Have you ever experienced a sense of aimless wandering in your life? Like you’re going through the motions without really knowing why? It’s a common feeling that can leave you feeling lost and confused. But fear not, there’s a simple solution: find your why.
Think about it – how do you feel about your career, relationships, and life in general? If you’re not sure, or you’re feeling just so-so, it might be time to dig a little deeper and uncover your underlying purpose. Finding your why is like embarking on a journey of self-discovery – it’s all about discovering what truly drives you and gives your life meaning.
Once you have discovered your purpose, everything else falls into alignment. You’ll have more intention and focus in your life, and you’ll feel a greater sense of fulfillment in everything you do.
So, are you ready to take the first step towards finding your why? Let’s get started!
Ask Yourself
Why not interview yourself to discover your why? It’s simple – start by asking yourself “why” every time you’re faced with a decision, unexpected feeling, or impulse to buy something. You will begin to observe a recurring pattern.
From there, see if you can distill your answers down to their core values. This exercise will often lead you to your purpose or at least highlight what’s most important to you.
For instance, my core money values are aesthetics, health and well-being, and education. Armed with this knowledge, I can make better financial decisions by asking “why” with every purchase or social event I’m considering. If it doesn’t align with one of my three ideals, I don’t buy into it.
The end result? A life filled with meaningful experiences and possessions that truly fill me up, rather than just accumulating “stuff”. So why not give it a try and start living a life that aligns with your values and purpose?
Look At Where You’ve Been
If you’re looking to discover your ideal career path, take a moment to reflect on your current and past jobs. Ask these questions in the mirror:
What aspects of my job do I enjoy, and why do I enjoy them?
What aspects of my job do I dislike, and why do I dislike them?
What skills do I use on a daily basis in my work?
What new skills have I learned since starting this job?
By taking a closer look at your past and present work experiences, you may uncover valuable insights that can help you address areas of dissatisfaction in your life. Who knows, maybe your why is to use the skills you’ve learned in your current and previous roles to help others facing similar challenges.
So don’t be afraid to reflect on your career journey thus far – it could be the key to unlocking your true purpose and finding a fulfilling career path.
Reminisce Your Interests When You Were A Kid
Have you ever thought about your interests as a child and how they could relate to your current why? Our hobbies and passions as kids can offer valuable insights into our true purpose before society’s expectations and norms influenced us.
If possible, ask your parents or caregivers what you were most passionate about as a child. Maybe you had a fascination with dinosaurs, but someone discouraged you from pursuing a career in archeology due to its perceived lack of financial stability. Or perhaps you dreamed of becoming an astronaut, but others told you it was an unrealistic goal.
Reflecting on these childhood passions can help you uncover your true purpose and inspire you to pursue your passions once again. Maybe you could write a book, film a documentary, or work at a museum to reconnect with those childhood interests.
Don’t let past expectations or limiting beliefs hold you back from following your passions. Your childhood interests may just be the key to discovering your why and living a fulfilling life.
Find A Role Model
Looking for inspiration to discover your why? One of the best ways to do so is by exploring a wide variety of topics across different mediums, such as books, documentaries, and museums, to see what sparks your interest.
Ask yourself: What topics do I keep coming back to? What do I enjoy sharing with others?
By paying attention to what captures your attention and what you’re most passionate about, you can gain valuable insight into your true purpose and what motivates you.
So go ahead, explore and immerse yourself in different subjects and see what resonates with you the most. It could lead you down a path towards discovering your true why and finding a fulfilling life path.
Do These After Finding Your Whys
Now that you have discovered your “why,” it is time to create an action plan that will hold you accountable as you work towards your goals.
To do this, schedule regular self-reflection sessions on a daily, monthly, and yearly basis to keep track of where you are, where you have been, and where you are going.
Develop Daily Intentions
To build your accountability plan, create a list of simple ways to incorporate your “why” into your daily life.
For example, if your “why” is “service,” make it a point to hold the door open for someone every day, help with household chores, or offer assistance to a colleague.
Write down your daily intentions and remind yourself of them every day during your morning routine. You can put them on a post-it note and stick it to your bathroom mirror or add them to your phone or computer screens.
Schedule Monthly Check-ups
It is easy to lose sight of your goals amidst the daily hustle, so make it a point to schedule monthly self-reflection sessions. During this time, reflect on your progress and write down your observations.
This exercise will help you identify patterns and areas you need to focus on. Additionally, reviewing previous self-reflection sessions will allow you to see how far you have come.
Here are some prompts to guide your monthly self-reflection:
- What have I learned about myself this month?
- Did I act in alignment with my “why”? How?
- What can I work on in the upcoming month to get back on track?
- What do I need to let go of or delegate?
You can also check out our list of more in-depth journal prompts to enhance this exercise.
Plan Annual Reviews
As you grow and evolve, your “why” may change, and it is essential to revisit this exercise every year. What motivated you five years ago might not be the same thing that motivates you today, and that is perfectly fine!
However, if your “why” changes without your awareness, you may find yourself losing focus and commitment. That is why taking a step back to re-evaluate yourself is important to stay on track.
During your annual review, ask yourself the following questions:
- What did I accomplish over the past year?
- Did these accomplishments bring me joy and excitement, or did I become neutral over time? If the joy waned, your “why” may have shifted.
- What do I want to accomplish this year? Do these goals align with my “why,” or are they arising from ego?
- Finally, consider your overall life goal. In what way does your “why” align with the broader context? Is it still serving you well?
We hope that this article will finally answer all your whys question! It may take time but this is such a great start!
