THE POWER OF WHY

Do you know what gets you up in the morning? Are you excited to start the day?

Everybody has something they want to do. Most people want to be successful. They want to accomplish things personally and professionally. And, typically, they spend a lot of time and effort trying to figure out how to make those things happen--without thinking about ‘why’ they are doing it. 

Most people spend far too much time trying to figure out the ‘how,’ of what they need to do, instead of thinking about ‘why’. The truth is, ‘HOW’ is not nearly as important as ‘WHY’.

Imagine if you see a house on fire and some kids are inside. You’re going to run to save them—you’re not going to stop and think about how you’re going to do it. In real life, it’s critical to have a big ‘why’—then the how will show up. 

"Trust that which gives you meaning and accept it as your guide." - Dr. Carl Jung

Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.

Dr. Carl Jung believed “that a human being is inwardly whole, but that most of us have lost touch with important parts of our selves. Through listening to the messages of our dreams and waking imagination, we can contact and reintegrate our different parts. If we realize our uniqueness, we can tap into our true self. Each human being has a specific nature and calling which is uniquely his or her own, and unless these are fulfilled through a union of conscious and unconscious, the person can become sick.”

Knowing your ‘why’ is crucial to success. When you don’t really know what’s motivating you, or if you’re just doing something so you can get by at work, or pay your bills, it makes it much harder to stay the course and do what you need to do to succeed.  Challenges become obstacles. There is no real passion or enthusiasm.

‘Why’ is what gives us clarity of vision and purpose. It’s part of our reason for being. It’s what keeps you going despite the challenges you encounter—it’s what pulls you through the tough times and pushes you past your obstacles. It’s the power of your purpose.

Your ‘WHY’ gives you: Creativity; Consistency; Compassion; Courage; Commitment; and Control. 

When your ‘WHY’ is big enough, you will be able to figure out your ‘HOW’. When you have a big ‘why’, your attitude changes from just doing the minimum required to get by, to doing ‘whatever it takes’ to succeed. It creates a sense of urgency. Your passion carries you. You go from complacent to determined, to “I won’t give up, I will get it done, no matter what”. And if you fall, you get back up, stronger than before. You have enough reasons to turn your setbacks into a comeback.

“He who has a ‘why’ to live for can bear almost any how.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche

Knowing and understanding your ‘why’ gets you emotionally connected to your purpose. It’s your primary source of motivation. Once you know what that is, you have direction and you know what you need to accomplish. Your ‘how’ comes in to focus.  That connection awakens the giant within you and anything becomes possible.