People crave purpose. I truly believe that at the heart of each of us is an innate desire to mean something. You matter to God, which is the whole point of why you’re still here.
I talk with people on an almost daily basis about purpose. Why are you here? What value are you adding to the people who cross your everyday path? Why do you do what you do?
Simon Sinek’s classic book Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action introduces the premise of starting with why. Sinek says, “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.” Some of the most inspiring ideas and movements in history began with no expectation of greatness or accolades.
- Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream with no guarantee that his dream would be actualized.
- Da Vinci was not widely recognized as a genius inventor until after his death. He was initially considered a failure as an artist because he only finished a handful of pieces.
- Mother Theresa began her work in India as an obscure social worker who wanted to love people unconditionally.
- John F. Kennedy had a dream to land a man on the moon, but never lived to see that dream be fulfilled.
These incredibly inspirational people did something significant and meaningful because they found their purpose and followed opportunity.
You and I have as much opportunity, if not more today, to step into our ultimate purpose, to create something lasting and world-shaking for the world around us. It starts with finding our “why” behind what we do.
5 “what” questions to help you find your big “why”
One of the best ways to identify your purpose is to ask great questions about the details and context of your purpose. Here are five “what” questions that can help you find your big “why”…
- What inspires you without any external motivator, including money? Translation: what do you love doing without a paycheck attached?
- What catches your attention that you can spend hours investing in?
- What’s something both significant in purpose and important to you personally that will last beyond your final breath?
- What would get you out of bed in the morning without an alarm clock?
- What would you invest as much time as possible in without expecting any applause or recognition?
Once you find your “why,” it will begin changing your everyday paradigm. Conversations take different directions. Priorities change. Schedules shift. Decisions begin to take on more weight and meaning when thrown through this new lens of life.
What’s your “why” behind what you do? What steps are you taking today to find your purpose for today and beyond tomorrow?
Share your “why” with me on social media
I’d love to hear you share your “why”. If you read through the five questions and find your new “why,” share it with me on social media (connect with me on Instagram and Twitter). Tag @writetojoncook and #mybigwhy. I’d love to hear from you!