Sit with a toddler for more than a few minutes and you will discover a repeated question – “Why?” Curiosity, persistence and observation are a toddler’s key strengths. Then we “grow up” and stop asking “why” and focus on “what”. Most of us get drawn into the motions of life without thinking or inspiration. Reactive and missing a framework for understanding THE Story of life we don’t see how life matters or WHY? Where do you turn for inspiration, meaning and purpose?

 

 

For me, God provides illumination. The purpose of my life as a believer in Christ is to obey Jesus when He said,

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel.”

Mark 16:15

 

According to Mark, the Good News is that Jesus brings forgiveness and new life to everyone who trusts in Him. Since “Gospel” is not a word people are familiar with I say my purpose is to “lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ”. It’s the reason I do all that I do, my why and gives me inspiration, meaning and purpose.

 

A great resource to help you discover inspiration and purpose is in an 18-minute video presentation by Simon Sinek called How Great Leaders Inspire Action.

 

It’s on a site called TED (Technology, Education, and Design). Over 1700 presentations have been watched over 1 billion times on this site.

 

Everyone can find inspiration, meaning and purpose, by watching How Great Leaders Inspire Action. It’s been watched almost 18 million times.

 

After receiving fantastic reviews from this talk, Sinek wrote Start With Why. The back of the book clearly describes the TED talk as well as the book.

 

“Simon Sinek is leading a movement to build a world in which the vast majority of us are inspired by the work we do. Millions have already seen his video on TED.com about the importance of knowing why we do what we do. Start with Why takes the concept even deeper.

 

Any person or organization can explain what they do; some can explain how they are different or better; but very few can clearly articulate why. Why is not about money or profit – those are results. “Why” is the thing that inspires us and inspires those around us.

 

From Martin Luther King Jr. to Steve Jobs to the Wright brothers, Start with Why shows that the leaders who inspire others think, act, and communicate in the exact same way – and it’s the complete opposite of what many others do. Drawing on a wide range of real-life stories, this book provides a framework upon which organizations can be built, movements can be led, and people can be inspired-and it all starts with WHY.”

 

To go deeper still, you can also watch a 3-minute promo video for an online video-led course to help discover your why. Some people are visual learners and will benefit from the video. Others choose the audio version of the book. Some of us learn by reading and will prefer the book. You can wrestle with the issue by taking a course. The graphic on the site captures the idea beautifully.

 

Find inspiration from watching How Great Leaders Inspire Action, or taking it deeper and reading or listening to It Starts With Why, or deeper still with the course, to find your inspiration, meaning and purpose. It all starts with WHY.

 

Attitude            Humbly consider if you really know your purpose.

 

Action                Watch this talk to help you discover inspiration, meaning and purpose.

 

Question           Have you discovered your why?

 

Resource          Start with Why by Simon Sinek