How to Find Your Why

 Have you ever wondered what your purpose in life is? What drives you to get up in the morning and pursue your goals? What makes you happy and fulfilled? If you have, you are not alone. Many people struggle with finding their why, or their reason for being.

Your why is your personal mission statement, your guiding principle, your core motivation. It is what gives meaning and direction to your life. It is what inspires you to make a positive impact on yourself and others. It is what helps you overcome challenges and achieve success.

But how do you find your why? How do you discover what truly matters to you and aligns with your values and passions? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, but there are some steps you can take to help you find your why. Here are two easy ways to discover your life’s purpose.

Method 1: Ask Yourself Questions

One of the simplest ways to find your why is to ask yourself a series of questions that help you reflect on your life and yourself. You can use a journal, a voice recorder, or a friend to help you with this process. Here are some questions you can ask yourself:

• What are you passionate about? What do you love doing?
• What are you good at? What are your strengths and skills?
• What are you curious about? What do you want to learn more about?
• What are your values? What do you stand for?
• What are your goals? What do you want to achieve in life?
• What are your challenges? What do you struggle with or want to improve?
• What are your dreams? What do you aspire to be or do?
• What makes you happy? What brings you joy and satisfaction?
• What makes you unique? What sets you apart from others?
• How do you want to contribute? How do you want to make a difference in the world?

As you answer these questions, look for patterns and themes that emerge. Try to identify what connects your passions, skills, values, goals, challenges, dreams, happiness, uniqueness, and contribution. This will help you find your why statement, which is a concise and clear expression of your purpose. For example:

• My why is to inspire and empower people to live their best lives through coaching and writing.
• My why is to create beautiful and functional spaces that enhance people’s well-being through interior design.
• My why is to protect and conserve wildlife and nature through research and education.

Method 2: Use the Ikigai Framework

Another way to find your why is to use the ikigai framework, which is a Japanese concept that means “a reason for being”. Ikigai is based on four elements that intersect and overlap: what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. Finding your ikigai means finding the sweet spot where these four elements meet.

To use the ikigai framework, draw four circles that overlap in the center. Label each circle with one of the four elements: what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. Then fill in each circle with words or phrases that describe each element for you. For example:

• What I love: reading, writing, learning, traveling
• What I am good at: communication, research, analysis, teaching
• What the world needs: education, information, inspiration
• What I can be paid for: journalism, blogging, consulting

Next, look at the intersections between each pair of circles. These represent different aspects of your life that relate to your purpose. Label each intersection with one of these words: passion, mission, vocation, profession. For example:

• Passion: what I love + what I am good at = writing
• Mission: what I love + what the world needs = education
• Vocation: what the world needs + what I can be paid for = journalism
• Profession: what I can be paid for + what I am good at = consulting

Finally, look at the center where all four circles meet. This is your ikigai, your reason for being. Try to summarize it in one sentence that captures your essence. For example:

• My ikigai is to educate and inspire people through writing and journalism.

Conclusion

Finding your why is not a one-time event. It is an ongoing process that requires self-awareness, reflection, and action. Your why may change over time as you grow and evolve as a person. The important thing is to keep asking yourself questions, exploring your passions, and aligning your actions with your purpose.

Remember that finding your why is not only beneficial for yourself, but also for others. When you find your why, you can live more authentically, passionately, and meaningfully. You can also inspire, influence, and impact others in positive ways. So start today and find your why. You will be glad you did.