Connecting with your WHY is fundamental in setting goals for your health and all other areas of your life. In Element 01 of Your LifeBook, Dr. Wayne Scott Andersen explains how understanding your WHY is essential to making lasting change in our behavior and habits. Your WHY is your intrinsic motivation and highest motivation for change.
An intrinsically motivated goal is easier to maintain and will eventually become a habit. Answer these questions to understand your WHY and determine your intrinsic motivation:
▪ What is the root cause? Understanding the root cause for
change is a key factor in achieving our health goals. Perhaps you’re ready to
take charge of your health or you want to create sustainable healthy habits.
Write your own description of WHY you want to change and include positive
reasons that motivate you to create health in your life.
▪ Why is this goal beneficial for your long-term health? Make a list of all the
potential benefits of reaching your goal. You may discover some additional
takeaways that could also have a lasting impact on your health.
* Describe your future self. In as much detail as possible, describe something you would love to do in the future that you cannot do in the present. It can be as simple as wanting to take the dog out for a walk without feeling exhausted or being able to fit comfortably in the seat of an airplane.
Identifying your WHY is the first step in your self-discovery
journey. Continue to remind yourself of your reasons for change by writing them
down in a journal or pinning them to a place where you will see them regularly,
like your bathroom mirror or computer screensaver. That way, you’ll have the
confidence and momentum to achieve success.
Stay tuned for next week’s newsletter featuring Element 02 of Your LifeBook in
the new Habits of Health Transformational System—knowing what you want to
accomplish.