Answering the Question: Why?

We all struggle with motivation at times. Knowing WHY you are doing things helps break the motivation block and gets you through the tough times.

President Obama was interviewed and he was asked to share what he carries around with him. See video here:

In which President Obama shares with Ingrid Nilsen the stories of the things he carries with him that remind him of the people he's met: go.wh.gov/YouTubeAsksObama #YouTubeAsksObama
Posted by The White House on Friday, January 15, 2016

He carries things around to remind him why he is doing the job he is doing. The answer is because people are invested in him. This isn’t about him. It’s about the people who are hoping he will help make things better for them.

His motivation is beyond himself and that’s hugely important when times get tough.

If we are doing things only for ourselves, when things get tough, we will quit. It isn’t worth it to us so why bother. If, however, you are doing something for someone else, it’s much harder to quit.

I started my business to help people learn how to stop bullying. Starting a business is tough. Getting people to take a chance on you and give you a break is tough. I’ve thought about quitting many times. But I don’t. Why? Because if I don’t share how to stop bullies, who will? There is NOONE else out there teaching what I teach. I either do this or people continue to suffer. THAT”S motivation.

If you are struggling with motivation – ask yourself why. Why are you doing this? If you are doing it for yourself great. But if you can look beyond yourself to how your work helps others – even better. That way, whenever you need to ask yourself why – you will have an answer that is good enough to keep you motivated through the tough times.

The Power of Why

Why asking yourself these 3 questions will help you find meaning and purpose in your life. 

Emotive Brands had a blog post about 7 reasons why it’s time to transform your business through meaning. http://www.emotivebrand.com/2012/11/08/7-reasons-why-its-probably-time-to-transform-your-business-through-meaning/

I liked the post. I’m a big fan of being purpose and meaning driven. Having a purpose and meaning gives us a reason to get up in the morning. A reason to do the things we do.

The problem is that not just any reason will do. The best reasons are driven by deep emotions and motivations.  How do you find out what truly motivates you?  By asking yourself questions. We Humanists call this process of asking ourselves deep questions, critical thinking or alternately “freethought.”  The best question to start with is “why.”

This is why this post is titled the power of why.  If you want to know what is really driving you, you need to ask yourself 3 “why” questions.

For instance, if you are looking for meaning in your business.

• Why did you choose this business?
• Why is that needed?
• Why will this help people?

You can obviously use this for personal motivation as well.  When you have drilled down to the why this will help people question that is usually where your deep meaning resides.

As much as we might be motivated to be in business to make money so that we can eat and have things like shelter and transportation, it turns out that this is not a very good motivator.

What really motivates us to get up in the morning to work is to change the world and make it better. So instead of answering these why questions selfishly, focus on how what you do helps others. Once you understand how important your work is to others and how you impact others, your work becomes a calling and a mission. And that’s something that is truly motivating.