Why Do You Do What You Do?

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why do you do what you doIn May my son Nicholas graduated from our community college with a degree that will help him in his pursuit of a position as a fire inspector.  In a community college there are a variety of students. Those who just graduated from high school and enroll hoping to find the spark of what type of career they will pursue throughout their lives; those who are returning students who may have never had an opportunity to attend college; those who are pursuing new careers or skill sets.  There are many reasons a person may attend college, take classes, and learn more.

As part of the graduation ceremony, one of the speakers asked a question… “Why do you do what you do”?  He said he had pondered this question as part of an application he was completing for a four year college he was applying to.  He said it took him three days looking at a blank computer screen before he could come up with an answer.

Stop and think about that for a while.  Why do you do what you do?

It’s a defining inquiry for each and every one of us.  Why do we do what we do?  It’s a question that could provide us with a root cause assessment that can answer the WHY behind our actions, purpose, vision, and more.

Why do you do what you do?  Are you happy, healthy, have money, or a work life balance (this is the time to play philosophy, by the way).  Do you love your life?  Do you love your job?

Answering the question of why you do what you do can give you the right path, the next step.

Do you do what you do because you are fueled by love and passion?  Or is your answer something like that you do what you do because you just need to get by; or just need to make the bills; or because you feel obligated.

Are your actions fueled by love, passion, purpose, or by hatred? Are your reasons for doing what you do good and right reasons or are they fueled by wrong reasons?  Is what you do helping make this world a little better than when you got here?

Look inside. 

WE are the only ones who make the decisions on our own behaviors.

Why do you do what you do?  Does it bring you pleasure or pain?

If you answer pain, how can you make a change?

I believe EVERYTHING we do is a choice.

I am so proud of my Nicholas and so grateful that he had a memorable graduation day.  I was grateful this question was part of the graduation ceremony and I hope that those present, not just the graduates, but everyone, actually listened and heard what the speaker asked.

I hope that they not only heard the question but took it with them to think about.  I hope they use it or have already used it to make decisions on how to move forward or a change in what they are doing in their life; to keep going in the same path or not.

Every day is a new opportunity.

Why do we do what we do?  Life is short.  Choose to do what makes you love life.  It’s time to Enjoy YOUR Life.  It’s Time to Play.

Love, Doreen

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Doreen Guma, MA, FACHE, CPC, CLC is the founder of the Time to Play Foundation, a 501c3 not for profit corporation inspiring everyone to enjoy life.  Please see www.timetoplay.com for more information.

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