We all know about time management and using calendars to keep track of our days and to plan our steps, but we also need some gas to keep us going. The gas is your why. Your why is the motivating force behind your goals. You have to dig a little deeper to find this, but once you do, it will give you the motivation to get back on your path even when the distractions are enormous.
By asking yourself “why” five times in a row, you will drill down into the real reasons behind your actions, beliefs or desires. You can use this method to problem solve any number of situations, but here is a brief peek at how it can work to give you unshakable motivation and energy to propel you to success:
Start by asking the obvious question. Let’s say you have a goal to lose weight. The first question is “Why do you want to lose weight?”
Beyond the expected “so I will look better, why else, silly?” I’m asking you to think about what lifestyle you want. As you answer these questions for yourself, really think about what freedoms, new self image, or other benefits you want to gain from your goal and by the end of this process you will have a much clearer vision, a compelling “why” to go after your dream! Here is an example of how someone who wants to lose weight might answer the five whys:
* “Why do I want to lose weight?” So I will look better.
* “Why do I want to look better?” I hate the way I look and I want to feel better about myself.
* “Why do I want to feel better about myself?” So I will have more confidence.
* “Why do I want more confidence?” So I can go after my dream promotion.
* “Why do you want the promotion?” To get a job that really contributes something of value.
From this process, you could gather that while the obvious answer to “Why do I want to lose weight?” is: to look better in a bathing suit, the deeper answer is “I want my life to matter”.
Now you’ve reached a reason that resonates with your very soul. This is the reason that will motivate you to put on your walking shoes, or toss out that box of cookies, or buy that diet book, or do whatever step you’ve been putting off. Once you have spent some time digging deep into envisioning your why and fully identifying the results you want, now you can start to harvest the benefits of intense focus. This kind of focus, this kind of envisioning the life you want to live, will give you the energy and clarity you need to ignore distractions, to get back on track when you do get pulled away, and to help you really see what your next step is. When you get into this “zone” amazing things start to happen. Resources and mentors appear that have just the information or skill you need. Success starts to happen in ways you never dreamed of. You become like an airplane that has expended 80% of its energy just getting to its proper altitude, but once it’s there the rest of the trip takes much less effort.
Where can your “why” lead you? All successful people have tapped into their unstoppable motivation, their “why”. It is one of the secrets to living a fulfilling, meaningful life. Learn how to find YOUR why and how to put the power of living your purpose, to work for you. Check out my newest and best ebook to date: Fashioning Your Best Year Ever and start putting your “why” to work for you.
