Why asking WHY matters

My fascination with why deepened after watching Simon Sinek’s TED Talk (YouTube). The question had been quietly present for a long time, but his words helped move it from the background into conscious focus.

In 2013, I left my corporate role and spent three months in the Himalayas across Nepal, Bhutan, and Northern India, searching for an answer to a deeper why (why I am here). I didn’t return with answers, but I did return with perspective. That perspective has quietly shaped who I am today.

Why is Why important for you and your goals?

As you navigate challenges in fitness, routines, career, or identity, begin by understanding why the goal matters to you. Effective coaching starts with questions like, “Why is this important?” My clients are used to me asking many “whys,” and this approach helps us explore deeper insights in each session.

When you know why a goal matters, it becomes more than a checklist item; it becomes a compass. The how—the actions, the habits, the daily choices—then follows naturally.

Nietzsche once said:

He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how

Viktor Frankl talks about purpose in his book Man's Search For Meaning - he attributes his will to survive to having a clear why (his love for his wife). He went on to create Logotherapy, a form of therapy centered on meaning—logos in Greek. He says in his book:

Life ultimately means taking responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual.

Even though I may not fully know my why yet, I’ve learned that’s okay. Being content with the present and engaged in the tasks before me allows me to live meaningfully in the moment. Asking “why” is central to my coaching—helping clients uncover the deeper purpose behind their goals.

Curious to know your why? Here is what you do.

Athma

coach@athma.ca

Life coach, Toronto, Canada