Find your Why
At the very outset, I will shoot a few questions for you to think as your read this article:
1. Is ‘Why’ more important than ‘What’ and ‘How’?
2. Why we do what we do in life?
3. What our why is?
Let’s remember that the main thing that gives us a strong sense of purpose and well-being is our Why?
Simon Sinek, a renowned leadership expert is perhaps best known for giving one of the most popular TED Talks of all time, his “Golden Circle” theory explains how great leaders and organisations start with a why instead of what and how and that they can inspire cooperation, trust and change in a business based on his research into how the most successful organizations think, act and communicate if they start with why.
Here are five simple steps to take action and find a greater degree of personal and professional purpose in our respective :
1. Ask questions
To be very straightforward, it’s only the stupid who doesn’t ask questions. Let’s take a Socratic method to our own lives as it is. Start with why we’re even hoping to identify our why in the first place. Ask what our core values are and identify the things that leave us wanting more about our life and the things that fulfill us. Even if we ask a million questions to identify a crystal clear why, the effort will have been a good use of our time in the long run.
2. Be Kind All The Way
Let’s once again ask a few questions to ourselves?
- Are we kind to ourselves?
- Do we easily forgive ourselves or keep regretting?
- What is our own personal set of values?
Answers shouldn’t take longer to reveal the truth. This leads to a greater degree of self-awareness that can sometimes lead to judgment. No matter what, try to be patient and understanding with ourselves as we try to figure out a mission or why statement that works for us. The kinder and humbler we are to ourselves, the more honest we can be — and the more honest we can be, the sooner we’ll find our why.
3. Soul Search
Hazrat Ali Ibn-e-Abi Talib’s most famous quotes reads: “One who knows himself, knows his Lord”. We need to be in a state of this urge of knowing who we are. In fact, a regular tune-up (some call this “soul-nourishment”) is a valuable tool to keep our spirit healthy. So, whenever we embark on a soul-searching quest, it helps to examine our life in its current state. Some more questions:
1. How are you feeling?
2. Are you feeling valued and appreciated?
3. What are you proud of?
4. What do you regret?
This list isn’t meant to be exhaustive. It’s meant to be a springboard. Take about 30 minutes (or more) in a secluded spot — be it in meditation, on a walk, in the car— and run over these questions and answers to the self. Even if we’re feeling totally at peace with ourselves, we may find that there are some areas that we wish to improve. Be like water. Flow into openings that we discover.
4. New Perspectives
Seeking out new perspectives and people to inspire us and further cement our why. Look for great leaders with a firm sense of self to help us develop our own. Read and seek out content that serves us and boosts our productivity, positivity, and purpose. Leading a fulfilling life means is within our grasp. One can learn to embrace happiness and achieve inner peace simply by changing and incorporating some healthy habits into his/her life. Sometimes living up to our full potential is just
5. Recalibrate Periodically
We might not know how to live out our why right from the start — for that matter, it’s easy to get distracted from our sense of purpose even if we’ve had a lot of practice. To live a best life, create daily habits to remind us of our why. Add an upbeat playlist or self-help podcast to the morning routine. Keep checking with ourselves throughout the day about how much we feel calibrated with our stated why or central purpose.
Bringing It All Together
Precisely, our why is our purpose in life, the driving force that keeps us going when times are tough and keeps us diligent when things are going well. Everyone has a different why, although there are several common threads. Love, success, legacy, security — these are just some of the main things people might articulate as their why.
Our why might be obtaining financial independence or finding a job that enables us to travel the world. It could be seeking meaningful relationships or pursuing our personal ambitions. Perhaps it’s looking at life with a sense of humour or with a focus on helping those in need. No matter what it is, it can serve as a central guiding principle to help us make both everyday and extremely consequential decisions.
About the Author
Muhammad Sajwani is the Founder and Managing Director of Evolve HR which aims at transforming, enriching and evolving Human Capital of Pakistan, Evolve HR thrives in challenging assumptions that hinder organisational aspirations, by creating innovative solutions that yield maximum impact, scalability & benefit to a wider base of stakeholders. As a Business Coach and Organisational Consultant, Sajwani knows how to combine business insights with people insights to transform organisations and put them on the path to growth.
