What is Your Why?

“Purpose,” “raison d’être,” or simply your “Why.” Do you know what is your why?  

Knowing your Why provides direction for your personal and professional direction. It’s a North Star for decision-making, goal setting, and feeling balanced in your life. Your Why is often something that transcends you and goes beyond achieving financial success or personal recognition.

It could be focused on helping others gain clarity, making things more efficient, creating more beauty in the world, or facilitating more unity and collaboration between people. And for some people, it could be as simple as providing a better life for their family and loved ones.

Importance of Discovering Your Why

No matter your ambition, discovering and understanding you’re Why is critical component of accomplishing your dreams and feeling fulfilled. When you know what’s truly driving you, you:

  1. Know yourself. Knowing your Why provides direction and enables you to understand yourself better. This self-awareness provides valuable insights into what truly matters to you and how you want your story to go.
  2. Have clarity and direction. Clarity provides the foundation for direction and knowing which way you’re going instills confidence. Knowing your Why enables you to start with the end in mind, set goals, and illuminate the path forward.
  3. Find the silver lining. Life can be tough, but when you focus on your Why, it becomes easier to see the proverbial “silver lining.” Keeping your Why at the forefront of your mind also allows you to maintain a positive outlook and stay inspired.
  4. Build your tribe. When you share your Why with others, it can create a sense of community with like-minded people and allows you to build stronger relationships. Plus, having a support system in place makes the journey to success much easier and more enjoyable.
  5. Make the tough calls. Success often requires making sacrifices. However, with a clear understanding of your Why, it becomes easier to make the tough decisions and stick to your goals.

The following blog post provides tips to know the answer to your question of what is your why. Keep reading…

How to Find Your Passion in Life

To truly find your passions in life, here are a few tips that you can follow:

1. Spend time reflecting on your values

Your values are the beliefs and ideals which guide your life. Taking some time to reflect on your values lets you gain clarity about what truly matters to you and what drives you. 

2. Visualize your success

Close your eyes and visualize yourself achieving your dreams. What does it look like? How do you feel? Take some time to enjoy the moment, as this can make you understand what drives you to achieve success. Most successful people follow the principle of visualization. They understand that “thoughts become things,” and that it allows them to imagine their future and manifest their dreams.

3. Get feedback from your friends and family

Talking to those closest to you can provide valuable insights into why you do what you do. Ask them about the things that stand out about you, or any qualities they see in you that could be your driving force. However, you should also keep in mind that these opinions may be biased, so use them as a guide, not a single source of information.

4. Make a list of your goals

Writing down your goals can allow you to gain clarity about what you want to achieve in life. It will also provide valuable insight into why you’re working towards those goals in the first place. When you write down your goals, make sure to include the reasons why you want to achieve them. Along with that, also include any milestones and rewards that you can use to stay motivated.

5. Ask yourself questions

Sometimes, the best way to get to know yourself is to ask questions. Take some time to reflect on why you do what you do and why you want to achieve the goals that you have. Some of the questions you can ask yourself include:

  • What do I want to accomplish?
  • Why is this important to me?
  • How will achieving this goal benefit my life and the lives of those around me?

6. Think about what brings you true joy

There are certain activities or situations that bring us true joy and purpose. Spend some time thinking about those moments and what drives you to do them. 

Things like spending quality time with family volunteering, or even indulging in a hobby can give you a sense of fulfillment. 

  • What do you like to read?
  • What do you spend time and money on?
  • What gives you a sense of excitement?

7. Reflect on past experiences

Take a step back and reflect on your past experiences, both positive and negative as that would answer to the question what is your why. Think about what you learned from these experiences and how they have shaped you into the person you are today. 

  • Why did you make the choices you did?
  • What choices led to feeling “in-flow” and which led to conflict, obstacles, and strife?

8. Consider your strengths and weaknesses

Take an inventory of your strengths and weaknesses. Knowing what you’re good at and what areas you need to work on can give you clarity about what you should be doing with your life. Your strengths and weaknesses will allow you to play the game of life to your advantage and avoid making the same mistakes again. Take an personal assessment test or two and highlight the words and phrases in the results that resonate most with you.

9. Try new things

Sometimes, to discover your why, you need to step out of your comfort zone. Pursuing new experiences, whether it’s learning a new skill or taking on a new challenge, can give you new insights into yourself and what motivates you. By exposing yourself to new experiences, you may discover new passions to spend time on them or find a renewed sense of purpose.

10. Seek advice from mentors or coaches

Having a mentor or coach can be incredibly helpful in discovering your purpose and passions. They can provide you with guidance, and support, and let you explore new ideas and perspectives. They can also identify your strengths and areas of improvement and give you valuable feedback that would make the most of your skills and talents.

What is Your Why Statement?

After you find your Why, write a statement that summarizes it. This statement should be a sentence or two that sums up your purpose in life and why you do what you do. 

You can also use this statement to remind yourself of your mission in life and keep yourself motivated as you work towards achieving your goals. It is something that will likely change over time, so make sure to revisit it regularly to ensure that it still resonates with you.

“Why” Statement Examples

The statement is extremely personal and should reflect your individual values and goals. Here are 10 examples of “Why” statements to let you get started:

  1. To bring happiness and comfort to those in need through my talents as a performer.
  2. To create a world where everyone has access to clean, safe water and a healthy environment.
  3. To inspire and empower young people to reach their full potential through education and mentorship.
  4. To heal and transform lives through the power of therapy and mental health services.
  5. To promote peace, love, and understanding by bringing people from diverse backgrounds together through music.
  6. To protect and conserve our natural resources and wildlife for future generations through environmental activism.
  7. To nourish bodies and souls by creating and sharing wholesome, delicious meals with those in need.
  8. To make a positive impact on the world by using my skills in technology and innovation to create innovative solutions.
  9. To bring hope and inspiration to others by sharing my story of overcoming adversity and living my best life.
  10. To create a world where all people have equal rights and opportunities, regardless of their background or identity.

What to Do After You Write Your “Why” Statement?

Simply writing a Why statement is just the first step in a larger journey towards getting answered to what is your why question. So, what do you do after you’ve put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and crafted a meaningful Why statement? 

Here are some tips to turn your words into action.

Step # 1. Break it down

A Why statement is meant to be a concise and memorable expression of purpose. However, in order to turn that purpose into a plan of action, it’s often necessary to break it down into smaller, more manageable pieces. For example, if your Why statement is “to empower people to live healthy and fulfilling lives,” you might consider what specific steps you need to take in order to make that a reality. 

Perhaps that means volunteering at a local community center, or starting a fitness club, or even simply spreading positive messages of self-care and well-being.

Step # 2. Make it a part of your daily routine

If you want your Why statement to have a real impact, you need to make it a part of your daily routine. That could mean starting each day by reading it and reminding yourself of your purpose or incorporating it into your personal mission statement or goals.

You might even consider carrying it with you in some physical form, such as on a card in your wallet or as a screensaver on your phone.

Step # 3. Surround yourself with people who support your Why

It’s a lot easier to stay motivated and on track when you have others who believe in and support your Why statement. Whether that means joining a group of like-minded individuals or simply surrounding yourself with people who are positive and supportive, it’s important to have a community of people who share your values and goals.

Step # 4. Be willing to make sacrifices

Realizing your Why statement will often require sacrifices. You may need to give up time, money, or other resources in order to make it a reality. However, if you truly believe in your Why statement, these sacrifices will be worth it. And, by making these sacrifices, you’ll be demonstrating your commitment to your purpose and setting a powerful example for others to follow.

Step # 5. Take consistent action

The most important thing you can do after writing your Why statement is to take consistent action toward realizing your purpose. Whether that means taking small steps every day or pursuing larger goals, it’s important to keep moving forward and making progress toward your Why.

Consistent action will allow you to stay focused and motivated and will turn your Why statement from a mere idea into a reality. Remember, progress, no matter how small, is still progress, and every step forward brings you closer to your ultimate goal. So, take action, and don’t be afraid to chase your dreams.

Step # 6. Celebrate your successes

Finally, don’t forget to celebrate your successes along the way. No matter how big or small, recognizing and appreciating your accomplishments is a great way to stay motivated and on track. And, by sharing your successes with others, you’ll be inspiring others to pursue their own Why statements.

What is your why?

Finding your Why can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. By taking the time to evaluate yourself and your goals, reflecting on past experiences, seeking advice from mentors or coaches, and trying new things, you can gain clarity about what motivates you and find your true purpose in life.

When you know why you do what you do, you can live your life with purpose and create an impact. However, if you need help in finding the answer to “what is your why” then a reliable career transition coach is who you need. Mark Langford is a leading career coach and mentor who has helped hundreds of professionals find their passion and build successful careers.


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