Why Do You Need to Know Why

Whether you want to lose weight, earn more money, have a better relationship or develop your own business you have to know your reason why. According to weight loss success masters the key to a successful weight loss program is not necessarily the types of food you eat or the program you follow but rather finding the reason you want to lose weight. The same is true for gaining financial success, improving your current relationship or even starting your own business.

There are lots of good reasons why you should lose weight. Research and scientists have been clear about the incredible health benefits of keeping your body mass index within a normal range. Individuals who suffer from obesity have a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, immune mediated diseases and peripheral vascular disease. You know good reasons why you should quit smoking. People who smoke have a higher risk of lung cancer, premature aging, gastrointestinal diseases and arthritis. You understand why you should be financially solvent. People who go into their retirement years with less than stellar financial planning sometimes end up wondering where their next meal will be coming from.

But none of these reasons are good reasons unless they are your reasons. When you find the reason why you choose to set a goal it\’s like flipping on a switch. Suddenly, it isn\’t so difficult to stay active, eat healthy, look objectively at your finances, seek help to stop smoking or the myriad of other things which need action in order to achieve your goals.

Your reason why must be personal. While all the reasons listed above might be great they won\’t trigger your motivation unless they are personal. As a child growing up my family was friends with a couple who were obese. They enjoyed their life and their lifestyle and saw no reason for change. Then the husband had a heart attack. Within a year both husband and wife were walking up to 5 miles a day, had lost over 70 pounds apiece and were just a shadow of their former self. Their comment? \”We are not sure why it took us so long to understand how important it was to lose weight. I guess it took something personal.\”

Keep your reasons why positive. When you think about why you want to lose weight, quit smoking or gain financial freedom try to focus on the positive reasons why and not the negative. If you quit smoking you\’ll be able to keep up with your grandchildren. When you have financial freedom you can take that two week vacation to Bora Bora. When you lose weight you\’ll be able to take that beach vacation you\’ve always wanted.

More people are able to take control of their lives and achieve their goals when they focus on the positive things that will happen as a result of their achievements instead of the negative things they are avoiding. Avoiding the complications of diabetes may be a reason for you to start looking for your reason why, but it cannot be your reason. The human psyche was not designed to run from things but rather toward things. When your reason why is negative you are running away from something as opposed to a positive effect you are running towards.

Staying positive about your reason why is crucial. We all encounter roadblocks but by keeping track of the benefits and the good things that have happened because of the efforts you already taken will go a long way towards keeping you on track. For instance, if you\’re starting your own business then keep track of the amount of hours you\’re working in the amount of money you\’re making. By seeing the benefits of the extra hours of work you put in everyday you\’ll be able to stay motivated to continue.

By identifying the reason why you want to achieve your goal you go a long way towards keeping yourself motivated and staying the course when those inevitable challenges come your way.