Sometimes life can get confusing if you don’t answer the question, “What is the cause?”.
For example, how do you feel about your career, relationships, or life in general? not sure? decent? It may be time to find a reason to bring more intention and focus into your life.
Finding Your Cause is a journey of self-discovery, focused on uncovering the primary purpose that drives you to take action.
By being honest with yourself, you can reveal your true motivations and clarify what makes your life meaningful.
This article will cover what it means to find the cause, and also provide you with actionable steps you can take today to answer the question, “What is the cause?”
But first, let’s break down what “why” really means.
What is “why”?
Think of the Reason as your personal mission statement.
It is the framework you use to make decisions in every area of your life. It keeps you going when you’re tired and ready to quit. It is the core of how you want your life to feel.
This may sound like a single word, such as “integrity,” “service,” or “establishment.” Or it could be a more inclusive statement like “Spread joy and laughter to everyone I meet” or “Equal access to health and fitness resources.”
Why is it important to find why?
When you have an answer to “what is the cause,” whatever that may be, it helps you create a life that pleases you, day in and day out.
I know this sounds lofty and perhaps unnecessary. After all, you are not a business. You are simply trying to find a more enjoyable approach to life.
However, if you discover what is most important to you, you will identify (and free yourself from) commitments that are inconsistent with your values and goals.
As a result, it becomes easier to form new habits, launch creative projects, save money, date, and so on.
And ultimately, when your reason for thinking becomes ingrained in every action you take, it’s easier to contribute to your community to help others thrive in their impulses.
5 actionable steps to show why
Finding the cause may seem impossible. Like trying to answer, “Which came first,” the chicken or the egg? But you already have all the answers you need.
You just need to take some time to put your thoughts and goals in order. These five steps will help you do just that.
advice: Be kind and patient with yourself through this process, and listen. Think of it like you are dating yourself. The nicer the date is for you, the more likely you are to open up.
1. Meet yourself
Start by asking yourself “why” every time you make a decision, an unexpected feeling arises, or you want to buy something. You will start to notice the trend.
See if you can break down the answers into core values, which often guide you toward your goal or, at the very least, highlight what’s most important to you.
For example, my core financial values are beauty, health, well-being, and education.
Knowing these things, I can manage my money better because I can ask my “why” with every purchase or social event I consider. And if it doesn’t align with one of those three ideals, I don’t subscribe to it.
Results? A life full of items and experiences that fill me, rather than a life full of “things.”
2. Think about your current and past jobs
If you’re hoping to land a compatible career path, start reviewing your niche today.
For example, ask yourself:
- What do I like about this job? And why?
- What do I not like about this job? And why?
- What skills do I use in my daily work?
- What skills have you learned since starting this opportunity?
You may be able to use these skills to help in areas of your life where you feel dissatisfied.
It may be that you are using the skills you have learned in your current (and previous) positions to help others tackle the same problems as you.
3. Ask your friends and family
This activity to help you see why requires you to be vulnerable with your friends and family, not just yourself.
Ask the five people whose opinions you respect the most what activities make you light up. What conversations keep you going like a Shakespearean monologue?
You may be surprised by the answers you receive, often we are so stuck in our heads, worrying about what other people think that we are not aware of what we Thinking, what we really enjoy, and what we are semi-experts at.
4. Think about your interests as a child
Your hobbies and interests as a child are great indicators of why you are an adult. They show you what you were instinctively drawn to before societal expectations and norms led you in a different direction.
So if you can, ask your parents or other caregivers what you took in most as a child.
Maybe you were obsessed with dinosaurs but ultimately didn’t get an archeology degree because someone suggested it wasn’t a lucrative career path. Or you wanted to be an astronaut but were told it was an unreasonable dream.
What can you do today to keep track of the same feelings?
Write a book? documentary film? Do you work in a museum?
Understanding what is interesting to you can help you answer, “Why?”
5. Find inspiration
Speaking of books, documentaries, and museums too, one of the best ways to find out why is to check out different topics across a range of mediums. And see what interests you.
For example, what topics do you keep coming back to? What do you share most with others?
These will hint at the answer to the question “what is the cause”.
You found me why. What now?
Now that you’ve identified your “why,” it’s time to create an action plan to keep you accountable as you work toward your goals.
To do this, you’ll need to set up periodic dates (daily, monthly, and yearly) with yourself to reflect on where you are, as well as where you’ve been and where you’re going.
Create your daily intentions
To build your accountability plan, make a list of easy ways to incorporate the cause into your daily life.
For example, if the reason is “service,” you might make sure to keep the door open for at least one person each day, help your mother, roommates, or spouse with dishes without being asked, or simply ask a co-worker At work, “How can I be of help?”
Now remind yourself of these intentions by writing them down each day during your morning routine.
Put it on a sticky note and stick it on your bathroom mirror. Make it your home screen on your phone. Or add it to your desktop or laptop as well.
Schedule monthly checkups
It is not difficult to get caught up in the daily stresses and forget what we are working towards.
So set aside time each month for a self-reflection session. Take some time to really think about your answers and write them down, too.
This will help you see patterns and areas you need to focus on. Reviewing previous self-reflection sessions to see how far you have come can also be helpful.
Register through the following prompts:
- What did I learn about myself this month?
- Did you act in line with why? how?
- What can I work on in the next month to get back on track or stay on track?
- What do I need to detox or detox?
You can also check out our list of more in-depth list of journaling prompts to expand this exercise.
Annual reviews of the plan
Return to this exercise every year, as your “why” may change as you progress and step toward your goal. What motivated you five years ago may not be what motivates you today. that’s good!
But if your “what’s the reason” answer changes without you realizing it, you may find that your commitment diminishes. For this reason, it is important to stay focused and re-encounter yourself every year.
Ask yourself:
- What have you accomplished over the past year? This will help you see how far you have come and how it has enabled you to be successful.
- Did you feel the joy and excitement of these accomplishments, or did you find yourself becoming agnostic with time? If the joy has receded, then the reason for this may have changed.
- What would you like to achieve in the next year? Are these goals aligned with your reason, or are they ego-derived?
- Finally, take a look at your overall life purpose. How does it fit you? Why do you fit into this bigger picture? Does it still serve you well?
Discover the reason to live a more fulfilling life!
I hope you find these steps to finding why “help” you as you work to discover your true self.
But if you need an extra splash of inspiration, here’s why: To help women find a path to financial freedom, which enables them to leave jobs or careers that no longer serve them, and to find livelihoods that light the fire in their souls.“
And for more inspiration, check out our content on how to clearly set your priorities in life. Finally, remember to live with intention so that you can achieve your goals!