Your Why: the Ultimate Hack to a Fulfilling Life

In my previous post, "Find Your North Star," I discussed the importance of uncovering your deeper purpose and clarifying your guiding values. Today, we’ll build on that clarity.

Once you’ve identified your North Star, knowing your "Why" becomes the key to living a meaningful life every day. It’s not just about understanding why you do what you do; it’s about using that understanding to unlock greater motivation, make better decisions, and drive yourself forward in impactful ways.

Why Your "Why" Matters

Have you ever felt stuck or unmotivated? Sometimes, the missing piece isn’t what you’re doing but why you’re doing it. Your “Why” is the foundation that shapes your “How” and, ultimately, your “What.”

In life, it’s easy to get caught up in what society expects of you. That’s why creating a personal mission statement is so important. It gives you a clear “Why.” Once you understand the reason behind your everyday actions, the “how” and “what” will naturally follow.

To illustrate this, let’s take a quick detour to Simon Sinek’s book, Start with Why. In this book on business and leadership, he compares two potential Apple marketing messages [1]:

Message 1: We make great computers. They’re beautifully designed, simple to use, and user-friendly. Wanna buy one?

Message 2: Everything we do, we believe in challenging the status quo. We believe in thinking differently. The way we challenge the status quo is by making our products beautifully designed, simple to use, and user-friendly. And we happen to make great computers. Wanna buy one?

When I first read these side by side, I was struck by the impact of the second message. As a non-Apple user, I was curious about their products. The book emphasizes, "People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it."

In the same way,

You are not motivated by what you do; you are motivated by why you do it.

Here are three ways knowing your "Why" can transform your life:

1. Intentional Decisions
2. Sustainable Motivation
3. Authentic Fulfillment

Intentional Decisions

When you know your "Why," you gain clarity about what aligns with your values and what doesn’t. This clarity helps you make intentional, meaningful decisions.

For me, understanding my mission statement made it clear that I didn’t want to pursue a managerial position, even though it might seem like a natural career progression. Instead, I chose to continue working as an application engineer, technical writer, and speaker, see below.

My "Why"—to use my intellectual and physical abilities to connect with people, inspire them, and serve them—helped guide this decision. By staying true to my mission, I can connect with a broader audience through my technical writing and speaking.

When you evaluate future opportunities through the lens of your "Why," you’ll find it easier to make decisions that feel right, energize you, and lead to a fulfilling life.

Sustainable Motivation

Knowing your "Why" provides a deeper source of motivation that doesn’t depend on external rewards or recognition.

I remember one particularly grueling week where my workload felt endless. I still had slides to prepare, application notes to write, and video content to record. In moments like these, I paused, took a deep breath, and reminded myself of my "Why." I wasn’t doing this for me or for money—I was doing it for the people I could help and inspire.

Your "Why" is an anchor, keeping you grounded and motivated, even when challenges arise. It helps you push forward because you’re driven by a purpose greater than yourself.

Authentic Fulfillment

Living in alignment with your "Why" creates a sense of authenticity and fulfillment that external achievements can’t replicate.

When I present my technical materials to customers or conference attendees, I feel a genuine connection—not just with the content but also with the audience. While the company’s goal might be to generate revenue, my personal goal is to connect and help others.

When your actions reflect your "Why," every step feels meaningful. This authenticity fuels your personal fulfillment and amplifies the positive impact you make on others.

Start Small, Start Now

Discovering your "Why" doesn’t require a grand gesture or a complete life overhaul. It begins with observing what brings you joy.

Start by noting moments that make you lose track of time—those experiences are the "What’s" that align with your "Why." In my earlier post on crafting a personal mission statement, I outlined a step-by-step approach to identifying your values and defining what drives you. If you haven’t written your mission statement yet, take 15 minutes today to jot down the qualities, passions, and values that matter most to you.

Your "Why" is your compass, guiding you toward clarity, motivation, and fulfillment. Start with small steps today, and you’ll be amazed at the momentum you can build.

Action Items

1. Write down moments this week that brought you joy.
2. Reflect on those moments and how they made you feel.
3. Identify your "Why" by finding the common thread between these moments.
4. Bonus: Take the 5-step approach to crafting your mission statement!
5. Bonus: What did you find out yourself after above exercises? Share in the comment below.

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References

[1] S. Sinek, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action. New York, NY, USA: Portfolio, 2009.