My Why
It’s everything. Not just to me, but the “why” is the reason you do anything, and more importantly it’s what keeps you at it when you want to quit. Being clear on your “why” will get you over the hump, and onto success (however you define it) that feels aligned with who you are. Serve that up!
It’s simple to determine. Just ask yourself why you want to do something. Answers such as, “because it’s expected of me,” or “I’ve always done it that way,” aren’t allowed. We know better.
The “why” doesn’t have to be beautifully altruistic or holy. As long as it speaks to you. Be careful not to compare and despair here. The only thing that matters is that your “why” is true for you in a way that won't be denied. It’s a hunt to find the part of you that was always there but sometimes you lose sight of.
When I was laid off from my job during covid it felt terrible. After ten years of teaching children to read I didn’t have a “plug and play” system for what mattered to me. That job was such a good fit for my “why.” Now, I didn’t have a place to go to work each day, see colleagues I deeply cared for, students I knew I could help, and be a part of a team that was doing such good work. Contribution, fellowship, nurturing young learners, it all went away that one day. (I know Covid was devastating to many of us, for different reasons, but I turned that all around..this column isn’t about Covid, it’s bigger and more personal.)
All those years ago I had reinvented myself in my teaching career as I was launching into my empty nest years. I wanted to realign my MOM purpose or yes, you guessed it, my “why” in a new way going forward. It was such a rich and wonderful 10 years.
Now suddenly I needed to reassess, and fine tune my “why” for the next chapter. And I did!
I took all of the things I loved about teaching, and other jobs, combined that with my inclination to help and challenge others, added my personal strengths and things that have brought me joy. I went all in and became a certified life coach, and I never looked back.
My “why” is to continue to make a contribution, while creating my own economy on my own terms. Voila! I have never enjoyed a job more. And at the same time, probably never worked so hard, stretching into skills required to open a coaching practice. I feel alive, and focussed on the future. And whatever it brings, I know I have the background to navigate it.
If you’d like some help with your “why” (or even your “what”) I can help. Let’s get that identified for you and take it into the next, more aligned chapter. It’s fun, and you deserve it. I like to ask what will be the impact of doing this work? And more importantly what will be the impact of NOT doing this work. It helps you get to your why in a clean way.