We’re all just trying to make it. To survive another day. And if we can catch a glimpse of motivation at the end of it, we do our best to get ahead just a little more than we did yesterday.

Growing up, we were taught to understand our why. Why do we feel drawn to an area of study? Why are we choosing this line of work? What’s motivating us toward our life’s purpose?

If life were a one-way street, your why might be enough to guide you toward a feeling of fulfillment. But as we know, it’s not a straight line. It’s full of detours, backpedaling, hidden turns, and plenty of near-misses.

So how can we know our why when we don’t know where we’re going? Understanding our truth is a good place to start.

If our why is the path before us, our truth is our compass. Does our direction feel good? Or are we bombarded by resistance every step of the way?

For years, I couldn’t find either one. My why was a mix of pleasure and staying faded. Life felt like a distraction and running from it was the best answer I had. None of that changed until I was finally convinced I had more potential than just getting by.

Our goals in life will change. Again and again. But that feeling deep inside of us will remain steady. There might be times we try to quiet it, or to nudge it in a different direction, but like a magnetic pull, when you listen to it, you’ll be drawn toward your true north.

And in those times when it gets buried under the noise of life, it will still be there, ready for you to find it again when you’re ready.