The Two Sides of WHY

How balancing personal fuel and bigger purpose strengthens your vision

Why are we here? Why do we exist? Why should this matter?

As humans, we’re always searching for why.

Even if we don’t say it out loud, it’s behind almost everything we do, especially the meaningful things.

I know it is for me. I rarely do anything where I can’t see why.

It’s the same question others will ask when you begin sharing your vision, even if they never say it out loud.

In Getting Clear on Your Vision, we talked about vision clarity. Getting clear on your why is an important part of that. 

Because your why anchors you. It sparks the fire and keeps your vision alive - when things are going well, and when they’re not.

It’s what sustains you and keeps your vision aligned.

Many visionaries rush past their “why”, thinking it’s too obvious or too personal.  

But your why deserves more than a quick answer.

Because there are two sides to it - and both matters.

Why Both Matter

Your personal why fuels you.

Your bigger why fuels your vision.

If you lean only on the bigger (or what I call “noble”) why, you risk burning out.

If you focus only on your personal why, you risk creating something that doesn’t fully serve others.

And people - those your vision helps and those meant to support it - need to see both sides.

Your personal why isn’t selfish. It’s necessary. Because if your vision doesn’t move you on a personal level, it won’t move others.

And it’s your bigger why - the one that points outward - that draws others in, attracts support, and multiplies impact.

The strongest visions that help others live where these two sides meet - where passion meets purpose.

That’s where your vision becomes unshakable. And the fire behind it stays alive.

Balancing the Sides of Why

1. Identify both sides

Before you can balance them, you have to know what’s on each side. There’s your personal why - what drew you here. And then there’s the bigger why - the vision’s reason for being.

• The personal why answers the question of motivation. What drew you to this vision in the first place?

It goes beyond merely wanting to make a difference. It’s tied to a lived experience, a pain you don’t want others to carry, or a stirring inside your heart you can’t ignore.

• The bigger why answers the question of existence - why does this vision matters to others and why should it exist in the world?

2. Evaluate and Reflect

Once you’ve identified your personal why and the bigger why, ask yourself:

• Am I leaning more on one than the other? Why?

• How do these two connect?

3. Keep Both Alive

Write them both down where you can see them. Revisit your why regularly, not just when things get hard.

Let your personal why refill your heart. Let your bigger why refocus your impact and the decisions you make for your vision.

When one starts to fade, the other can help restore balance. And if you notice yourself leaning on one more than the other, take a step back, look inward, and ask yourself why - then realign.

Final Thoughts

When connected, the two sides of your why become both your fuel and your foundation, both personally and in purpose.

And when both sides work together, they form the heartbeat of your vision and the fire that makes it last.

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Putting It into Action

This week, take a few moments to write out both sides of your why.

Ask yourself:

•  What drew me to this vision in the first place?

• Why does this vision matter to others? Why should it exist in the world?

• How do these two connect?

• Am I leaning more on one than the other? Why?

• How can I keep them both alive as I build?

Keep what you write somewhere visible - and come back to it often. Because a clear why keeps your vision alive.

If you’re ready to dig deeper and clarify your why, explore my packages - we’ll uncover the heart behind your vision, and I will help you build from there.

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