Protecting Your Purpose, with Malyieka
The founder of Protect Your Purpose shares how a period of anticipation motivated her to create a community organization in the DMV that reflects her values and principles.
In November 2020, Malyieka from PG County, MD created the nonprofit community organization, Protect Your Purpose to help motivate people in any career or capacity and help them protect their purpose once found. Months before the publication she recognized that the idea of PYP was something she wanted to pursue but hesitated to act immediately because she felt unprepared. Growing up, she understood her purpose was being compassionate, assisting others, and advocating for them. As she formulated her plan to share her vision, she was certain that she would be someone who served and contributed to the community. Realizing that “good things come to those who wait,” Malyieka trusted that giving her plan some time to be perfected before broadcasting it to the world was the best thing she could’ve done.
From Instagram Lives to live panels, Malyieka invites guest speakers to join the topic of discussion that’s planned for the audience. Before each live session, she thoroughly researches topics using passages in the bible, insightful podcasts, and/or real perspectives from her mother whom she seeks advice. The new information is carefully prepared, following a guideline to present it effectively to her audience while spinning her twist on it, the Protect Your Purpose way. She acknowledged the benefits of waiting until she was prepared to publicize her organization expressing gratitude for the connections gained, unwavering support, and the impact on those she’s personally affected through her uplifting advocacy.
Within Protect Your Purpose, the organization has actively engaged in community outreach such as participating in Thanksgiving drives for the past three years. These involved distributing hot chocolates, food, and clothing in the Washington D.C. area with the help of volunteers. Additionally, events and collaborations with other nonprofit organizations and businesses have helped encourage people to support small black businesses.
On the left: Dare to Develop Live Panel On the Right: Thanksgiving Drive in Washington D.C. (2022)
How Can You Protect Your Purpose? PYP introduced a new series on cultivating healthy habits for the new year. Check out seven habits you can adopt in your daily life.
Create A Morning Routine Away From Your Phone: When you wake up in the morning, feed the right things into your mind and your spirit for the day. Start the day on a good note. That includes not looking at social media immediately. “The consumption of other people’s lives is what’s deterring our generation,” says Malyieka. Starting your day on a positive note can change the whole trajectory of the day.
Expand More on Your Self-Care Routine: “Although self-care can look different for everyone, I feel like we all should expand beyond the physical appearance of ourselves,” says Malyieka. A lot of people assume doing your hair or nails is the height of self-care when there’s truly so much more. It’s beyond deeper. Going to that physical check-up, going to take a walk, journaling, writing down your thoughts.
Maintain Genuine Friendships and Relationships: Take accountability more, pray over your relationships, give each other grace, address things as soon as they happen, and surround yourself with people who reflect where you want to go or help you reach them.
Expanding Your Knowledge: Reading more books, being teachable, being open to learning new things, challenging what you know, and taking different courses on the new things you want to learn whether outside the education system or inside of it.
Watch How You Speak: Watch how you speak even as a joke. It’s more serious than we presume it to be. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
Be More Appreciative of Everything: Be appreciative of where you are every day instead of constantly focusing on tomorrow and the future. Practice Gratitude.
Be Consistent and Confident with Everything You Do: If you want people to support you in what you do you have to be confident. If you’re not confident in what you do how can people believe in you? If you’re not consistent in what you do, no one will be able to support and remember what you’re doing.
Her Gifted Gab says…
What's inspiring about Malyieka's work with Protect Your Purpose is her ability to unite the community positively. The purpose of her journey will continue to be appreciated by many others and myself as a new supporter. I resonate the most with the Seven Healthy Habits considering now is a crucial time I’m seeking discipline to upgrade my mentality. I find it invaluable to be taught and learn insightful information from peers who are taking charge in their paths with determination. It’s a gentle reminder of the abundance of resources flourishing in Maryland's young adult community.
