Motivation and goal setting: Find your ‘Why?’

Whenever a conversation turns to goal setting, it’s usually only a matter of moments before the term S.M.A.R.T. comes up. This is an abbreviation describing a method of setting goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic or relevant, and finally, time related.

To illustrate, many people say their goal is to lose some weight; but thats really more of a dream, because it’s too vague to be useful. A Goal is a dream with a deadline.

A SMART version of this goal/dream would be:

I want to shed 2lbs per week until I get rid of 14lbs of fat.**

This is a much more useful objective, in that progress (or lack of it) can be easily tracked, and changes made accordingly.

What this doesn’t address in any way is the ‘WHY?’

Why do you want to achieve this goal? ‘The doctor said i need to lose some weight’ is A reason, but it’s a bloody awful one, because it’s rarely motivating. Effective motivation comes from within.  Think instead of what a POSITIVE difference getting rid of the weight will make to your life. Think about having more energy, about how clothes shopping becomes more enjoyable (or at least less of a chore). Imagine being able to ENJOY being more physically active. It should make you smile.. THAT’s your WHY!

When distractions and obstacles appear (and they will), it’s not the goal in itself that will keep you pushing through. WHY do you want to achieve that goal? How will you feel when you achieve it? Think about this for a moment. I want you to FEEL how you will feel when you achieve that goal. Hang on to it for a moment, make it real. By now you should be grinning. THAT’s your why. It’s your WHY that will motivate you to dig deeper and uncover some of the potential that’s been dormant, waiting for an outlet. Find your why and you unlock your potential!

*You may have noticed I didn’t say lose weight here. The language we use when phrasing things matters. We are all averse to loss. When we lose something, we generally want to get it back. We’ve all lost a phone, wallet or keys, and when we do we want to recover it again. When i was fat, i didn’t want to lose weight, i wanted to get rid of it!

Also to say 'lose' suggests it just happens, that it’s the work of some mysterious outside force. To hell with that, YOU have to take charge and make it happen!!