Why? An Important Question
- …because it’s the way it’s always been done.
- …because “so-and-so” is doing it.
- …because there’s purpose
- …because of vision
In the last two posts in this series we’ve looked at some not-so-good ways to answer the question WHY you are doing something or making a particular choice. For the next two posts I’m just going to quickly look at a couple good ways to answer this question.
The first is probably fairly obvious. You should be able to answer the question WHY with a clear defined (and as simple as possible) purpose. Not because it’s the way it’s always been done, or not because so-and-so is doing it but because in doing so I’m accomplishing or fulfilling a particular purpose. Here’s the thing, everything is done for a purpose but more is accomplished when you can articulate it.
Not only that, but when you can articulate the purpose that answers WHY – then when you complete what you are doing or carry through on your decision there’s a greater sense of fulfillment because what you did or decided had purpose.
I remember when I was a young boy and my parents made me practice the piano. I hated it. I like playing the piano, I just hated doing scales and all that “practice music”. My answer for why I practiced was because my parents made me – in my eyes there was no purpose. My parents did everything they could to show me that there was purpose to the grind – the practice would enable me to play better and eventually play music that was incredible. Eventually I was able to understand and articulate that purpose for myself – and when I did, practicing the piano became much more fulfilling. There was purpose for the practice all along – I just hadn’t articulated (or understood) it yet.
I wonder how many people can give a purpose for WHY they are doing what they do or choosing how they choose?