The 5 W's Of Life

 

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” — Mark Twain

The 5 W’s are usually used in journalism, research and police investigations. They are a method for obtaining the full story on a particular subject.

I remember being taught a version of the 5 W’s — Who, What, When, Where and Why to be used for writing or research.

When we look at our life story, we can probably identify the 5 W’s in the different phases of our lives. In this perspective, they can be a metaphor for focus, self-discovery and realization.

During our teenage years, our focus is mainly on Who we are, this being a time of significant change in our bodies and our minds.

When we get into our 20’s, we start to think seriously about What we want to do with our lives, especially when it comes to our career path.

When we get into our 30’s the focus becomes more intent on When and Where. This is when most of us set time-based goals: When we want to get married, have kids, or reach a professional milestone. At this time, we decide where we want to live long-term -as these are the prime income-earning years.

By the time our 40’s approach, recognized as the midpoint of our lifetimes, we start to consider the Why for the first time. Why do we do what we do? Why is it important? We might also begin to consider our core values through reflection and self-discovery.

This is the time when we start to uncover some answers and start looking into the spiritual side of things. We see the roadmap of our lives and start moving away from things that don’t serve us. It is a time of recalibration of friendships, relationships and careers.

Even after we realize there is a disconnect between our Why and our What, it is still difficult to make any big changes and adjust our lives to the Why. Many times this means rocking the boat, taking big risks, or giving up safety in search for success.

This may involve giving up a good-paying job that you don’t enjoy when you have important financial obligations. Most of the time, we settle for just staying put, even if you know you can do much better. Many times, it takes a significant external event to bring on a forced change that sets us on the path that we know we are meant to walk.

I think that COVID-19 brought about a silver lining for many — a forced disruption that eliminates the safe and easy option. Maybe it is the catalyst that we need to make the changes that are long overdue and finally lead us to the important friend of the 5 W’s: How.

I’ve noticed that once people clarify their Why and lock into their purpose and values, they are motivated to redefine their How. They consider their legacy, looking at how they can have the most fulfillment and success at the same time.

How is bigger than What because it’s less about what you do and more about the outcome, or impact that you want to make in your lifetime. How is more often connected to your Why and your values.

If a door has closed for you during COVID-19, it may be that much needed nudge to take a close look at where you are today and where you want to be tomorrow.

If you’re clear about your Why, are you ready to think about your How? I say it’s never too early, or too late, to start.