Do you ever find yourself stuck or not sure what to do next? Like most people, you probably have a few go-to techniques for getting unstuck, like taking a walk, talking to a friend, or looking up solutions online. But there’s one technique that’s often overlooked and can be effective in helping you get unstuck: asking yourself why—simply asking yourself why can help you gain clarity and figure out the best way forward. Even better, have the WHY conversation with a coach or a friend.
There’s no doubt that asking yourself why can be a powerful tool for exploring your motivations and figuring out what you want in life. But did you know that the magic of this question lies in how often you ask it? For example, if your goal is to lose weight, one thing you should ask yourself is why do you want to lose weight? Then if you answer because you want to be fit and get healthier, ask yourself again why you want to get healthier. Maybe it is because you want to feel good about yourself or spend more time with your loved ones. As you progress on, asking yourself these ‘WHY’s’ from an external and superficial reason, you get deeper and deeper into the root cause or purpose of why you do things. As you understand a bit more about where you want to go and why it is important to you, it becomes easier to stick to it and find a deeper motivation for your goals. This can affect you internally, which means you are more likely to remain disciplined, prioritizing habits, which will help you take more action to achieve what you want.
Asking yourself these five ‘WHYs’ is one of the most powerful tools you have at your disposal. By asking why something happened, you can start to see patterns and find solutions. This exercise is simple but powerful, and it’s a great way to begin addressing issues in your life or work. This, in turn, can help you find a solution or take corrective action. Just remember to focus on who you are going to be because, in the end, it’s up to you to decide who you want to be. No one can make that decision for you. But by focusing on your goals and what makes you unique, you can start to form an identity of your own – an identity that is authentic to yourself. And when you fully embrace it and become that person, success will follow.