What is it you’re searching for in your life and career?
Are you trying to figure out how to best harness your skillset in your day-to-day life?…
Or seeking a way to align your life purpose and your job/work?…
Or simply chasing fulfillment?
Whatever it is you’re searching for, finding it is difficult without understanding two things that are unique to you:
Your “Why?” – that spark that keeps you going in your chosen work/career when times get tough…
And your Life Purpose.
Hang with us here!
By “Life Purpose,” we don’t mean some nebulous ideal that is always just out of reach…
We are simply referring to what makes you YOU.
Your Life Purpose is not some perfect, elusive version of your life that you can miss by making mistakes – it is part of you.
Always.
It grows and flows and changes with you, inspiring the Big Choices you make in your life.
You can listen to or ignore your Life Purpose, but you’re still you, no matter where your choices take you.
(Even if some decisions have the potential to be more fulfilling to you than others.)
When your “Why?” is centered in your Life Purpose, it can help you stay motivated in your career, even when the going gets tough – and ultimately, help you find fulfillment in your day-to-day life!
Find Your “Why?”
Roles and Motivations
There are many motivating factors behind our choices and many roles to fill in our daily lives.
That guy you just met – what was his name? – Jim!
Ya, him.
He’s not just Jim from the grocery store. (Even if that’s all you know about him!)
He’s also Jim, the guy who works at the Machinist shop…
And Jim, the guy who walks his neighbors’ dogs when they are on vacation…
And Jim, June’s loving husband…
And Jim, the grandfather to a rambunctious and awesome set of grandkids…
And Jim, the son of a preacher man from Minneapolis…
The list could go on forever!
But underneath it all, Jim is still Jim.
And, like Jim, you’re always you.
You and Jim have different lives and different careers…
But you both have a motivating, grounding “Why?” that keeps your head in the game when you’re working.
What propels Jim to get up every day and work as a machinist, even after he could have retired 10 years ago?
His “Why?”.
Jim’s “Why?” is unique to him, just as yours is unique to you, and it keeps him going, even on the difficult days at the shop.
Are you seeking more fulfillment from your work? Maybe it’s time to reconnect to – or discover! – your “Why?”!
Uncovering Your “Why?”
Why do you do what you do?
What about your job do you wake up for every day?
Don’t be deceived by the first answer that pops into your head – the true reason you do what you do is often not so close to the surface.
Just ask Jim!
Sure, Jim loves being a machinist.
He loves the smell of grease on his hands…
Loves the gritty soap that he needs to use to get that grease off…
And loves the sound of a well-oiled, correctly-timed machine when the job is done.
There’s an art to machining that is fulfilling to Jim, too…
But none of that is Jim’s “Why?”.
Because Jim’s “Why?” isn’t a thing he does – and neither is yours.
There’s more to your “Why?” than the good parts of your job.
What is it you really work for?
Money, you say?
Okay – now we are getting somewhere!
But…the motivating “Why?” behind your career probably isn’t money in and of itself.
It might be the things you can do or buy with the money you earn, though!
Maybe your paycheck pays for those dinners out with your friends that you look forward to all week…
Or possibly, that money is bringing your dream of a family trip to Europe closer and closer, one dollar at a time…
Or perhaps your income is funding something you love to do or consider your Life’s Work – like teaching your grandkids to fish or starting a soup kitchen in your community.
None of these motivating factors is money itself.
(See what we mean? This “Why?” thing is profound!)
So, what is your “Why?”
Keep Asking “Why?”
If you think you have the answer, that’s great!
But go ahead and ask “Why?” again…
And again…
And again…
(Like that toddler that lives down the block loves to do…)
Until you’ve uncovered the Big Reason behind what you do.
You said your motivation was money…
But when you dug a little deeper, you discovered it’s not the money itself but what the money allows you to do that gets you out of bed in the morning…right?
But maybe your “Why?” is even deeper still!
Maybe those dinners with friends are really about furthering your connection with your community…
Or possibly, that family trip to Europe is really about honoring your father’s memory by seeing and showing your kids where he fought for your freedom…
Or perhaps teaching someone you love to do something that brings you joy or sharing what you have with those in need is really about paying forward the grace and hope you once received in your own time of need.
Whatever your “Why?”, you can’t miss it! The very thought of it should light you up!
Your “Why?” should help you feel connected with who you are and what you can offer the world, and it should remind you what you’re working for when the going gets tough.
Your “Why?” is motivating because it is centered in your Life Purpose…
And when you’re connected with who you really are, you’re more likely to find meaning and fulfillment in what you do…
Even if that thing isn’t glamorous or what you’d planned on growing up to do when you were seven.
If you’re finding this process difficult or you’ve discovered that your job/work is working against the “Why?” you’ve landed upon, it may be time to make some changes in your life or career…
And that’s okay, too!
Change is a necessary part of growth!
Luckily, reconnecting with your “Why?” and centering yourself in your Life Purpose can help you make the lasting, intentional changes your life needs.
Conclusion
Finding your “Why?” and reconnecting to your Life Purpose are vital to running a successful business.
Are you looking for a new path forward in your career by starting your own business or seeking to expand your existing business by reconnecting with your “Why?”
Freedom Consulting is here to help!
Call us today for expert advice on how to start and grow your business.
We can’t wait to hear from you – and to hear about your “Why?”!
