“Find Your Why and You’ll Find Your Way.” John Maxwell
EVERYONE NEEDS A COACH
I had a business coach a few years ago that took me through this exercise. I've had a few coaches in my life for different reasons; for life, business, fitness, and family. This is probably some of the best money that you could ever spend on yourself. I know it has been the best investment in my life.
Have you thought about what is your why? Maybe right now your why just to be able to provide for the family. Maybe your why is because you want more for your family than what you had growing up. Each of us has our own reasons why.
EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED
With everything that is changed in the last year through the pandemic, many have been searching for their why. They have been searching for a way, their way. Have you felt lost through this last year? Trying to figure out why everything is happening the way it's happening?
7 Levels to Why
I'd like to share with you the exercise that one of my coaches shared with me. It’s the seven levels to why. This is a simple exercise that anyone can do. It may change overtime as life changes. I challenge you to look at this each year or to look at it again after a major life change. I’m coming up on empty nest time in my life and am reviewing this now. Which is why I’m sharing with you.
It all starts with a question. What do you want? Another way to say it is why do you want to be successful? Typically, the first answer is because I want financial freedom. Or, you may answer with I want more time to… This is just a surface level answer. We all want financial freedom. We all want more time to enjoy what is important in our lives.
When you dig a little deeper is when you get to the real reason you live your life the way you do. The real reason you get out of bed every morning and face whatever life has in store for you. Let’s say you want financial freedom. Why do you want financial freedom in your life?
I'll share some of my own answers in this. We grew up on what was then called welfare, state assistance. We didn't have money for clothes, sometimes for food, and most definitely not for anything fun. I wanted to have the financial freedom that I never had as a child. I wanted more out of life that struggling to pay the bills.
My coach kept digging deeper though. Seven levels deep. I want you to dig a little deeper too. Do this for at least 7 levels and you’ll find your true why, your purpose.
FINDING YOUR PURPOSE
How many self-help books, webinars, seminars, etc have you read or attended? I’ve read more books than I can remember. I’ve attended seminars, webinars, and “challenges” to figure out my purpose in life.
The bottom line is that each one of us has our own reasons for doing what we do. We each have a reason for getting up in the morning. A reason to keep going forward. This is our guiding compass, our True North. When you know your True North, nothing can get in the way. You can find a way whether you have to walk through streams or a climb a mountain. At least you know what direction to keep moving in.
I am a true believer that our why isn’t just for us. Once you find your purpose, your why, then you leave a legacy in this world. You make a difference. Don't we all want to make a difference in this world? Leaving a legacy for the next generation is part of our why our purpose.
WHAT IS MY WHY?
Due to the struggles in my life and in my childhood, my why is feeling worthy, having security, and being in control of my own life.
Feeling worthy, to me, is helping others to feel worthy also. I want everyone to know that they are worthy of love, financial freedom, time freedom, and that they make a difference in this world too. Each of us has a place in this world to make a difference in the lives of others.
Having security is providing security for my family. When you feel secure enough in your own life financially, doing what you love in life, you then learn to find a way to help others feel secure in their lives too. It's about giving back when you've accomplished your own goals of security. Don’t wait to pay it forward until you have “arrived”.
Being in control of my own life was being able to provide my children the ability to have control over their lives. It was being able to help others to find control in their own lives. My heart is to provide for those who haven't had control over their own lives or their own bodies. The ability to make money has given me the ability to provide for others who have been abused, in sex trafficking, and teen moms who didn't have a choice.
MY CHALLENGE TO YOU
I challenge you to do the 7 levels to why exercise. Find your true North. When you find that true North live your life with purpose and make a difference for those in the world that don't have that same advantage. Share with them this exercise. Help them to see their way in this world.
If you need more hands-on help with business coaching email me at debra@thelifeimliving.com or schedule your Clarity Session. I'd love to work with you and help you find your why.