These are all great questions. Still, the call to step courageously into the journey of self-discovery echoes within anyone who is willing to live with awareness and truly connect to their day-to-day lives.

What are you doing for work?

I know it’s unusual, but let’s talk about it.
Has anyone ever asked you, “What do you do for work?” or “How’s business going?”

What?! You hear this question all the time? No way!
Such a fun question, right? The perfect way to get to know someone, to understand how they feel, how life is going.

Not for you? Of course not!
Because these questions are so often meant just to fill the void.
And many times, this void isn’t external. It’s not just a pause in the flow of conversation. It often lives deep inside us.
Do we actually have better definitions?

How many of us define our core self through work, business, diplomas, degrees, and so on?
Do we really feel that these definitions capture who we truly are?

“Everything is for my kids. I’m not that important.”

Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak of Peshischa, known as the Holy Jew, used to say this to his students:

“If I were to ask each one of you why you’re hustling so much, you’d answer: ‘I want to provide for my children so they can accomplish themselves to the best of their ability.’ Then, when these children grow up, they forget why their father was hustling so much, and they hustle too. For who? Obviously, for their kids.
And the story goes on for generations. So when, exactly, will we meet this child for whom everyone has been hustling for so long?”

Each one of us has our own metaphorical “kids”, whether it’s work, a project, or anything we hide behind. We all know how to run back into our comfort zones to avoid the real question: What is all of this really for?

The good news is that we can’t avoid this question forever. At some point, we’ll find ourselves in a moment that demands real answers. And when that moment comes, we’d better be prepared.

So you, when will you start the long journey into yourself?