What's Your "Why"?

If someone were to ask you why you are doing the job you do, what would your answer be? Is it because you love your work? Or because you feel called to do it? Or is it just because you need to pay the bills, and you just fell into this job?

Motivation is a powerful thing. When we have already established our "why" in the good moments, we are prepared to refer back to it in the bad moments. When the job is aggravating, or it seems like we aren't making progress, or we just feel frustrated with life in general, the "why" becomes an important motivator for us.

If we don't really have a good "why" established already, we can struggle. Or, if our "why" is simply to pay the bills or make money, it might not stand up to the pressure of a bad day. After all, you can pay the bills with practically any job out there, but it's when you are doing something for a deeper purpose that you push past the times you could easily quit trying and instead make a lasting change.

I met a man last year named Chris who led a volunteer team at an organization for over ten years. Every person on his team was there giving of their time to help this organization be its best. Sometimes the hours weren't great, and oftentimes interference from upper management made the job thankless, but Chris kept being the best leader he could to his team. Even when problems started to arise within the team itself and upper management refused to step in and help, Chris kept pushing because his "why" had been established years before when he began the job. He wanted to make a difference and help others with whatever gifts he had, and he continued to do so for as long as he could.

Unfortunately, circumstances eventually forced Chris to leave that organization and the job he loved. But he carried his "why" into the next job opportunity he had because it had not changed. He wanted to use his gifts and talents to help people where he could. His "why" wasn't superficial, but was deep and meaningful to him.

Take a moment, if you have not already done so, to clarify your "why" for your life. What is the reason you do what you do? Is it for a better life for your family? Is it because you feel a calling to do this work? Is it because you love people and want to help them however you can? Or is it something even more personal?

Whatever it is, establish it in your mind. Then, when the bad days arise, you'll be ready to hang in there and keep going even when you have good reasons to quit.