As leaders, we must know what we want and why we want it—finding your “why” is a million-dollar question. Once I uncovered my why I realized that it is not only about what I do, but rather, about who I am. Our ‘why’ provides us with motivation and drive. Conversely, you risk falling into indifference and despair when you lose sight of your purpose. A “crisis of purpose,” a sense of emptiness that plagues many, underlies the staggering spike in drug and alcohol abuse, depression, suicide, and high levels of employee disengagement.
You can clarify your ‘why’ by simply answering the following questions.
1. What helps you come alive?
What inspires you? What are your passions and inclinations? The areas of your life that bring you joy and peace.
2. What are your innate strengths?
Discover your zone of genius. This is the ‘sweet spot’ where your education, experience, and expertise intersect with your personal passions.
3. Where do you add the most significant value?
Leadership literature asserts that leadership development occurs through leveraging people’s strengths instead of trying to eliminate their weaknesses. Reframing is when you approach your life, career, or organization from a place of curiosity and openness. Only then will you be able to problem-solve your way through the challenges that you face every day.
4. How will you measure your life?
The other day I was rereading a book my mentor recommended a few years back. I was genuinely inspired by a heartwarming story of a passionate young architect who chose to pursue his passion in the face of adversity. He felt undervalued in his workplace and decided to start his own company. But unfortunately, he had to weather the storms of life and the storms of business before his vision came to fruition. The following tells the story of how I found my “why.”
Why I Chose Leadership Coaching?
It was a resounding question that echoed inside my inner being. It culminated in an epiphany when I partnered with a high-performance coach who used appreciative inquiry to find the answer to my internal dilemma. The following anecdote recounts what unfolded during the process and includes what I wrote down in my journal the next day.
“Last night, I was graced with a powerful coaching session of self-discovery. It was emotional and full of tears as well as insight. I woke up this morning feeling liberated. I performed my dawn prayer and then went for a bike ride. The sun shone brighter than ever. The grass seemed greener, and the birds had a distinctive chirp.
As I rode through a tree trail, the irrigation system sprayed out cold, pristine water streams. Of course, I got drenched, but doing so never felt so rejuvenating. I guess the word I am looking for here is catharsis. As I continued riding, each freshwater stream created its mini rainbow that seemed to sparkle as it danced in the sunlight. Never did I enjoy the privilege of riding through and being engulfed by a plethora of rainbows. The world was alive and dancing with joy as I basked in my renewed sense of presence. Perhaps this marked the dawn of a new, more powerful transformation. It is like I am meeting myself for the first time.
During last night’s coaching session, I learned many new things about myself, my past, and how much childhood impacted me. I realized for the first time that my grandfather was a beacon of enlightenment for myself and others. He was an enlightened teacher who happened to be a successful businessman and an artist. He made traditional silver and silk dresses in his free time, a craft he had learned since childhood. Growing up, I watched as he designed and crafted magnificent colorful dresses. And he would go on trips downtown to sell them.
My decision to become an emotional resilience and leadership coach and mentor dates back to my childhood. There are givers and takers in life; my grandfather was a giver. He helped me find a ‘home.’ Home is not a place, but a space inside, a realm of calm and clarity, a sphere that is vast and vacant yet full of potential.
It dawned on me that my legacy is to empower leaders to lead from their souls through conscious awareness via coaching and mentoring. It is my family’s legacy that has been passed down from one generation to the next. You must believe in yourself for others to believe in you. I realized that I had to close myself first. My mission, or rather my passion, is to help others find that space within them. A space that exists within all, ; yet very few are aware of it. Wisdom is a privilege, not a right!
It dawned on me that my legacy is to empower leaders to lead from their souls through conscious awareness via coaching and mentoring. It is my family’s legacy that has been passed down from one generation to the next. You must believe in yourself for others to believe in you. I realized that I had to close myself first. My mission, or rather my passion, is to help others find that space within them. A space that exists within all yet very few is aware of it. Wisdom is a privilege, not a right!
What about you? What is your “Why?”
Reach out and connect!
I will help you peel off the layers and unearth the secret “resistor” to abundance lurking in the deepest recesses of your mind so that you can truly let go of the old to receive the abundance and blessings of the present moment.
To work with me in developing a leadership roadmap for you and your team, book a free strategy call at
Elevating your leadership is not easy, which is where I come in. I help you uncover your Why, build resilience, attract abundance, create effortless success, and design a leadership roadmap specific to your needs. In addition, I provide you with accountability, check-ins, evidenced-based coaching, and professional support from a certified leadership coach credentialed by the International Coaching Federation, an organizational leadership specialist, and an emotional resilience mentor and trainer.
To download my free goal-setting workbook and guidebook, go to:
You can also join the list for my upcoming book “Lead From Your Soul: The Four Worldviews of Inspiring Leaders.”
www.subscribepage.com/leadfromyoursoulbydrayaakkari
Come with me; let’s lead together!
I empower busy and ambitious executives, business owners, and professionals to go from existing to living so they can gain clarity on their purpose, unlock their potential, and elevate their leadership. I am a doctor and a certified leadership coach credentialed by the International Coaching Federation; I have earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership and am a certified emotional resilience mentor and trainer. In addition, I have had the pleasure of establishing coaching relationships with leaders from different organizations.
#leadfromyoursoul #abundancemindset #mindsetmatters #successmindset #authenticleadership
#leadfromtheinsideout #wisdomwithin #freeyourmind #findyourwhy #unlockyourpotential #effortlesssuccess
References
Sinetar, M. (1987). Do what you love and the money will follow: Discovering your right livelihood. New York, NY: A Dell Trade Paperback.
Warrell, M. (2013, Oct 30). Do You know Your “Why?”. Forbes.
