Your Why Matters

Take the time to recognize what propels you so you can navigate the daily deluge

We are inundated each day with more information than we can process. It can overwhelm and discourage us if we aren't anchored in the reason we are here. (mavo/Shutterstock)

We are inundated each day with ideas, messages, beliefs, and expectations. We ingest more information than we can actually digest. It can overwhelm and discourage us as we try to navigate this world.

There is nothing wrong with exploring and challenging these varying perspectives, beliefs, and expectations. We are free to correct course when we gain new insight and information to deepen our thinking and curiosity. We should be forever learners, eager to grow.

But when we are bombarded with new information, it’s vital to know our purpose and remain connected to it as a compass. Your purpose—your “why”—can change. Your why can and should evolve because we, as people, change and evolve with time.

For that reason, it’s critical, on a regular basis, to remind ourselves of that why, to reconnect with it. What is the “thing” that motivates and influences the choices you make and the actions you take?

Here are three reasons you need to pause, reflect, and make sure you are clear on what your why is.

It Grounds You

When we know our why, we are rooted deeply in our own vision. We won’t be easily swayed by what is trendy or convenient. Knowing your why grounds you in the journey and tensions it challenges you with, helping you navigate the highs, lows, and in betweens.

It Can Inspire You

When we know our why, we can see beyond the clatter and doldrums of the day. There are seasons in life that can feel bland. There are seasons that bury us in chaos. We can feel unmotivated and lose sight of what we’ve been pursuing. Taking time to reconnect to our why can help. When we remind ourselves of our why, inspiration can meet us and breathe fresh vision and perspective into our process.

It Sets Boundaries

When you know what you’ve said yes to, you also know what you’ve said no to. You can see what will compromise your purpose. When we know our why, we can be clear and firm with our decisions. We can escape the cycle of second-guessing, and know what is worth tolerating, and when we shouldn’t settle.

Having these boundaries can save us from burnout and superficiality. We can do things with deeper intentions than to simply please others or fit in. Having these boundaries can also help clarify spaces that may feel murky.

It’s crucial that we touch base with our why. If you don’t know what yours is, this is the time to clarify it. If you had some vision for yourself that you now find out of date, reinvent and redefine it if necessary. Let it be a source of inspiration, motivation, and clarity as you dream and live out the rest of this year.

This article was originally published on This Wondrous Life. Danae Smith is the founder of This Wondrous Life, a lifestyle blog rooted in pursuing a life lived simply, slowly, and with community. She believes there is more to the mundane than meets the eye. You can also find her on Instagram.