The Book That Reignited My Purpose (And Brought Me to Tears)

Introduction

Have you ever had a book find you before you even knew you needed it?

That’s exactly what happened to me.

I was recovering from a nasty flu, trying to return to my usual rhythm of life, but honestly, my body hadn’t quite caught up with my mind. You know those moments when you’re physically still, but your soul is itching for something more? That’s where I was. Wrapped in a blanket, flicking through the News channels, and boom, there it was.

An advert about a book came on, on this channel, and the words hit me straight in the heart: “What Is Your Dream?”

Just reading that title felt like a full-body jolt. I sat up a little straighter, suddenly alert. It wasn’t just a title, it was a mirror. A challenge. A whisper I didn’t know I needed.

Without a second thought, I went online and bought both the audiobook and the physical copy. I didn’t even hesitate. Something in me knew this wasn’t just a book, it was going to be a moment. A divine appointment. I needed to hear what Simon Squibb had to say.

And wow. I wasn’t prepared for the emotional rollercoaster that followed.

Page after page, I felt layers within me being stirred, memories, dreams, forgotten parts of myself I hadn’t visited in a while. But it was the ending that undid me. I found myself in tears, real, unexpected, soul-deep tears, especially when I reached the acknowledgements. The raw gratitude in Simon’s words, the sincerity in every “thank you,” cracked me wide open.

Because in his vulnerability, I saw myself.

I saw the people who’ve walked beside me on my journey. The ones who believed in me. And I felt something beautiful rise again, a remembering, a reigniting, a quiet voice inside whispering: This is why you dream.

When a Dream Finds You

There’s something powerful about being asked a question you thought you already knew the answer to.

As someone who lives, breathes and speaks empowerment , someone who helps others get clear on their dreams, step into their purpose, and build lives of intention, you’d think I had this one nailed down.

But when I saw that book title, What Is Your Dream?, it wasn’t just a question. It was a reckoning.

Because the truth is, even dreamers get weary. Even visionaries have days when their belief wavers. And in that moment, curled up in recovery mode, I needed to be reminded of why I started dreaming in the first place.

Simon Squibb did offer a lot of strategies, and offered his heart. His story. His truth.

And as I turned each page, I felt seen. Not in the way you do when someone flatters you, but in the way you do when someone gets the quiet battle behind the scenes. The late nights questioning everything. The mornings when faith feels like a choice rather than a feeling. The in-between moments when no one’s clapping, but you keep showing up anyway.

This book didn’t tell me how to dream.

It reminded me why I dream.

It reminded me that dreaming isn’t always loud and confident. Sometimes it’s a whisper. Sometimes it’s showing up even when your heart feels heavy. Sometimes it’s helping someone else believe in theirs before yours has fully taken shape.

And that’s what hit me most, Simon’s story isn’t just about his dream.

It’s about unlocking the dreams in others.

He writes with such honesty and vulnerability, inviting us to strip away the pressure and simply return to possibility. To the little sparks, we often ignore. The longings we silence because life told us they were too unrealistic, too late, too much.

But what if they weren’t?

What if that one forgotten dream is the very thing someone else is waiting for?

The Power of One Kind Act

One line from the book stood out to me like a quiet thunderbolt.

"Take four minutes out of your day and find a way to help someone, maybe even a stranger."

It sounds so simple, yet it hit me right in the chest. Because this is how I’ve chosen to live my life. It’s not just a principle I speak about, it’s a way of being I’ve embraced. And in that moment, Simon’s words didn’t just inspire me, they affirmed me.

I was instantly transported back to a moment that’s etched in my heart. Christmas Day, 25th December 2024. I was on Clubhouse, an audio social app, not really expecting anyone to join. I just felt the need to show up. To be present, even if only for a short while.

And someone did show up.

A woman entered the room and began speaking. Her voice was cautious at first, but as she opened up, a story unfolded. She had just come out of a relationship and was now navigating life alone with her young son. She shared that it was not just Christmas Day, but her son’s birthday too. And she couldn’t afford to buy him a gift.

Her voice broke with emotion. She hadn’t come looking for anything, just someone to talk to. A stranger who might listen. What she didn’t know was that she wasn’t speaking to just anyone. She was speaking to someone who believes deeply in compassion, in taking action, and in the quiet power of kindness.

So I asked for her account details and sent her some money. Enough for her to buy a gift for her son, and maybe something for herself as well.

I didn’t do it to feel good. I didn’t do it for recognition or applause. I did it because it was the right thing to do. Because that’s what we’re here for. To be present for one another. To remind people that they are seen, heard, and valued.

Reading Simon’s book reminded me of this moment. It reminded me that no act of kindness is ever wasted. Sometimes the simplest gesture can become a lifeline. A turning point. A spark that reignites hope.

That is the power of living with purpose. That is what it means to build your life not just around dreams, but around the service of others.

So when Simon said to give four minutes to help someone, it wasn’t just advice. It was a call to remember who we are. And who we are capable of becoming when we make space for others in our journey.

This Book is More Than a Memoir

Simon Squibb’s What Is Your Dream? is not your typical self-help book. This book offers something far more enduring, a mirror. A mirror that reflects not just where you are, but who you’ve always been beneath the noise of life.

Reading through each chapter felt like walking alongside a friend who was willing to show you the scars behind his success. Simon doesn’t hold back. He shares moments of pain, loss, hope, and triumph with a raw honesty that disarms you. It’s this honesty that opens the door for your own self-reflection. You don’t just read about his journey, you start revisiting your own.

It made me think about my childhood dreams. The ones I had long before adult responsibilities and real-world expectations crept in. Dreams that once felt possible, but somewhere along the way, started to feel distant. Reading Simon’s story gave me permission to bring those dreams back to the surface. To remember them not as lost causes, but as living visions waiting to be honoured again.

One of the most powerful ideas in the book is that your dream doesn’t have to be grand or world-famous to matter. It just has to be yours. Whether it’s starting a business, helping others, raising a family, or sharing your voice, the dream is valid. You are valid.

Simon writes in a way that strips away the pressure to be perfect or extraordinary. He reminds you that making a difference doesn’t require celebrity or status. It only requires that you care enough to act. To show up. To try.

This book is more than a memoir. It’s a message. A gentle but unwavering call to stop waiting for the perfect time or perfect plan. To realise that your dream already lives inside you. And it’s not too late to give it a chance.

For me, that message came at the perfect time. As I was still recovering, both physically and emotionally, it gave me the reset I didn’t know I needed. It didn’t offer a new dream. It reminded me why I started. And it asked me to keep going, even if the road still feels uncertain.

A Call to All Dreamers

Simon’s message isn’t just about dreaming, it’s about daring to believe that your dream still matters. No matter how long it’s been or how far off it feels, there is still time to begin again.

This book is offers a deeply personal invitation to remember the power of your unique story. To revisit the dreams you once had as a child. To dust off the ideas you shelved in the name of practicality. And to redefine success on your own terms.

He reminds us that we don’t need to have it all figured out. We don’t need to be experts, CEOs or influencers to make a difference. We just need to care. We just need to show up with intention and courage. Even if it’s for only four minutes a day.

Reading this book made me reflect on the people who have walked beside me. Those who believed in me. And those I now support as they move forward with their own dreams. That cycle of empowerment, that passing of the torch, is the heartbeat of everything I do.

To the dreamer reading this, I want to say this clearly. Your dream is valid. Your journey is unfolding in the way it needs to. You are not behind. You are becoming. And every single step you take, no matter how small, carries weight.

If you have ever questioned whether your dream was too late or too far away, please read this book. Let it remind you of what is still possible. Let it reconnect you with the fire inside you that may have been quietly waiting for permission to rise again.

I believe in this book so much that I am sharing my affiliate link below for those who feel called to read it. If you purchase through this link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I share this not to persuade you, but because I genuinely believe it will stir something beautiful within you.

Buy "What Is Your Dream?" by Simon Squibb

https://amzn.to/4cHL97s

If you want to continue exploring how dreams evolve into movements and messages that impact others, I invite you to watch my interview series on the ElimJ Chatshow.

Watch and subscribe to the Empowerment Chat Show on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@elimjchatshow

To Simon Squibb, thank you. Your words were a gift. They reminded me that in every moment we choose to dream, speak up or help someone else, we are already living the legacy we long to leave behind.

If you have already read this book, I would love to know what part spoke to you the most. Feel free to tag me on Instagram @elimj_official and share your reflections. I would be honoured to read and re-share your post.

Your dreams matter. Keep going.