Why "Y"?
Without a clear vision guiding your daily actions, you risk drifting through weeks, months, and even years, unaware of your true potential. By defining your purpose, passions, and strengths, you unlock the ability to channel your energy effectively, turning motivation into a powerful force that drives you in every aspect of life.
In this article, you'll discover how to harness the power of Your Y, transforming your everyday life into one filled with meaning, direction, and fulfillment.
What is Your Y, and Why Does it Matter?
Your Y answers the following questions: Why do I get out of bed in the morning? Why do I do what I do? Why have I been gifted with my unique blend of strengths and talents? Why does it matter that I continue to improve?
When you know your Y, you live with purpose, knowing you’re doing what you do for the right reasons. It’s about being content, even in moments when you’re not happy, knowing that you’re making a difference in the way only you can. It’s appreciating life, realizing your unique talents, and embracing your agency—the ability to shape your life through your actions.
How to Determine Your Y
Understanding the Current State
Before diving into realization or even transformation, take a moment to reflect on your current state. Are you feeling drained? Stuck? Overwhelmed by the pressures of life or unsure of where you're heading? Do you hear yourself thinking, “In a few years, it will be different. I just have to wait until then.” If so, you are wasting valuable time by not being purposeful with the present. This is where the power of self-reflection comes into play.
It’s important to identify your pain points and recognize the source of your struggles. Are you experiencing burnout, or is it bore-out—a loss of passion and direction in life? Identifying the root of your struggles helps you determine whether you’re overwhelmed or simply disconnected from your purpose.
The Power of Energy: Anabolic vs. Catabolic Energy
Energy is at the core of everything you do. Understanding how you direct your energy can drastically shift how you experience life.
- Anabolic energy is positive, constructive, and energizing. It aligns with your purpose and lifts you up, helping you grow and pursue your goals.
- Catabolic energy is destructive, draining, and can hold you back. It’s the energy that comes from stress, negative thinking, or feeling stuck.
Take a moment to make a list of everything on your plate. Realize that you are one person - your professional self and your personal self are connected throughout everything you do. Now, underline those thoughts or tasks that bring you stress. Circle those that bring you joy. Consider why you are perceiving some things in your life as stressful and others as enjoyable.
You have the power to change your energy. Recognizing what's within your control—your thoughts, actions, and perspectives—empowers you to make deliberate choices that align with your true self. Let go of what you cannot control and focus on how you choose to react and adapt. Your thoughts control your emotions, which in turn control your actions. Changing your perspective can result in going from disengagement to empowerment or from frustration to synergy.
Start Fresh: The Gift of New Beginnings
No matter where you are in life, you have the gift of starting fresh. Your age, your current circumstances, or your past struggles do not define your future. You have the power to choose how you want to show up in the world. The key is to start by identifying what joy means to you and how it feels in your body and mind.
Living with purpose means knowing you’re doing what you do for the right reasons. It’s about being content, even in moments when you’re not happy because your actions point to something larger than you. It’s appreciating life, realizing your unique talents, and embracing your agency.
What Would Your Ideal Life Look Like?
Take a moment to dream. If you could live your ideal life, what would it look like? What do you want to accomplish, feel, and experience? Answering this question is a powerful step in uncovering your Y. Your ideal life isn’t far out of reach; it starts with understanding your values and the legacy you wish to leave behind.
The Algorithm for Finding Your Y
Much like solving a complex problem, finding your Y involves following a set of steps that will guide you to your core purpose in life. It’s an evolving process, and as you gain new experiences, your Y may evolve, too. Think of this as an algorithm for discovery. (Click here to download the free participant guide.)
- Identify Your Legacy: What do you want to be remembered for? What impact do you want to make in the world?
- Identify Your Strengths and Talents: What do you enjoy doing? What are you naturally good at? These strengths are the foundation for your Y.
- Leverage Your Strengths: How can you use your strengths to serve others? By combining your talents with your legacy, you create a meaningful pursuit.
- Create Your Y: Write a mission statement for yourself—something that reflects your core purpose. Consider this template: “I will employ my strength(s) of _______ for ______ in order to realize my mission of ____________________.”
- Now - Realize It’s Not About YOU: You are part of something larger, like a star in a constellation or a note in a symphony. Your purpose is not just for you—it’s about how you contribute to the world.
- Leave Behind Fear, Doubt, and Titles: What do you need to shed in order to step into your full potential? Let go of the things that hold you back and move forward.
- Unleash Your Potential: Now that you have clarity, it’s time to unleash your full potential and start living in alignment with your Y.
Tips and Reminders for Living Your Y
Overcoming Obstacles: Staying On Track
Life is full of obstacles that can make us feel stuck. When you face challenges, use this process to get back on track:
- End Goal: Visualize the reason behind the task or challenge you’re facing. Connect to your purpose, and remember why you started. Understand your commitment level to reaching your potential.
- Break It Down: Divide the task into smaller, manageable steps. Set deadlines and prioritize.
- Identify Barriers: Anticipate challenges and create strategies to overcome them. Identify an accountability partner that might help you stay the course.
- Motivating Start: Find an exciting starting point that energizes you to begin.
- Peak Preparation: Prepare yourself mentally and physically to start at your most productive time.
- Take Action: Once you’re prepared, take the first step. Momentum builds as you act.
Living your Y every day empowers you to be a more authentic version of yourself. Capitalizing on your strengths and talents and using them to make a difference in the lives of others creates a ripple effect of positivity and growth, fostering connections and inspiring those around you to embrace their own potential. Capture your Y and place your statement or a visual representation of your Y in key places to refresh your motivation daily.
Living Your Y: Daily Actions and Purpose
Once you’ve defined your Y, it’s time to integrate it into your daily life. Your Y isn’t just a concept; it’s something that should guide your every action, decision, and interaction. Once you have figured it out - embrace it!
We offer two solutions to help you find your Y:
Show up authentically in every area of your life. Be fearless as your true self at work, at home, or in your relationships, and align your actions with your Y, not waiting for the perfect moment but living to your full potential each moment.
Embrace the joy by finding it in the small steps of pursuing your Y. Recognize that the journey toward becoming the best version of yourself can bring fulfillment.
Finally, share your Y. Your Y isn’t just for you—it’s for the world.
Share it with others, and connect with people who support and inspire your journey.
Amy Bindas has 32 years of experience as an educational administrator at the building, district, and now statewide level. Her purpose involves supporting others in their authentic leadership as they strive to grow and realize their potential.
Comments