DISCOVERING YOUR WHY
“There is no greater gift you can give or receive than to honor your calling. It’s why you were born. And how you become most truly alive”- Oprah Winfrey.
A colleague of mine, Nkem Offonabo, who has just launched her book “The Harmonised Life” (I recommend you read this book) asked me recently on Facebook ” Obinna what is your WHY” and immediately, my “WHY” came rushing to me like refreshment in excessive heat. I also began to wonder how many people could easily answer that question without an iota of doubt especially in a society of ours where there is so much confusion and noise making it almost impossible for us to hear our inner voices.
“If your Why doesn’t make you cry……it’s not your Why” – Coach Hite.
How does your why make you feel? does it make you jump up every morning or do you snooze your alarm because you don’t want to go back there?
What exactly is your “Why” and how do you find it?. A young boy wanted to know whether writing was his calling and so he decided to approach a professional writer with some of the things he had written hoping that the professional would read them and then tell him if that was his vocation or not. So when the boy finally met with the professional after several failed attempts, He said to the boy, “I do not have the time to read these things but all I can tell you is that if all you want to do when you wake up every morning is write, then you are a writer”
Ahaaaaaaa!!! I am sure you are already asking yourself if you wake up every morning eager to do what you are currently doing right now.
Most people’s lives have been structured by accidents and the hurricanes of life that they never discover their “Why” and for such people, when they get to the end of their life journey, regrets will begin to rise like a flood with no one to raise a standard against them, therefore it is very important that we pause sometimes to reflect on this question “What is my Why”
“The unexamined life is not worth living” – Socrates.
Many of us have lost our real birthday gifts (or have not even bothered to open them) and now chase after the physical gifts people give us as adults. I dare to say that until you realize that you were born with a gift of which you are expected to live everyday of your life honing this gift till such a time when you begin to impact lives positively, you may not really achieve fulfillment.
Some of us have found ourselves stuck in Jobs that drain us emotionally, physically and spiritually (Survey has shown that top ten things unhappy people have in common is that they hate their jobs). I understand the peculiar situation of things in Nigeria where unemployment is very high and All man for himself and God for all of us syndrome holds sway, but what is most important is what you are doing about it to turn your vocation into your vacation. I have found fulfillment in the last one year as a Life Coach than in my 12 years in Banking & Aviation industries and this is because I discovered my “WHY” which is to Transition people from where they currently are to where they need to be. My “WHY” is to help people re-discover themselves through deep thinking and introspection, my “WHY” is to help you find your VOICE. What is yours??
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs are people who have come alive” – Harold Whitman.
We always make the mistake of thinking that our purpose/ Why/ Passion must be one massive project that when people hear about them, they will say WOW!. Your Why is your Why and no one else’s. Remember, that your why must first make you come alive before others. Your why may be as simple as making children laugh and trust me you will be so fulfilled and blessed in it.
What is that thing that makes you “Cry” and yearn?
What is that thing that you love doing even without being paid for it?
What is that thing that makes the clock stand still?
What is that thing that occupies your mind and your whole being?
What is that thing that gives you inner peace and joy?
If you can answer these questions, you may just be on your way to discovering your WHY.
Your “WHY” must be positive because God created you in his image and likeness.
“Just Imagine how beautiful the world would be when we all discover our WHY”
Think, Know, Create, Grow.
