What Am I Doing – Learning Why
Knowing the reason will make all the difference – and the reason has to go deep enough that it connects with my heart. Until I have an understanding of the why, my actions will be a struggle to reach the place I desire.
The article I read about Sassafras and Kaboose shared the story of a young girl and her dad on a mission to hike the Appalachian Trail – a feat that it said was only completed by 1 in 4 hikers that take the challenge. Most hikers quit because the 2184 miles through 14 states can take a toll on even the most seasoned hikers.
Sassafras has a reason – and it is not about her. She took on the challenge of the trail to support a lifelong dream of her dad and also to combat hunger in her home town. She is asking for people to donate to food banks in support of her quest. She has a why – and people with a why find the strength when the rest of the folks have fallen down.
Discover Your Why
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What problem are you trying to address? When you are looking to help with a problem then you are seeing beyond self. When you see beyond self then you make room for more than what you might have imagined. To get there, you have to see the problem and address the problem.
Why are you the one to answer the problem? Maybe you are the only person that recognizes the problem. Maybe you are the person with the right credentials and education to meet the needs created by the problem. Maybe you are the only one willing to set aside the time and energy necessary to take on the problem. Examining your qualities will help you drive your progress down the path to success.
What do you want to get out of the effort? You have to define your success or someone else will define it for you. Draw a mark to show the finish line. Make a list of expectations. Do something to help you recognize that you are moving in the direction that you have determined for your writing career.
Reflecting on your actions and your expectations will help you recognize your why. Understanding why you do what you do can be the difference between making it to the end of the trail and giving up somewhere along the path. Know your why to reach the end.
