It’s quite ironic that as a life coach, I’m proposing that you and I both need to find out our why.
See, in coaching, we consider the “why” question taboo, because it has the potential of putting a person on the defensive. Think about that for a moment. Can you recall a time when you were in the middle of a task and a family member or co-worker showed up on the scene and said, “Why are you doing that?” How did you feel? Where you annoyed? Irritated? Felt judged? If so, you’re pretty normal. If not, you should praise God for being a person who is not easily offended!
In life coaching, we don’t avoid the “why” question entirely. We simply approach identifying the obstacle and discovering the solution from a different angle. For example, starting a question with “tell me more” invites curiosity, observation, and reflection, opening up the dialogue to get to the heart of the matter. Isn’t that what we want — to find out what’s going on behind the scenes and uncover the root issues that keep us from experiencing God’s best every day?
Our “why” is what motivates us to action with a God-given passion.
The why describes the story that gives life to the ministry. It’s the experience that gives hope to the cause. It’s the knowledge that leads to action. Finding your “why” is like shining a spotlight on purpose. And yet, it’s the “what” that usually stands in our way. Our “whats” are the time and resource consumers along with the excuse-laden obstacles standing our way. It’s both what we are busy doing and also the beliefs attached to our actions.
As I describe in Meet the New You: A 21-Day Plan for Embracing Fresh Attitudes & Focused Habits, we need to pinpoint our thinking to change our living as we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5) while seeking to be transformed by the renewing of our mind according to the Truth found in God’s Word (Romans 12:2).
We need to know what we believe about ourselves, God, and our place in this world in order to live purposefully.
To find out your “why,” grab this workbook resource, which will guide in a time of reflection and prayerful seeking of God’s purposes for your life.
