Patrice Tanaka, Founder & Chief Joy Officer of Joyful Planet LLC, interviews people who are actively living their purpose and contributing to a more joyful planet. This interview spotlights Shonali Burke, award-winning social PR strategist and founder of The Social PR Virtuoso™.
PT: Shonali, what I love and admire about you is how you’re following your passion and living your purpose in both your personal and professional life, doing what you can on a “micro” level like supporting a single, struggling student to, on a “macro” level, raising awareness and funds for the world’s 50 million refugees as you did on USA for UNHCR’s award-winning, “Blue Key Campaign.” Can you share your life’s purpose with us? I define a life’s purpose as one that leverages your greatest talent and passion in service of people and planet.
SB: My life’s purpose is to help people connect with what really matters, and to connect them with others who can help them manifest what really matters.
PT: When did you discover your life’s purpose? Was there a triggering incident?
Shonali Burke
Award-winning social PR strategist and founder of The Social PR Virtuoso™
SB: When I was 25 years old – fresh out of drama school – I wrote and directed one of the first original Indian musical productions in English for a prominent Indian high school.
As part of the process, I held a series of workshops for the lead characters, who had to learn how to act as an ensemble (hint: they weren’t getting it). So one afternoon, I arranged for a special workshop session, and told them they had to simply enter the rehearsal space when I gave them the signal, and react to what they saw.
I had set up the rehearsal space to be almost pitch dark, lit only by dozens of candles, with flowers strewn all around, and “new-age-y” music playing.
On my word, the “kids” (remember, this is high school) entered the space and began reacting honestly to what they saw and felt. This went on for at least 45 minutes, and then I slowly brought them out of it.
And what I saw in their eyes, their hearts, as they connected with the innermost parts of themselves, was life-changing.
PT: I can understand how powerful this experience was for you, “connecting” people to their innermost thoughts and feelings. Once you determined your purpose did you find yourself begin to actively live it? How did you begin? What did you do?
SB: I don’t think I articulated my life’s purpose until recently (thanks to you!), so I probably didn’t live it consciously. But I do think I have lived it unconsciously, because I can’t help it.
It gives me joy to connect people with what makes them tick, and with others who can make them tick.
Now, of course, I’m doing that very intentionally through The Social PR Virtuoso™ and my educational offerings. But I think I’ve been doing that unintentionally at least for the last couple of decades.
PT: Did knowing your life’s purpose change what you do in your professional life in any way? And, in your personal life?
SB: In my professional life, I’ve gravitated more and more towards teaching and helping others connect with what makes them most joyful, most fulfilled. In my personal life, I’ve gravitated more and more towards connecting with what makes me feel most joyful, most fulfilled.
PT: How does it feel to be living your life’s purpose? Specifically, how would you describe it in terms of the success, fulfillment and joy you experience?
SB: When I’m able to help people make these connections, it literally fills me up with happiness to the point I could explode. 
PT: What is the result of knowing and actively living your life’s purpose? Is there a power that comes from knowing your life’s purpose in being able to actively live it?
SB: “Power” is a very… well, powerful word, and I think it can often be misused or misconstrued. So I would say that rather than power, I gain strength from knowing my life’s purpose and actively fulfilling the reason I’m here on Earth.
PT: What are your greatest hopes and dreams for the life purpose you have chosen?
SB: That I do the best I can each day, without regret for the past, and without expectation for the future.
PT: What do you think you would be doing now if you hadn’t determined and then actively begun to live your purpose?
SB: I think I would still be doing it… just not as intentionally and mindfully as I’m now doing.
PT: And, I believe, not as powerfully as you will be doing going forward. Shonali, how important is it for people to discover their life’s purpose? What advice would you give others about discovering their life’s purpose?
SB: Stop and think about what makes you truly happy, what gives you most joy. Oftentimes this starts with very basic experiences that you may not think extraordinary.
But if there are enough of these experiences – and there will be, if you acknowledge your feelings – then you can start to find the commonalities among them, and what specifically lifts your spirits. I think, when you do that, you find your life’s purpose.
