I was visiting the National Library and accidentally discovered a book that caught my attention: ‘The Power of Significance’ by John C. Maxwell. The concept of significance and its importance in life intrigued me and I decided to check it out. As I read the book, I was amazed by the powerful ideas and insights presented in it. I was inspired to reflect on my own life and reflect on the meaning and purpose of my actions. Now I am excited to share my experience of this book with you in this blog and inspire you to find your why and your way.
Have you ever felt lost in life? Like you don’t know what you want or where you’re going? Well, fear not, I feel it as well! John C. Maxwell’s book ‘The Power of Significance’ offers a unique perspective on finding purpose and meaning in life. In this blog, we will discuss the central concepts and ideas presented in this powerful and inspiring book, and how you can apply them to your own life. So, are you ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery and purpose-finding? Let’s get started!
‘Why’ and ‘Way’, although they sound similar, they are actually different. Well, as Maxwell said, ‘Why’ is your purpose, while ‘Way’ is your path. When you find your ‘Why’, you automatically have a purpose and a direction in life. Without a clear ‘Why’, life can seem empty and devoid of meaning. But when you find your ‘Why’, you have a clear purpose and direction to follow.
Then, how your ‘Why’ helps you to find your ‘Way’?
And, how is this going to affect your life?
Well, I have five points from this book to ‘Find Your Why to Find Your Way’ chapter.
Let’s break it down!
- Knowing your why allows you to focus more on others and less on yourself.
At this point, Maxwell wants you to know your Why, find your Why to have the capacity to focus yourself. Try to find your Why by learning the basics in your skills set, your personality, and identify your talents. What happens if you don’t know your Why? You have to spend a lot of time looking within yourself to find and trying new things to see what fits you and what doesn’t. Of course, it takes more time and effort. If you know more about yourself and settle your ‘Why’ you’ll have the capacity to focus on others. - Living out your Why gives you a confidence that is attractive to others. Have you ever seen, met, or talked to a person who has attractive characteristics? What make them attractive? Here’s the answer, they know what they were doing and where they were going. The confidence and self-assuredness is usually appealing dan reassuring to other, because most people long for it. Knowing Why gives you security and comfort in everything you attempt and do. The confidence and self-awareness they had brought to full energy into the room and it look attractive to us, right? So, it gives you direction and keeps you going in the right direction. People who know their Why can keep their heads while everything around them is turmoil.
- The more you live your Why, the more you layer it.
Have you ever felt nervous during your first public speaking event? It’s natural to make mistakes when it’s your first time speaking in front of an audience. But are you going to make the same mistakes over and over again? Of course not, right? You keep trying with time and practice, and then you get better. You will definitely improve your skills slowly. And that’s athletes do too, they don’t start off playing their sport at a professional level. It takes years of practice to get to the highest level. How do they do it? They layers wins, loses, pain, and gain. Remember, no pain no gain :) In this mind step, start by focusing on your strengths as the fuel to fulfill your Why. Your strengths are the key to achieving your purpose in life. Practice is the key! By doing so, you’ll learn from your mistakes and add depth to your abilities, purpose, credibility, and significance in life. Don’t let fear and anxiety hold you back, just keep practicing and keep going. You’ll improve with time. Living this way will add layers to your abilities, purpose, credibility, and significance in life. - The more you layer your Why, the more impact it has on others.
The purpose is like a snowball effect, starting small and gaining momentum over time through repeated efforts. Just like a snowball rolling down a hill, growing larger and more impressive as it progresses. People often want quick returns on their efforts, and they want instant reputation and recognition for their work. However, that’s not how life works. The key is to stay focused on your purpose and take consistent action towards it. By doing so, we can gradually build our impact day after day, year after year, and decade after decade. However, the hard work will pay off and you’ll build a strong reputation that will have a positive impact on others. Also, in this book, Maxwell said: “A day of significant living may be delightful, but a lifetime of significant living can be magnificent.” - Knowing your Why keeps you in the game longer.
People have a harder time living without a Why to live for. Why do people continue to live when their actions lack purpose or motivation, leaving them with no reason to start each day? Well, Maxwell’s Dad always gets up with excited. Why?
Because he still has his Why! Every day Dad’s Max visits old people it never dawns on him that he is an old person. He’s ninety-four years old! (at the time the book was created) Everyone he meets is someone whom he wants to encourage to keep going, to keep focusing on their reasons to live. It’s gonna take steps forward to find your Why and you probably won’t do it overnight or won’t get the whole thing at once. But, do the thing you’re best positioned to do!
So, what’s left to say after reviewing this?
In conclusion, knowing your ‘Why’ is a powerful and important stepping stone for a meaningful and successful life. It gives you direction and encourages you to take consistent action toward your goals. By living out your Why, you add purpose, confidence, and significance to not only your own life but also to the lives of those around you.
I hope you have learned something new and gained insight into the importance of finding your Why and living out your purpose. While, I’m still searching for my Why, too. :)
Remember, discovering your Why isn’t a one-step process. It takes time and effort to reflect and take action towards your goals. But be patient with yourself and keep trying. In the end, living out your Why will lead you to a much more fulfilling and meaningful life.
Thank you for reading, have a good day! :)
