Why? The simple question that can change your life

As kids, we are supposed to know what we want to be when we grow up. Adults seem to be particularly obsessed with this. Maybe it's because we want to imagine that our children will be successful and can take care of themselves. Either way, this exercise only focuses on the what.

I think that's why most people can easily tell you what they do, but they tend to struggle when you ask them why they do it. But understanding your "why" keeps you focused and motivated -- and in my opinion is arguably more important than WHAT you actually do.

At Southwestern Coaching, we have a module called 20 What to Your Why. The goal is to complete the exercise in one sitting. While some questions may be more difficult to answer, the act of going through all twenty questions will help your brain start connecting different thoughts around your vision. Most people find themselves thinking about life at a much deeper level by the end. The more clear the vision, the more likely it will be that you attain it!

Here are my 6 favorite questions because they go beyond the temporal and really help clients nail down characteristics and desires they wish for themselves on their quest to being better every day.

1. What would your perfect day look like in terms of how you spend your time and what you do outside of work?

2. What do you want to give back to the world?

3. What do you want to be known for?

4. What are the things you most believe in?

5. What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?

6. What do you want people to think of when they think of you?

So, who do you see yourself in your mind now? Let's make a plan to get you there.