I’ve recently reconnected with my Christian upbringing, and one pastor who’s made a deep impression on me is Tim Keller. I don’t remember the exact sermon, but I remember the core message: people who root their identity in Christ tend to live with more peace and joy.
He explained that when your identity is tied to your career, your business, or any external success, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment—because those things aren’t stable. You could lose your job. Your business could go under. And when your sense of self is wrapped up in something fragile, your happiness becomes just as fragile.
In contrast, tying your identity to something bigger—like a mission, a calling, or your faith—grounds you. It gives you a deeper source of meaning and stability.
The same principle applies to business. If your identity is the business, then every failure feels personal. Every setback threatens your self-worth. But if your identity is anchored in a mission—like helping your customers or serving your team—then obstacles don’t shake you as much. You have a deeper Why that keeps you going.
It all boils down to this: Reframe your Why.
Don’t just ask, “What do I do?” or “What am I building?”
Ask instead, “Why do I do this?” and “What is this really for?”
When your Why is bigger than you, the journey becomes lighter—even when it’s hard.
