“Once you find your why, you will be able to find your way.”

A thought by John C. Maxwell (2015-10-06) from his book, Intentional Living: Choosing a Life That Matters (p. 79). Center Street. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title of the book to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

Have you ever stopped and asked those important questions about your life? Questions like: Why am I here? What path should I be on? I know that doesn’t sound like a fun time even for me at 68 but it can be so very meaningful. The truth is we don’t want to take the time to find anything, we want it handed to us, don’t we?

In looking at the first question John said, “If you know your why and focus on going there with fierce determination, you can make sense of everything on your journey because you see it through the lens of why. This makes the way so much more meaningful and complete because you have context to understand the reason you’re on the journey in the first place.”

He then says, “Recently while speaking to a group on the subject of purpose, I made the following statement: ‘Once you find your why, you will be able to find your way.’ How do those things differ? Why is your purpose. Way is your path.”

He goes on, “During the Q& A that followed, someone asked, ‘Does the why always have to come first? Can you find your way and then find your why?’ You may be wondering the same thing. What has to come first? The good news is that either can be first. But if the why comes before the way, your ability to make a difference will come more quickly and immediately be more effective.

He then gives a practical example, “Think of it like this. Have you ever wondered why people often find great joy in packing for a vacation? They spend weeks building up great anticipation, looking forward to those warm days on a tropical beach or trips down the slopes of their favorite ski resort. So they pick out each item that goes into the suitcase with great purpose. When you get ready for a trip, almost all of your effort is focused on the purpose of the trip. That’s why it’s a lot more fun to pack for a trip than it is to unpack afterward. This concept applies more broadly to our lives. Whatever path you travel, you’re going to be able to do things more significantly because you understand your purpose for being there.”

So will you spend some time on your why?

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