In an age of endless distractions and fast-paced lives, it’s easy to go through the motions without ever stopping to ask ourselves some of wat I consider to be the most important questions that one should consider:

  • What is most important to me?
  • Why do I do what I do?

Without this insight our life can feel unfulfilled, and a sense of drifting without purpose. To avoid this, we need to be purposeful in developing our own personal philosophy which I define as a process of matching your thought processes and patterns with your values, ambitions, and overall life mission. The first step I believe is in developing your uniquely personal ‘why’ statement that guides our actions and decisions is what I believe the best place to start.

For me, my why statement is: “To be the light of inspiration that helps others create fulfillment in their own life so that together we can inspire the world to live a life of purpose and happiness.”

I don’t know if that inspires you, and it likely doesn’t because my why is geared towards me and my philosophy. This understand of my why creates the focus of what matters most to me. This is brought to everything I do from the simplest of tasks like brushing my teeth to the most complex things like the management of team members at work and their each uniquely different thought process.

So how do you develop a personal philosophy. First its important to understand that this is a life long process, and it will adapt and adjust as your world changes through time. Regardless, the intent is to bring meaning and purpose to your life.

My hope is that this blog post will start to scratch the surface and inspire you to dig deeper in developing your ‘why’ and also peer into the intentional areas of focus for your life. For me there are six pillars of focus for my life. There is no limit these are simply the areas in which I focus. My intentional focus over time will lead the the development of my personal philosophy. I am not telling you to adopt mine, I am sharing my approach for you to consider how to develop your own. This is simply one way of many.

Intentional Focus

In a world of countless options, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. But here’s the secret: Life isn’t about doing everything; it’s about doing the right things. An what are those right things. They are whatever you decide that they are to be. This is where intentional focus comes into play. When we concentrate our energy and thoughts on what matters most, we operate from a standpoint of purpose rather than aimlessness.

Intentional Focus in the Development Process

The journey toward formulating a personal philosophy is not a casual endeavor. It requires intentional focus—a determined concentration on your values, ambitions, and the impact you wish to make. Without focus, our efforts are diluted and often ineffective. With focus, we can ensure that the actions we take are aligned with our personal philosophy and have a greater chance of making a meaningful impact. How would you know if you have the focus. For me this is determine by my reflective journaling process. It allows me to uncover what’s going on behind the scenes in my mind. It provides the insight on my thoughts and actions the only two things we have full control of in life.

Finding Your ‘Why’ – Inspired by Simon Sinek

Simon Sinek, in his groundbreaking book “Start With Why,” argues that people are not driven by what you do but why you do it. Your ‘why’ is the core belief that motivates you to wake up every morning. It is the foundation upon which all other aspects of your life should be built.

Crafting Your Own ‘Why’

While my ‘why’ revolves around inspiring people to find purpose and happiness, your ‘why’ will be unique to you. Here are some questions to guide you in crafting your own ‘why’ statement:

  • What are the values that are most important to you?
  • What is the impact you wish to have on your community or the world at large?
  • What are the activities that bring you the most joy and satisfaction?

Your ‘why’ statement should be a succinct expression that encapsulates these elements.

Simon’s why statement framework is simple.

To __(be or do something)__ so that ___(creates or leads to this outcome)__.

This statement is the foundation upon which the rest of your life is likely to be build so knowing it will allow for great focus as we look at the the areas of life that matter most to you. Also like everything that grows this will adapt and change with time. Do not limit your potential by locking yourself in and not adjusting where necessary.

The Six Pillars of My Life Philosophy

Having a ‘why’ is by far a great starting point. Yet this statement alone is not enough; you need to enact it in your daily life. For me, this happens through my six main pillars (or areas of intentional focus):

1. My Family

My family serves as the primary driver of my life. While they provide emotional support and grounding me in my values. The opportunity to provide for them in many ways is extremely important. My life is built around them. Everything is done to improve the quality of their lives.

2. My Health

Without good health, achieving any other ambitions becomes increasingly difficult. From a intentional food/fuel consumption routine, to exercise (Still in the development phase of this step personally), my health is however a main priority. Over the last 4 months a 30 pound weight drop. This area of focus is just getting started.

3. My Writing

This pillar is by far the center piece to the rest. What began as a randomized journaling process over a year ago. Has lead to this blog you are reading. It’s what allowed me to understand the importance of making these health improvements. Additionally my journaling has lead to a focus on two more pillars my education and Impact. Writing is not just an avenue for expressing my ‘why,’ writing provides the calm and clarity the allows me to create what I believe will be impact in the lives of others. It is the primary medium through which I aim to inspire others.

4. My Education

Lifelong learning is crucial for personal growth and for better understanding the world around me. Which is why I have elected to return to school after 22 years in order to acquire my degree in the field of Psychology. Journaling has uncovered the importance of education something I truly undervalued and saw zero value in achieving it.

5. My Finances

Financial stability is not the end goal but a means to pursue my other objectives without unnecessary stress. Focusing time and attention into understand your personal finances will have you making smarter decisions. Being sound in this area can limit the number of stressful situations in your life.

6. My Impact

This is last but it is the summation of all the other pillars. The impact I make—whether it’s in the lives of my family or the community at large—is the ultimate reflection of my life philosophy. To be the guiding light that inspires others. This is accomplished every step of the way be the example.

A Final Thought

Developing your own personal philosophy is not a task to be taken lightly, nor is it something that happens overnight. This is the journey of your life. It requires intentional focus throughout the process and a clear understanding of your own ‘why’, provides a great foundation to start with. Your personal philosophy should be enacted through your key pillars that reflect your focus and values. In doing so, we not only enrich our own lives but also contribute to a broader collective purpose, turning our aspirations into actions and our dreams into realities.