What's
your Why? Is it Big Enough?
We always
hear people talking about a Why yet what exactly does it mean? Your
Why is your reason to keep going when you would much rather stop. A
compelling Why is important in any area of your life from athletic
pursuits to personal improvement to business. Let me explain what I
mean by a compelling Why.
Imagine
that you are out enjoying a wonderful evening when you receive a
phone call about an emergency with a loved one. No matter how good a
time you are having, you are going to stop what you are doing
immediately and rush to help. No hesitation or second thoughts on
your part because your Why, your reason for doing it, is so clear to
you.
When you
know your Why, you will take the actions necessary to achieve your
goal. Here are a few simple steps to help you define your Why:
Write
down your Why. Clarify it by asking yourself why you want
what you want. Write it down and be specific so that the power of
your subconscious mind is unleashed. Think of it as writing
specifications for a work order and put in the details.
Make the
results measurable. If you want to lose weight, say you want to
weigh X number of pounds by a certain date at a certain time or you
want to run a mile in so many minutes or you want to land the big
account or be making X amount of money by a certain date. Be
specific. Make sure you commit to writing how your life will be
different when you obtain/achieve your goal.
Visualize.
Picture in your mind what your life will be like when you achieve
your goal. Albert Einstein said it best: “Imagination is
everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions.”
Make
your Why your Mantra. To reach any goal, it takes discipline and
consistent action. A compelling Why will help keep you going when the
going gets tough. Read your goal and your Why several times each day.
When your mind starts to come up with those creative reasons why you
can “let it slide” this one time, reread your Why. Your Why must
be Big Enough so that you keep going no matter the challenges you
face.
Do you
know your Why? Is it Big Enough?
What a beautful post. God knows there are days when everyone want to immediately retire to a cave and shun the world for its less than friendly attributes. Yet we all persevere. We can make that perseverence stronger by following your steps. I use visualization with my clients all the time. Simply reveling in our (future) success is a very strong motivator. It's the best kind of inspiration. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Keyuri, for your wonderful comment. Sounds like we are in sync with visualizing the future we are creating. Thx so much for stopping by. Aloha. Janet
ReplyDeleteNice post about asking why Janet. Some people call visualization day dreaming - I was quite the visualizer in grade school! Yet, these dreams become goals if we are fearless enough to try to achieve them. I like to set goals but am open to various possible ways to achieve them as opportunities seem to randomly present themselves without consulting my plan book. :)
ReplyDeleteCatherine, thx for stopping by and commenting. Love your comment "these dreams become goals if we are fearless enough to try to achieve them." How true that is.
ReplyDeleteJanet, I find this especially true online. There is so much interesting information available that it's easy to get lost if you don't keep your focus.
ReplyDeleteI agree that consistent action is truly important. The results may not be visible right away, but if you're committed and consistent you'll begin to see the fruits of your labors. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteThx so much for stopping by and commenting, Daniel. We are in complete agreement on the importance of consistent action.
ReplyDelete