The power of “Why”

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

Yesterday by lunch time I turned on the TV, I don’t usually watch TV, but yesterday I just did it to relax for a bit while I had lunch. And the movie “The Pursiut of Happiness” was on. Yes, that one with Will Smith.. I’ve already watched that movie, but it is such a great movie that I decided to watch it again. And what happened was that I watch it with a different look, a different understanding … and it was even more inspiring than the first time I watched it! And as I was watching the movie (it actually made my eyes wet.. ), I was thinking.. “How come somebody gets thrown so many hard hits by Life and still, in the end, takes the prize home?” I mean, most of the people I know would have given up at the first wall they hit. How come some are able to endure everything Life throws at them and others throw the towel the first time they go down?

Is that all you got?

I discovered that the reason for this to happen is because some have a powerful WHY that guides their lives while others, well … others have not!

You have to have a reason to do what you do. But this cannot be any reason, this must be the one thing that you most desire! The one thing which you cannot live without, you can’t even imagine not having on your life! People without their WHY get knocked down and stay down until the countdown is over. Then they go home feel pity for themselves and crying about how they will never get where they want to go, or they will never have what they want to have. Now those who know what their purpose is, what their entire existence revolves around… I’m telling you, no matter what life throws at them they’ll just keep getting up asking “Is that all you got? Come on, give me your best shot!”! Eventually Life will get tired of throwing punch after punch with no effect, that it will say “Ok, that’s it for me! You won!”. And after taking brutal punishment from Life, the fight is over and the one with a powerful WHY goes home as the CHAMP!!

What is your WHY?

If you don’t have a WHY by now, I suggest you go and get one! You’re gonna need it! When Life comes at you and start droping punch after punch after punch … you will go down! And then you have two choices: stay down and admit defeat … like a W*SS*! – OR – you can think of that think that you want most, that prize waiting in the end, endure the pain, get up, look Life straight in the eyes and say: “Better you prepare, this is going to be a long night, ’cause no matter what you throw at me I’ll just keep coming back! I want that prize, I’m gonna have it and there’s nothing you can do about it!”!

When you take a blow and you’re down looking up, I want you to close your eyes and think about your WHY. Believe me, if your WHY is strong enough, you will find the strengh to get back up again! If you don’t have a strong WHY, there won’t be anything to get back up for. No matter how many fights you fight, Life will always beat the sh*t out of you if you don’t have something to fight for!

In Christopher Gardner‘s particular case, his WHY was his son. Because he had been through a lot when he was a child, without a paternal figure, an abusive stepfather, alcoholism, drugs, foster homes, etc… he decided that when he had his own son, he would make everything in the world to make sure that his son would never have to go through what he have been through! And he promised to himself that his son would not grow up without his father! That is how he was able to go through being broke, homeless, and everything else he went through!

So remember, find out what is your WHY! What makes you tick! What is the purpose of your existence! What makes you jump of the bed in the morning!

“When the WHY is clear, the HOW gets easy” – Jim Rohn

I know what my WHY is! What is yours?