In the journey of personal growth and self-discovery, understanding our “why” serves as a compass, guiding us toward clarity and purpose. Our “why” encapsulates our deepest motivations and values, shaping how we perceive the world and navigate our lives. It’s more than just a question of what we do; it’s about uncovering who we are and why we do it.
Exploring our “why” involves delving into our origin story—tracing the influences and experiences that have shaped our beliefs and aspirations. By aligning our actions with our core values, we enhance our fulfillment and amplify our impact on those around us. This journey of self-discovery invites us to embrace authenticity, make informed choices, and cultivate meaningful connections that resonate with our most authentic selves.
The Origin Story: Understanding Your WHY
Your WHY is deeply rooted in your personal history, shaped by the experiences, challenges, and influences you encountered throughout your life. It’s an internal narrative that has evolved since your earliest memories, shaped by your family dynamics, the culture you were raised in, your early education, and the significant events that have punctuated your life. By the time we reach adolescence, our sense of self is already quite solid, even though we may not always fully understand it. The decisions we make, the relationships we form, and the values we embrace all reflect the WHY that is embedded in us.
Understanding your WHY begins with introspection. It involves looking back at your life and identifying the moments, people, and experiences that made you who you are today. What challenges have you faced? How did they shape your character? What values do you hold dear, and where did they originate? These questions can help illuminate the path to discovering your WHY. Your WHY is not a one-time discovery; it’s a lifelong process of self-awareness and reflection. It involves connecting the dots between your past and present and recognizing patterns in your actions, thoughts, and beliefs that highlight your core values.
For example, if you’ve always been driven by a desire to help others, it could indicate that your WHY is rooted in service and empathy. If your life has been marked by creative pursuits and a desire to express yourself, your WHY might center around creativity and innovation. It’s important to realize that the WHY is not static. Your understanding of it may evolve as you continue to grow, but its core essence will always remain connected to your experiences, the lessons you’ve learned, and the values you hold dear.
The real power in understanding your WHY comes when you begin to make decisions in alignment with it. When you’re operating in harmony with your core purpose, you feel a sense of fulfillment and ease in your actions. Your WHY acts as a guiding compass, helping you navigate the inevitable challenges and distractions that arise in life. Conversely, when you make choices that are out of balance with your WHY, you may feel stressed, anxious, or disconnected. This misalignment leads to inner conflict as you struggle between external expectations and your internal truths.
The Power of External Reflection: Discovering Your WHY Through Others
While self-reflection is crucial to understanding your WHY, sometimes it’s hard to see yourself clearly from the inside. Our emotions, biases, and blind spots can distort our perception of who we are. This is where the power of external reflection comes into play. Asking others—particularly those who know you well—to describe why they value you can provide deep insights into your core essence.
The exercise of asking a close friend, “Why are we friends?” is not just a casual question. It is a deep dive into how your presence impacts others. The key here is to choose someone who is not too close—like a spouse or family member—because they might already have preconceived notions about you. A trusted friend who sees you in a less biased way is ideal. This is because someone who knows you well but isn’t emotionally enmeshed with you can provide a clearer perspective of your qualities, how you make them feel, and what makes you unique.
At first, your friend might struggle to articulate their feelings about you. This is normal. Emotional connections often exist outside of language, where words can’t fully capture the depth of what someone feels. Their initial responses might sound generic—“You’re a good person,” or “You’re always there for me”—but these answers don’t reveal much about what makes you uniquely you. What you need is to push past these surface-level responses. By gently encouraging them to dig deeper, you help uncover the qualities that truly define you.
For example, when asked to describe why they are drawn to you, your friend might begin to say things like, “You inspire me,” or “You have a way of making me feel like everything will be okay.” These responses begin to move beyond the standard definition of a friend and start to reveal your emotional impact on others. The fundamental insight comes when your friend goes from describing the “friendship” to explaining how they feel around you—this is a key indicator of your WHY. The emotional resonance of these descriptions is powerful because it points directly to the more profound value you provide in relationships and life.
The “Aha” Moment: Realizing Your WHY
The “Aha” moment in discovering your WHY is when you finally hear words that deeply resonate with your internal truth. It’s the moment when what others say about you mirrors what you’ve always known about yourself but couldn’t quite articulate. This moment is transformative because it moves from abstract ideas to a tangible, emotional recognition. It’s a recognition not just from the external world but from within yourself, as you realize what they say captures something profoundly true about who you are.
During this stage, it’s common for your friend to admit they are unsure how to put their feelings into words. This struggle is a sign that they are grappling with something bigger than language—a profound, emotional truth that words can’t always fully convey. But over time, as they reflect on your connection, they will begin to articulate your essence in ways that make sense. For example, a friend may say, “I don’t know what it is, but when I’m with you, I feel more confident, more alive, like I can take on anything. It’s not just what you say. It’s how you make me feel.”
This statement likely triggers a recognition within you. You may feel a sense of alignment and clarity, as it confirms something you’ve always felt deep down but couldn’t define. This is your WHY at work. It’s not just the actions you take or the words you say; it’s the emotional atmosphere you create when you are in your most authentic state. This moment of insight is decisive because it affirms that your WHY is not something you need to invent. It’s always been there, and it has always been in alignment with your positive impact on others.
This recognition isn’t just about gaining clarity and feeling empowered. Once you understand your WHY, making choices that are in harmony with your values becomes easier. This newfound understanding gives you the confidence to pursue your goals with conviction, knowing that you are living in alignment with your true self. The emotional connection you feel in that moment serves as the compass that guides your future decisions, relationships, and pursuits.
The WHY in Action: Sharing Your Gift with the World
Once you’ve identified your WHY, the next step is to live it out daily. This is where the real power of your WHY emerges—it’s not just about having clarity for yourself but about expressing that purpose in a way that positively impacts others. Your WHY is the gift you offer to the world. It’s what makes you unique and valuable, and it’s the foundation of your brand.
Living your WHY requires consistent action. It’s about making big and small decisions that reflect your purpose. Whether you are making a career choice, forming relationships, or engaging in personal development, each action should express your deepest values. When you align your decisions with your WHY, you see the world differently. You make choices that are good for you and suitable for the people around you. You start attracting opportunities and people who resonate with your energy and authenticity.
One of the most powerful aspects of living your WHY is the ability to inspire others. You inadvertently encourage others to do the same when you show up as your true self. Your authenticity becomes magnetic, and people are drawn to you not because of your outward achievements but because of your energy. The more consistently you live out your WHY, the more your brand strengthens. It’s no longer about selling a persona or image—it’s about being the best version of yourself every single day.
The true beauty of living your WHY is that it becomes effortless. When your actions are in alignment with your purpose, everything flows naturally. Challenges become growth opportunities, and setbacks become valuable lessons. You begin to operate efficiently and confidently because you know you are on the right path. This sense of alignment fosters a deep understanding of fulfillment, as you are not just chasing external markers of success but are living a life that reflects your most profound truths.
The WHY in Practice: Living with Consistency and Clarity
Once you have discovered your WHY and begun living it out, maintaining consistency’s crucial. This requires constant self-reflection and mindfulness. The world is filled with distractions, and it’s easy to get swept up in the pressures of external expectations. Regularly checking in with yourself and reaffirming your WHY is key to staying aligned. This practice of self-awareness helps you navigate challenges and remain grounded in your purpose, even when faced with difficult decisions.
Consistency in living your WHY also requires discipline. It’s about staying true to your core values, even when following the crowd or taking shortcuts is easier. This commitment to integrity builds trust, not just with others but also with yourself. As you continue to make decisions that are in harmony with your WHY, you create a life that is authentic and meaningful.
The process of living your WHY is ongoing. As you grow and evolve, your understanding of your WHY may deepen or shift slightly, but it will always remain grounded in the core values that define you. By continuing to reflect on and practice living your WHY, you ensure that every step you take is aligned with your true purpose. This alignment leads to a life of clarity, fulfillment, and impact—a life lived with intention and purpose.
Conclusion: Starting with WHY
As we navigate YouTube’s ever-evolving landscape, let us remember the timeless wisdom of starting with WHY. It is not merely a question but a mantra—a guiding principle that empowers us to embrace our authentic selves and pursue our passions with unwavering conviction. Our WHY serves as a beacon of authenticity, illuminating the path to personal and professional fulfillment in a world inundated with superficiality and noise.
So, as you embark on your YouTube journey, take a moment to pause and reflect on your WHY. It is the essence of who you are, the driving force behind your actions, and the key to unlocking your true potential. Embrace, nurture, and let it shine through in every video you create. In the digital realm, where authenticity reigns supreme, your WHY is the ultimate currency—a priceless gift that resonates with audiences far and wide.