Voor Nederlands, klik hier.
Many people are unfamiliar with the term “Your WHY,” but the idea of purpose tends to resonate more. However, even the concept of purpose isn’t always crystal clear to everyone. Your WHY and your purpose are more about a feeling than a precise definition, which is why they can be challenging to express.
In a previous article, I explored the differences between purpose, mission, vision, and your WHY. When it comes to purpose, it essentially boils down to one thing: helping others. I live my purpose by making life a bit easier for the people around me. Whether it’s for my family, friends, clients, coworkers, or neighbors, I help by doing groceries, feeding the cats, cooking, facilitating workshops, coaching, and writing this article.
How Do You Find Your Purpose?
People often feel their purpose before they can define it. It’s that unspoken reason that gets you out of bed in the morning, motivates you to do what you love, and allows you to bring joy to others. The key is to stay connected with your purpose, no matter your role in life—whether you’re a waiter, a cybersecurity specialist, or a bus driver.
What Do You Love to Do?
Start by listing the things you love to do—activities that bring you joy and have a positive impact on others. These could be gardening, writing, facilitating, connecting with people, listening, cooking, or anything else that lights you up.
Get to Know Yourself
To live a more purposeful life, it’s essential to know yourself better. One way to do this is by understanding your core qualities—those innate strengths that are always present and can be used at any time.
Many assessments can help you gain insight into your communication style, behavior, or strengths. One of my personal favorites is the Character Strengths test from viacharacter.org, which highlights your core qualities. Kindness is one of my top strengths. It is found in good relationships. I find joy in helping others and acting kindly simply because it makes me happy to see others happy. I do this by borrowing things to others or giving gifts that involve experiential activities.
When I apply kindness during challenging times—like supporting someone through pain—it becomes compassion. This strength allows me to be there for others, whether they’re celebrating or going through tough times.
For more information about the power of character strengths, read this article.
Your WHY
Now that you’ve identified what you love to do and gotten to know yourself better, how do you apply this to live your purpose?
This is where your WHY comes into play. Your WHY is your unique contribution to the world and its impact. It’s always positive, forward-looking, and endless. My WHY, for example, is:
“I facilitate so that others can elevate themselves and experience more love.”
You can explore more examples of WHY statements here and here. They are always positive and serve others or the whole, making them more specific than a Purpose.
The WHY statement helps you make aligned choices and stay connected to your purpose, especially during tough times. When you feel down, reconnecting with your WHY can boost your energy, motivation, joy, and love.
By knowing who you are, it’s easier to live your purpose and your WHY.
“What is the purpose of life? Why are we here?
It is to learn to give and receive God’s love.”
— Harold Klemp
Discover Your WHY
We help individuals and teams discover their WHY. This isn’t something made up to sound impressive—it’s based on your real-life experiences and the impact you’ve already had on others. In a session lasting about four hours, we will uncover your contributions and their effect on the world. This will form the basis of your WHY statement and much more to help you live a more purposeful life.
Interested? Contact us today for a free intake!
Take Action — Live Your Purpose and WHY
While identifying your WHY is key, taking consistent action to live it is equally important. Start small. Do this through daily acts that align with your purpose, values, and what you love to do. For me, that might mean calling a friend I haven’t spoken to in a while or checking in with my neighbor to see if she still needs help with her computer.
To live your WHY and purpose more consciously, it’s helpful to reflect at the end of the day by asking yourself what you’ve done to live your WHY and purpose.
What is your Purpose? How did you find it? Let me know in the comment box below. I, and other readers of this article, look forward to read from you!
Thank you for reading up to here & sharing this article about your Purpose with your colleagues, friends, or family. And please SHARE this article with your X, Facebook, and LinkedIn networks by pressing the buttons below so they can also benefit from this article. You can copy parts of this blog if you state the source.
Have you seen an error in this article? Let me know! I am grateful!
