#BeyondTheCrown: Catriona Gray shares what it means to live a purposeful life
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For Catriona Gray, life is about knowing your purpose and turning that purpose into something that would benefit others.
Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray is back in the Philippines not just to crown her successor but also to give back to the charities and organizations that matter to her the most.
During a press conference with Frontrow Cares, Catriona, together with a few representatives from Young Focus and Love Yourself, shares with the media what it really means to live a purposeful life.
The reigning Miss Universe explains that a person's capacity to help others isn't limited to the money he has in his wallet.
“The resonating feeling is really a matter of heart,” she clarifies.
“I was working with these charity groups sitting beside me before I won Miss Universe and I don't think I would be the same person up on that stage had I not been working with them because it really changes your heart.
“People think you do charity work to help others but really, in turn, it helps you.”
By simply “sharing the message we are giving today or even talking to friends about these charities, or about any community-based organization near you,” Catriona says, “you are helping the movement.”
At one point, Catriona realizes that the world of pageantry has elevated the image of charities on a wider scale.
And for Gray, charities help a person in a wholistic manner--emotionally, spiritually, and physically.
“[Charities] gives you a sense of self, of awareness, and gratitude,” she says.
“We all feel frustrated [at some point] but when you look at it in the perspective of, 'There is someone out there who has less than me' and it also gives you the perspective of, 'I am really blessed'.
“And when you see life in that way, you start seeing it with a really positive attitude compared to before.
“So, if you partake in any form of charity work or just being aware of doing small acts of kindness in your workplace, in your family, anything like that, you will start to have a change of heart. And I think that the world, especially the Philippines, could do with people having a change of heart.”
Lastly, if Catriona has something to impart to future beauty queens who would be competing in the world stage, she says that it's all down to understanding your purpose in life.
She states, “We are on a path for a reason.
“'Cause when you come across roadblocks or come against a wall when pursuing a dream, you start to question, 'Why do I have this dream in the first place? Why does my heart want this?'
“So it's first trusting in God or having faith in yourself that you have that ambition in your heart in the first place.
“And the second would be that we all have a reason for being where we are.
“There's a bigger purpose and purpose for me comes from serving other people.”
The beauty queen then imparts that one “cannot just be up there for ourselves.”
“It's not fulfilling in the same way, I promise you.”
For Catriona, purpose is all “about being in a position and taking advantage of that position to give to others.
“That's when it becomes fulfilling work and you find your purpose as a person.”
Spoken like a true queen.
