August 4

How To Discover Your Why

"The discovery of one's WHY is the beginning of a life-long journey to bring significance to their life. We often set out on this journey of life with no real clue as to why we are here..."

- Allan Pease

Before I begin, I just want to make one thing clear. This discovery of your WHY is not going to be a quick fix or something that will pop into your head while you are in the shower. It's not an easy process but it is most definitely worth it! The discovery of your WHY can and should be an ongoing journey. You'll always need to remind yourself what you stand for, what makes your heart beat (literally) and why you do what you do on a daily basis. After all, how many people out there do what they love? If they are doing what they love, how many of their friends and family think it's just a hobby?

"How will I know when I've found my WHY?" You may have heard that the discovery of your WHY has to be emotional. It does! This discovery needs to touch parts of you that you haven't felt before. If finding your WHY doesn't bring up any emotions from deep inside, then you may not have found it yet.

When it comes time for writing this discovery of why, most people don't really know where to start because they really don't understand that their WHY is likely related to a painful area in their life. Most people don't want to reflect on painful experiences or memories. Human beings would much rather avoid it altogether. But, pain and purpose are best friends. They have an inseparable bond. So, you should work on this discovery during a time when your feelings aren't too intense because it may feel uncomfortable and quite possibly sad or even angry. You're going to want to avoid discomfort because of the emotional response they bring up for you, but in order to find your WHY those same emotions are necessary. Don't be afraid to revisit and reflect on your past pain. You will likely find your purpose in the midst of that pain.

The discovery process is a simple one that takes an average of twenty minutes to complete. If you follow these steps regularly, it will also take just under ten minutes:
Take some time and put some thought on those questions. Then when you find people that love what they do, ask them how they discovered their WHY and listen to their stories. You’ll likely hear about something they had to overcome before they found it.

  • Write down what you want to be when you grow up – not what your parents or peers tell you to say.
  • List five people whom you have looked up to and admired in their field throughout your life – this could include athletes, political figures, authors, actors, artists or other professionals including teachers who have inspired you.
  • What did they all have in common?
  • Think about where they are now – do any of them continue to live their WHY today?
  • At the top of a clean page write about your most painful moment in life and how you can use that experience to empower and help others.

Take some time and put some thought on those questions. Then when you find people that love what they do, ask them how they discovered their WHY and listen to their stories. You’ll likely hear about something they had to overcome before they found it.