Many people don’t know why they get out of bed in the morning or what their purpose is in life. This feeling can create dis-ease and unhappiness. When we have no direction or vision for our life, the day-to-day can be stressful, tiring and unfulfilling. We can often feel like we’re on a hamster wheel, making no real progress towards our goals and not having much fun in the process. This is, of course, no way to live.
So what can be done to offer our contribution, find fulfillment and leave a lasting legacy for our lives?
Well, why do you get up in the mornings? We can all make a list of the things we get out of bed for, but ask yourself where that list is coming from, a head space or heart space? Are you driven by your god given ability and talents or just paying the bills to obtain material possessions? We must remember that life is a gift. What is your gift back to it? Within our efforts to be happy or fulfilled, we must look at where we can provide value, service and contribution, and in doing so we become happy and fulfilled.
“Every person knows what it is they do, some of us know how we do it, but very few of us have ever really taken the time to think about why we do what we do.” –Simon Sinek
If you’re alive, you’re on the field in the game of life. In this game, you will learn many skills from the good fortune you experience as well as the adversity. Just remember, it’s a team sport and you play a significant role. You matter and your presence makes a difference. What you do or don’t do has an impact on others. So, it’s not only about you and your fulfillment. The more you fully express yourself and fulfill your role in this game, the more you and others will benefit. So, why and how you show up matters. Finding your WHY matters.
“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.”
-Helen Keller
Finding your why begins with asking the right questions.
1. What is your unique offering/contribution that you want to share with others and the world?
2. What difference or impact do you want to make as a result of your contribution?
3. What do you want to express?
4. What do you stand for?
5. What legacy do you want to leave behind?
Here are some of the benefits of having a strong why:
-Clear direction for yourself and the people you lead
-Clarity on what your contribution is and why it’s important
-Confidence in your role and purpose.
Finding your why is not about why you accumulate money or material items, it’s about finding that thing that brings you joy and gives you energy, and the drive to face adversity and challenges as they arise.
“Let your soul purpose be your sole purpose.” –anon
Your WHY should be your guiding light. Your why should dictate your core values, it should drive your expectations and ground your identity. When it does, it can remove a lot of distractions in your life. When you are driven, led and guided by your why, life becomes simpler. It drives your behavior, instructs who you engage and network with, outlines what you do with your time, and fuels your passion. When you check in with your why, your why should be directly align with what matters most to you. If it isn’t, then make the shift and realign. If something or someone doesn’t line up with your why, then it doesn’t make sense for you. It’s that simple.
We are all on a mission here to reach our full potential and leave a lasting impression in the game of life. A legacy we are proud to have left behind. Begin with why.