We all have heard of Will Power right? It’s that phrase that so many of us have used to rely upon when we want to make a change in our lives. Here we are specifically talking about a change from a health and fitness perspective, but my point will apply to ANYTHING in your life that you want to change.
Many assume that Will Power has the ability to give you what you need to change your habits. Believing that Will Power alone is enough is like believing that by covering your picnic basket with nothing more than a napkin will keep a hungry grizzly bear from wanting a piece of your picnic stash. You are going to need something stronger to fight the “bear” of your bad habits.
In the Past
You’ve tried Will Power in the past right? At some point in your life on January 1st, you’ve likely made resolutions to start eating better, to get into better shape, to watch less TV, etc.. You have also let some of those resolutions go right? You were certain that you were going to make it happen…last year. Perhaps you have made progress, CONGRATS to you. But if you didn’t, let’s change that RIGHT NOW! Let’s do something different, so that you can assure yourself different AND better results.
Why Will Power Doesn’t Work
Time and time again, people will assume that the reason that they aren’t achieving their goals is due to the lack of Will Power. I tend to disagree. It takes more than just making the choice to want to change. It takes something that going to keep you consistent, something that will prevent you from falling back in your “old, comfortable routine”
Forget about Will Power. It’s time for Why Power!
“Why Power” Works!
The choices that we all make are only important and meaningful to you when you connect them to your dreams and desires. You have got to WANT something and not only that, but you have got to know WHY you want it, or you will simply give up and far too often before you’ve really even gotten started.
So…What is your “WHY”?
What is it in you that is going to keep you pushing toward that end goal? You Why has to be so fantastically important to you that you would be willing to do literally anything that is required to make it happen.
Perhaps your “Why” isn’t a physical change in your body, but some other type of accomplishment. Perhaps it is a competition that you never thought you would participate in; like running a marathon or completing the Iron Man triathlon. You may not have a goal to win such an event, but the mere feat of competing and finishing something like this is what drives you each and every day!
Once you have established your “WHY”, it must be at the fore-front of your mind, something that you constantly think about. Give yourself a visual reminder and put it in a prominent place that you will see every morning when you get up and every night before you go to bed. The bathroom mirror is a great example. Update the wallpaper on your computer with an image or text that will be constant reminder to you of what you are working towards.
What About Me? What is my “WHY”?
The image below is my biggest WHY. Maintaining my health in order to support and provide for my family is my driving force.
Summary
Take some time this week and really ponder on that question. If you already have it and know what it is, write it down and put it somewhere that you will see it EVERYDAY and know that your efforts for that day must do something to move you closer to that WHY. If not, you are only moving away. Let me repeat, if you aren’t moving towards your goals, your WHY, you simply aren’t standing still, you are moving away from it! If you are willing/brave, share you WHY with me below and I will do my best to hold you accountable to it.
Need a Coach?
If you need to find someone that will hold you accountable, answer your questions, help you, and PUSH YOU for the entire duration of your workout! Luckily for you, that’s what me and my team are here for. If you don’t have a coach yet and want one, I’d love to be your coach and help you through a fitness program. I am available to help you reach your goals!
Email Me: coachchris@yourfitnesspath.com
Connect on Facebook: fb.com/coachcoburn
YouTube: https://youtu.be/coachchriscoburn
Instagram: @chris_coburn
Twitter: @yourfitnesspath
My Why is my family and myself. I look at myself and see a picture of a person who is maturing as I like to put it and as this is happening, I reflect on my own Mother and how she has struggled with health issues due to weight gain and stress as she is growing older.
I am a firm believer that we all are in control of certain things and healthy habits are one of those things. I try to eat right and work out daily so that I can live another day without medication and without saying that I can’t do that because of…fill in the blank. As Tony says, I presently struggle with but I never let it get me to the point that I give up. I am always working at trying to stay fit mentally and physically.
Having young grandchildren and active children of my own, I want to be able to keep up with them for as long as I can. I don’t want to be left behind because I’m not able to walk or climb stairs. I want to be where the action is. I make that choice everyday by doing some sort of activity whether it’s lifting, walking, P90X, it doesn’t matter as long as I am moving in the right direction.
I have been this way all my life and I hope that I have passed this on to my own children. As retiring is growing closer, I don’t want my health to keep me doing anything that I would then have the free time to do. Keeping myself fit now will help me do the things that I want to do in the future. I’ve heard it said so many times that you should do things when you are young because when you are older, you won’t be able to, well I hope that isn’t the case and I am doing what I can to make it my goal not to let that happen to me.
I want to thank my son, Chris, my coach and yours for living, loving, and working at being the best person he can be for himself, his family and you.
SandyTimmons – Thx for sharing Mom! You are an incredible inspiration! Love ya!