Unveiling the Power of 'Why': A Journey into Purpose, Motivation, and Legacy

Have you ever wondered how our daily actions, big and small, are influenced by a profound, underlying 'why'? I'm your host, Mike Muldoon, and we're about to embark on a journey of exploring this intriguing question and its powerful effects on our existence. This enlightening episode provides insights into five critical reasons why understanding your 'why' is pivotal - giving you a sense of direction, acting as a motivator during challenging times, bringing fulfillment, impacting those around you, and shaping your legacy. 

Instagram: @mikemuldoonlc
Website: www.themikemuldoonpodcast.com
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/mike-muldoon-podcast

Chapters

• 0:00 The Importance of Knowing Your Why
• 7:54 Holiday Season and Reflecting on Life

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Hey, welcome to this episode of the Mike Muldoon podcast. Now, I have talked about this before, but I just think it's something worth talking about, maybe even just talking about it every year, because to me it is the most important key to really understanding how to live a good life, or a life lease, something that you're happy about doing, a life that you can shape for yourselves. And it's the why MUSIC. You know, it's a profound question that shapes the very core of our existence. You know, why do we do what we do? I mean this question, it isn't just an intellectual pursuit, right? It's a journey into the essence of our choices, our actions and, ultimately, our lives. I mean, every day we find ourselves caught up in the whirlwind of tasks and obligations and ambitions, you know, chasing success for some, seeking fulfillment others and navigating the complexities of relationships. But how do we, you know, take time? Or how often do you pause to ponder basically the driving force behind our own endeavors? See, understanding the why behind our actions is not just an exercise in self-reflection. It's the key to unlocking the doors of purpose and meaning in our lives. See, when we grasp the motives that basically propel us forward to make the choices that we do, we gain a profound clarity that transcends the mundane and elevates our existence into a higher plane. So why does it matter? Well, today I'm going to dive into those five reasons. You know five reasons why the why really matters. You know, number one direction. Focus. See, knowing our why provides us with like a compass. It's a guiding light that illuminates the paths ahead of us. It gives us a direction in a world full of distractions. Right, we're constantly distracted, but if we know why we're doing what we're doing, we stay focused on that. It'll keep us. It'll keep us focused, it'll keep our actions moving in the right direction. It'll keep us moving in the right direction Because when we are clear about our purpose, every action becomes intentional, every step becomes deliberate. So it's important for focus and direction.

Speaker 1: 2:41

The second thing is going to be motivation in the face of challenges. We will all face challenges. Life is a series of challenges and it's our why that fuels our determination to basically overcome them. It's in these moments of adversity on a particular journey becomes the anchor that prevents us from sort of drifting aimlessly in a sea of difficulties. You know I often talk about this. You know you have to know why you're doing what you're doing and where you're going, because if you don't, there was a great analogy by Earl Nightingale. I've mentioned it before and I will continue to mention it. You know, some people are at the head of a ship, they're the driver and there's a good chance if they leave the port they're going to get to where they want to go. But if that ship has no driver, it's probably not going to leave the harbor. So it's going to keep you motivated and it's going to keep you moving forward and it's going to anchor you through in those difficult times. Maybe some of the waves, you might come into right.

Speaker 1: 3:30

The third thing really it's about fulfillment. You know, authenticity of your life, the pursuit of someone else's dreams or societal expectations may lead to success, but it really brings fulfillment. So if you're chasing after something else that's not really yours, then it's not going to, it's not going to bring you what you're looking for. See, but when we know why we're doing what we are doing, our actions are aligned with our authentic selves. You know, this authenticity is the bedrock of true contentment and satisfaction.

Speaker 1: 4:06

The fourth reason it has an impact on others. See our actions. They don't just unfold in isolation. Right, people see them. They basically ripple through the lives of those around us. So when we are cognizant of you, know our why, our actions become the sources of inspiration and encouragement to others. We become the catalyst for positive change. When people see us doing, we become role models. We become people that they want to model their behavior off of. So we basically empower other people.

Speaker 1: 4:35

And the fifth reason Legacy longevity. However you want to look at it, see the things we do today echo in the corridors of time. I know that sounds really deep. Our actions are echoing in the corridors of time. But knowing our why allows us to sort of construct a legacy that outlasts us. It's the difference between a fleeting moment of recognition, our fleeting moment in time, and a lasting impact on the world.

Speaker 1: 5:03

So you gotta know your why, figure it out. Why are you doing what you're doing? Maybe it's a bad behavior, maybe it's a relationship you shouldn't be in. Maybe it's a job you shouldn't be in. Maybe it's a path you're going down. But if you don't ask yourself why you're doing what you're doing and figure out whether or not it's important to you, then you're never really gonna get to where you want.

Speaker 1: 5:22

Look, and I've talked about this often I don't think success is all about how much money you have. I don't think success is how fabulous and famous and extraordinary you become. You know again I'll go back to Earl. You know, success is somebody who wakes up with a worldly ideal, somebody who just wakes up every day, happy that they're living the life that they choose to be living, that they wanna be living, and they're content and they're happy. So that's why you gotta know why you're doing what you're doing, why you're behaving, why your actions are a certain way.

Speaker 1: 5:49

And you gotta ask yourself why? All right, because the pursuit of a why in our lives it's not a luxury, it's a necessity. It's the difference between a life lived on autopilot and a life lived with sort of purpose and intention. And when I say that, you know people think that every moment of your day has to be purposeful and intentional. I get it. It can't be that heightened all day long, but at least if you have something to lock into why you're doing what you're doing and understand the choices that you're making, why you're, you know what is your motivation for doing it, it's going to help you to a better you know journey of self-discovery and it's going to help you, you know, figure out, you know all your motivations when you question it, which is going to help you make better choices in your life. And you know it's not just going to enrich your own life but again, it's going to help you contribute to the world.

Speaker 1: 6:45

So understand that if you haven't taken a moment to figure out why do I do this, why do I get out of bed? Why do I chase what I chase? Why am I, why do I react this way? You know, if you don't figure out the why behind the why, then you might just realize, or might not realize, or you might not eventually realize the life that you really could be living. That might just make you feel a little bit more happier, a little bit more contented, a little less stressed, a little less angry. So I know I've talked about it before, but it's a powerful one, because every time somebody does something, I always go. It's not what they're doing, there's a why behind that. It's a why by the reactin' of it. So if you can figure out your why, and if your why is it aligned with, sort of your values and you don't feel like you're living that authentic life that you're being you, then maybe it's time to change that? Why? But figure it out. Why do you do what you do and watch yourself lie? All right, ladies and gentlemen, that's what I got for you today. I appreciate you being with me, as always.

Speaker 1: 7:54

And that's the holiday season a lot going on, getting a little bit busier around here. It's awesome. I mean, I don't know, I'm not a big winter person, but the holidays are nice and it's fun for the kids to see them. Obviously, it's always gonna be fun for kids, or lots of kids, this excitement of Santa and hopefully, yeah, hopefully, every kid gets to experience that. But it's good. It's good, good time. So I wish you all the best holiday season. I wish you a lot of love and I'll still be with you through it all. But just figure out why Go into the new year and figure out why we're doing what we're doing and how we're gonna use that. Why to drive us forward and to just maybe making some changes to just feel a little bit better Again. Your life doesn't have to be extraordinary, amazing. It could just be something that you just man. I like me, I like my life, things are good. So, all right, everybody, as always, I got nothing but love for you.