Everybody needs a “why”. A raison d’etre. Without it, we’d be floating along like balloons lost at a fall fair. And while most of us have found our “why”, there is a need to move beyond having it, into a place of understanding it. Once we understand our “why”, we have figured out what truly motivates us, allowing us to tap into it as needed.

A person’s “why”, whether they recognize it or not, is tied directly to their values. The values that drive you, and make up your personality and beliefs are intrinsically tied to your “why”. They determine your priorities. If you value family, consistency, and honesty, these will inform your “why”, helping you to remain focused and understand why you do what you do.

Discovering your values is difficult. Taking the time to sit and think inwardly about what is important to you, and “why”, can force you to confront things that may have been sitting idle; but by discovering them, you can link them to your “why”, which will guide you day to day in deciding not only what you do, but how you do it in accordance with your values.

The fully and completely understand your “why”, you must first understand your values. This is the golden thread that ties everything together.