Do the Why Exercise to Find Your Deepest Motivation
We all have goals, but it’s important to ask why. Why do you want to lose those 10 pounds? To eat healthier? Or get promoted? You can tinker with boilerplate answers, but they probably aren’t your true “why”. Dig deeper and find the real source of your motivation, your true why. Here’s how.
Perhaps your “why” for some of the above questions was originally “looking good,” “attracting the right partner,” or “buying a new car.” The more specific “why” is much less obvious and creates a powerful reason for achieving something that will give you a sense of purpose and achievement. We call this intrinsic motivation, which will help you move further towards your goals .
This is a written exercise, so grab a pen and paper first. Here’s an example of how it’s done:
- Start by clearly defining your goal. Let’s say your goal is to lose 15 pounds.
- Ask why. “Your answer might be,“ So I can fit into my old mid-size shirts again and don’t be embarrassed by my favorite pens when I sit down. ”Be sure to write this down.
- Ask why again: “This way I can be more attractive and confident.”
- Why? What will confidence do? “So I can be more pleased with myself and do what I know I can do.”
Your own why exercise may be more detailed and include less or more why. The point is to keep asking why until you come up with the ultimate reason for achieving your goal.
Take your time with this exercise and be patient. When you have found it, don’t lose the “why”. Stick it in a prominent place and use it as a constant reminder to yourself “why” you are doing something. Return to it when your motivation drops or when you struggle to see the results of your work. Maybe when you reach that plateau and don’t know where to go , go back and read your why again. It’s amazingly powerful.