What is your why?

[Edward5]

People say when you have a goal that your goal must be big and you have to know your why.
Why do we have to know your why?
And do you know some book where is explained why do we have to know our why?

 

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[BrianLateStart]

Simen Sinek has a very popular TED talk, Start with Why. He later created a book, but most of what you're looking for is in the 18 minute TED talk. I really liked the TED talk and bought the book.

 

[TDB]

TED talk was good. I actually found his second book on the topic (Find Your Why) a lot more useful (actionable) that his "Start with Why" book.

 

[jpl]

If you didn't know your why you wouldn't be here, because you would most likely be satisfied with where you are and not seeking to improve your situation. I think you don't need a noble reason like wanting to save the world to try and become independent from the script.

Maybe that's easy for me to say though because my why is a rather generic but very strong one: I want my kids to have more support from their parents than I had, so they can focus on growing their happiness and don't have to worry about the same stuff that is going through my head for years. It's not like I don't have enough money for food or a warm place to sleep (even though I was living off basic foods like rice for months and almost became homeless once), but I consider many things standard that most of the population is able to afford. Starting with stuff like being able to pay for a trip to visit your elderly grandparents if their health isn't good and such.

Knowing why certainly helps to stay motivated and determined.

As for the book recommendations you're asking for, I spent three years studying philosophy trying to find a very basic why (why am I alive/here?). In the end I got a degree but also found that most questions went unanswered, no matter where I looked/asked. In the end life is what you make of it and how you look at it.

 

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[Tourmaline]

As for the book recommendations you're asking for, I spent three years studying philosophy trying to find a very basic why (why am I alive/here?). In the end I got a degree but also found that most questions went unanswered, no matter where I looked/asked. In the end life is what you make of it and how you look at it.

The mind is born empty, and philosophy doesn't really get us very far. We're social animals that are incredibly adaptive, by nature of both of these qualities, we're here to contribute to humanity however we can. Of course then figuring out how to contribute is left unanswered, and really...it's up to each of us to decide.