The Importance of WHY in Our Life | Kapeel Gupta

Today, we're delving into the profound impact of understanding our WHY—the purpose, the driving force behind everything we do. Have you ever wondered why some people seem to have boundless motivation and clarity, while others struggle to find direction? It often boils down to understanding their WHY—the reason that propels them forward, even in the face of challenges. Let's uncover the power of WHY and how it can transform your life.

Hello all, I am Kapeel Gupta, founder of study abroad academy. I am on a mission to coach and mentor 100,000 high school students and help them realize their dream of studying in the best universities of the world and build happy careers for themselves.

Your why is your purpose in life, the driving force that keeps you going when times get hard and keeps you diligent when things are going well. Everyone has a different why, although there are several common threads. Love, success, legacy, security—these are just some of the main things people might articulate as their why.

Your why might be obtaining financial independence or finding a job that enables you to travel the world. It could be seeking meaningful relationships or pursuing your personal ambitions. Perhaps it’s looking at life with a sense of humor or with a focus on helping those in need. No matter what it is, it can serve as your Pole Star—a central guiding principle to help you.

Why Finding Your WHY Matters:

Understanding your WHY is like discovering your personal compass—a guiding principle that directs your actions and decisions. It's the fuel that ignites your passion and gives meaning to your pursuits. Without a clear WHY, it's easy to feel lost or unfulfilled, like sailing aimlessly without a destination. But when you know your WHY, every action becomes purposeful, every setback becomes a lesson, and every success feels deeply rewarding.

I wish to narrate an excerpt from the famous book “The Psychology of Motivation” by Denis Waitley. He brought about the meaning and purpose of WHY in so simple terms that I couldn’t stop myself narrating it to you. So let me tell you how it goes.

I have a suitcase for you. In that suitcase there is $1 million in cash. The suitcase is sitting in a building that is about an hour’s drive from where you are now.

Here is the deal: All you have to do is get to this building in the next two hours. If you get there before the end of the two hours, I will hand you the suitcase, and you will be a million dollars richer.

There is one catch, however. If you are even one second late, our deal is off, and you will not get a dime. No exceptions! With that in mind, what time would you like to leave?

Most people would respond to that scenario by saying that they would leave right now. Wouldn’t you?

So off you go. You jump into your car and start driving for the building. You are excited and are already starting to plan how you are going to spend your million dollars. Then, suddenly, the traffic comes to a complete stop. You turn on the radio and find that there has been a series of freak accidents between you and the building and there is no way to get there!

Now what would you do? Would you give up and go back home? Or would you get out of your car and walk, run, hire a helicopter, or find some other way of getting to the building on time?

Now let’s suppose for a minute that you are driving to an appointment at your dentist’s office. The traffic again comes to a stop. Amazingly, there have been freak accidents between you and your dentist’s office. What would you do then? Probably give up, go home, and reschedule!

What is the difference between these two situations? It all comes down to why. If the why is big enough, the how is usually not a problem. This compelling why is connected to your personal objectives, mission statement, or magnificent obsessions. It is the basis of your motivational support beam. Truly motivated people are able to identify and tap into the power of a compelling why in everything they do.

Why Identify Your Why?

Finding your WHY means defining your life purpose in a clear and affirmative statement, which helps you understand what truly matters to you. When you know your WHY, you wake up every day feeling motivated, like it's a fresh start, with a resolution to make positive changes and focus on self-improvement. Understanding your WHY not only makes you happier but also enables you to impact others in a positive way. When you have clarity about your WHY, every action feels purposeful, making it more likely that you'll contribute to improving the world as a whole.

Today I shall give you an 8 Steps template that will help you know your why and find a greater degree of personal and professional purpose:

Step 1-Reflect on Your Passions: What activities or causes ignite your enthusiasm? What brings you joy and fulfillment? Your WHY often lies at the intersection of your passions and values.

Start with why you’re even hoping to identify your why in the first place. Ask what your core values are and identify the things that leave you wanting more about your life and the things that fulfill you.

Step 2 - Identify Your Strengths:

As you ask yourself questions about what your own personal value set is, answers will start to come into view. This leads to a greater degree of self-awareness that can sometimes lead to judgment. Try to ask yourself what are you naturally good at? Your WHY may be closely tied to leveraging your unique talents to make a positive impact in the world.

No matter what, try to be patient and understanding with yourself as you try to figure out a mission or why statement that works for you. Its not a RACE that you have to win. Its actually a way of understanding yourself so stay calm, relax and patient.

Step 3: Consider Your Impact: How do you want to contribute to the world? What legacy do you want to leave behind? Why do you get up every day for?

Your WHY often involves making a difference, whether it's in your community, your industry, or beyond.

Step 4: Connect with your career: You need to align your WHY with the need to earn a living. For some, this is straightforward—they prioritize financial security and are willing to take any job that offers it. Others value meaningful work over a high salary. Since we spend so much time on our careers, it's important that our work aligns with our WHY, whatever it may be.

Step 5-Transformative Power of Knowing Your WHY: Knowing your WHY can transform your life in profound ways. It provides clarity and direction, helping you set meaningful goals and make decisions aligned with your values. When challenges arise, your WHY gives you the resilience to persevere, knowing that every obstacle is a stepping stone toward your greater purpose. Moreover, understanding your WHY fosters authenticity and fulfillment, allowing you to live a life that is true to yourself.

Step 6- Help others: Your why is a means to improving not only your own life, but also the lives of others. Ask yourself how your personal mission statement can help you be a better leader for your team, a more caring provider for your family, and a more engaged citizen in your community.

Step 7- Make adjustments regularly: You might not know how to live out your WHY right from the start, and it's easy to get distracted even if you've had practice. To live your best life, create daily habits that remind you of your WHY. Start your day with an upbeat playlist or self-help podcast. Check in with yourself throughout the day to see how aligned you feel with your central purpose.

Step 8-Don’t hesitate to revise your WHY: Identifying your WHY comes with a disclaimer: Real life throws a lot of curveballs, so your WHY might change a lot over the years. Even if your short-term WHY is different from your long-term WHY, it's useful to keep track of all your reasons throughout your life. You might notice a trend in a specific direction with these core values, making it easier to define a more holistic and long-lasting WHY as a result.Let me share a few WHYs of famous personalities:

Steve Jobs: His WHY was to challenge the status quo and create tools that empower individuals to think differently.

How beautifully he achieved it.

Mother Teresa: Her WHY was to serve the poorest of the poor and bring hope and compassion to those in need.

No wonder she has been acclaimed as a Saint.

Elon Musk: His WHY is to advance humanity by pushing the boundaries of innovation and technology.

I would say he is a LIVE EXAMPLE of NEVER SAY DIE attitude. His life is full of ups and downs but he has always emerged as a WINNER. That’s what everyone should go for.

Conclusion:

Now to conclude, In a world filled with distractions and uncertainties, knowing your WHY is like having a guiding star that illuminates your path. It's the anchor that keeps you grounded amidst life's storms and the beacon that leads you toward your true north. So take the time to explore your passions, embrace your strengths, and define your purpose. Your WHY is waiting to be discovered, and once you find it, you'll unlock the limitless potential within you.

I hope you find this blog useful. I would request all of you to please write comment and give feedback. This also helps in our learnings and we get to prepare content that is most required by our readers.

If you would like to listen to the blog/podcast on 'The Kapeel Gupta Career PodShow' , then click Here