for summertime!
Love that you added in mango to this! I’m not a huge fan of chia pudding, but I think that adding in fresh mango would make it taste so much better 🙂
I won’t lie, I am a chia lover but the mango adds a very special something something 😉
You had me at mango. I am such a huge fan of mangoes that anything that includes them have my vote
Amen! I love mango too 🙂
You always have the best deep thoughts. And the best pictures. Basically, you are the best. <3
Awww thank you! YOU’RE the best <3
Yummmm! You’re combining some of my favorite flavors! My chia pudding obsession hasn’t stopped, and I’ll definitely be making this for breakfast soon!
I am chia obsessed too! It is just too good. Let me know if you give it a try 🙂
This looks so unbelievably good!! I recently made a berry chia pot so I can’t wait to try mango 🙂
Thanks Alicia! Your berry chia pot sounds amazing!
Gorgeous photos! This recipe looks delish. I love mango so any excuse to eat it is a good one in my book!
Thank you so much! Totally agree, the mango love is real <3