Simon Sinek says finding your 'why', our purpose for being, is better with the assistance of an outsider. Through his conduct of many ‘Why Discoveries’ with people, he frequently saw a pattern in their behaviour.
The behavioural patterns that were so obvious to him, were not evident to the people themselves until he pointed them out. It’s amazing how an outsider can make the behavioural connections about others, but when we try to do it for ourselves it's very hard to spot these patterns. We can't clearly see ourselves because we find it hard to be totally objective.
The process of articulating our 'why’ into words can also be challenging. Simon Sinek thinks it's essential for others to help translate our why into words. Even those close to us aren't the best to help us as they also see us through a preconceived lens.
Simon advocates that strangers, like a coach, are the best to help you. The caveat is that they have to care though. If you're working with a coach, you want to be sure they are geniunely interested in you. Their intent must be to want to really help, they must be great listeners and have a developed sense of curiosity. They are not there to tell you what to think. They will want to help you to find the answer yourself, not be the one with the answers.
So if you're looking to answer your own 'why' questions and find more meaning in what you do, look for a partner you can trust and are comfortable to open up to. Be aware that the process of self discovery can be uncomfortable before you get comfortable. That's why it's so easy to avoid. The important thing to remember is that you need to be honest with yourself even if you can't be with your coach or 'why' partner.
The rewards are there for your personal growth if you are ready to step into the process.
