Jim Rohn once said “Reasons come first, answers come second”.
I heard this paraphrased recently and actually preferred this version “How’s come second, why comes first”
If we are pretty honest we all know “how”.
If we don’t know the “how” we could find it pretty quick.
How to lose weight?
Eat better quality food and avoid the crap.
How to exercise?
Take your pick:
-Sprinting
-Walking
-Bodyweight exercises
-Barbell exercise
-Kettlebells
-Martial arts
-Dancing
You would be hard pressed to find someone who used any of these methods, did them at a high enough intensity over a sustained period of time and isn’t in good shape.
Granted it’s a bit more complicated than this, that’s why we have coaches, but you get the idea.
There are plenty of ways “how”.
How isn’t our problem.
We don’t lack the knowledge or the resources to find that knowledge.
Not knowing our “why” is.
Our “why” is a deeper emotional reason for doing what we do.
Why are you looking to eat better or move more?
Reasons like “Oh I just want to lose a few pounds” or “I just want to feel better” hardly light up the world and issue a call to arms.
On those days where you are tired and hungry and you’re sitting on the wagon about to fall off it yet again, the abstract and uninspiring goal of losing a few pounds is unlikely to give you a will of steel to stick to your goal.
We need to find a deeper “why”.
A deeper, more emotional and inspiring reason.
One that really means something to us.
It could be anything from “I hate feeling unattractive around my partner and want them to desire me again”
To “I want to avoid the heart disease that runs in my family and break the cycle for my kids”
Or “I’m sick of missing out playing with my children because I’m so out of breathe”
Even “This year I’m walking down the beach with confidence because I hated the feeling of how I was last year”
These aren’t specific goals that you have to pick from but they show you how much more inspiring they can be.
Losing a few pounds isn’t as motivating as preventing heart disease continuing in your family.
The “whys” above have emotion. They have feeling. They have a deeper meaning.
They have a deeper “why”.
On those days where it’s hard to get out of bed to go training, and we all have those days, having a deeper “why” gives you that boost needed.
Pick your goal and then dig for a deeper “why”.
Without a deeper “why” your initial motivation will dwindle.
Now once you have your “why” you can worry about your how.
The answers will come but find your reason first.
So what’s your “why”?