Psychology

What do you do with your uncertainty? Do you let it run wild, stuff it in a box, or let it talk itself out?

Maybe it depends on the day and the situation. When you’re uncertain of how to do something but you’re absolutely convinced that it needs to be done, you doggedly look for a way to do it.

The real killer is when you’re not sure if the thing needs to be done. That’s when you waffle and hedge, and hedge and waffle. You may immerse yourself the details of the process, trying to insulate yourself from the chill of reality.

Having found myself in this state of paralysis more times than I’d like to share, I’ve started asking myself a question: “Is my Why big enough to drive my How?”

Think about it: How is a massive, bulging hulk of a guy. He’s always growing. He feeds off of others’ ideas, and has been known to triple in size after a single catered lunch meeting. Unfortunately, as he grows he often becomes more and more scatterbrained. While he’s usually inconsistent, he is certainly open to ideas. He has difficulty choosing between options and often ends discussions with, “Well, let’s do it both ways!” To prepare for possible contingencies, he often packs five suitcases, grabs his camera bag, slings his duffel bag over his arm, and anxiously combs his closet for additional bags to take more items “just in case.” Unfortunately, the larger he gets, the slower he moves. He continually feels himself pulled in many different directions and finds it easier to add to his bulk, preparing for the journey, than to actually move anywhere. Left to his own devices, he would probably never leave home. That’s where Why comes in.

Why is short. He’s a man of few words, and he can be described with few words. But he is mighty. He’s focused. He gets things done. When you know Why, you can move How anywhere. You can help How trim his bulk, choose, and move exactly where he needs to be.

You need How, but you really need Why.

So how about you? Is your Why big enough to drive your How?