People often seem to marvel at my “motivation” to maintain a diet. Or climb a mountain, or maintain an exercise routine, or run my own business while working full time.
Some say it’s because I have strong will power. But the truth is, we all have the same will power. I just have an established why. I’m not going to say I have a better why. Because each of our whys are valid. Each of our whys are equally important. I just have mine established.
Now, don’t get me wrong. There are whys that are not big enough. If your why is so that you can fit into a dress for an event in 3 months, cool. But that truthfully isn’t big enough. You know you have found a good why when you can stop asking why and the reason still stands.
So let’s look at an example and learn how to decide if you have a great enough why.
For example:
Why do you want to lose weight? Because I want to fit into this dress for my high school reunion.
Why do you want to fit in that dress? Because if I fit in that dress I will look good.
Why do you care about looking good? Because if I look good, all of the people in high school that I was jealous of will be jealous of me.
Why do you want them to be jealous of you? Because I am still jealous of them.
Eek. That why doesn’t stand. Your why is that you want to look good because you are jealous of people you don’t ever see and jealous of the lives you are imagining them to lead? That might get you to the dress size for the event…but what about after. And do you truly feel good about yourself, or are you feeding into your self-loathing? And really, even if you fit into the dress, will you feel good, like you succeeded? Or will you find something else that makes you feel inferior at the reunion.
How about this?
Why do you want to lose weight? Because I want to fit into this dress for my high school reunion.
Why do you want to fit in that dress? Because the reality of my upcoming reunion helped me recognized that I have not prioritized myself and my heath in the last 20 years since I graduated.
Why do you need to prioritize your health? Because I have been noticing changes in my health, my body, my energy, my attitude, and not for the better.
Why do these changes matter to you? Because I recognize that if I don’t make a change, my health and quality of life will continue to decline.
Why do you care about your health and quality of life declining? Because I want to be able to enjoy my life and be able to participate in my family growing up and the activities and travels that will occur and the nieces and nephews and grandchildren that will be here one day. And if my health continues on this path, I will not be able to participate and enjoy those milestones and events.
Now THAT is a why. It’s not about the dress. Sure, you can set your GOAL as fitting into a dress in 2 or 3 months, but it is the why that gets you there, and the why that helps you set the next goal to keep you on your path. And this why is not about self-loathing, but more about celebrating your life, honoring your body, and being present and active.
Have you established a strong enough why? Share it with us in the comments, or send me a private message if you prefer.
The Essential Body 
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