Let’s take a minute and think back to the beginning of January, the start of our new 2019 year. For some, it may feel like yesterday, for many others, January 1st feels like a lifetime ago. Those first days of the new year were likely filled with anticipation and excitement as you dreamed about new adventures, positive life changes, and the many meaningful and important things you could accomplish in the next 365 days. These thoughts and dreams became goals for both your personal and professional life. So the year began, your 2019 goals set in place and the adrenaline and excitement of this new adventure likely carried you through those first few weeks of the year.
Now we’ve arrived in the middle of February, the initial excitement of the year is starting to wear off, and you’re becoming more aware of the consistent work and effort it will take to accomplish the goals that you’ve set for yourself. Sound familiar? Maybe you’ve experienced this same February slump in years past. Perhaps this previously has been the point at which you found yourself lagging in commitment or unfortunately giving up the pursuit of your goals altogether.
However, 2019 does not have to follow the pattern of previous years. It is possible for you to push through the trying moments when pursuing your goals and achieving your dreams feels difficult, frustrating, or even impossible. What sets successful women and men apart from the rest of the New Year’s goal setters? Motivation. In order to achieve a goal, it is imperative that you have the motivation to keep going, even in the hardest moments. This motivation can be found in answering one very simple, yet profound question:
“What’s your why?”
“You have to know WHY you do what you do! Put it into words. We can only see the things we have words for!” – Simon Sinek
Your “why” is the reason behind your action and the purpose for the goals you’ve set. According to Simon Sinek, understanding your personal “why” allows your goals and decisions to be connected to your passion. The gap between a goal that has been set and a goal that has been accomplished is bridged when one has the motivation to achieve. This motivation is born from understanding the purpose of each goal you set or decision you make. If a goal does not have a well-defined purpose or reason, it’s going to be difficult to push past and move through the obstacles and roadblocks that inevitably come up along the path of activation and achievement. In layman’s terms, we are willing to work for things that matter to us.
What are the tangible effects of understanding your purpose and defining your “why”? (Margie Warell)
- Clearly defined “end-goal”
- Motivation to push past obstacles and roadblocks
- Increased focus and determination to achieve
- Goals become more exciting and compelling
- Courage to take necessary risks
Now, perhaps you’ve found yourself thinking, “Understanding my purpose is clearly important…but how to do I go about finding my why?” Excellent question. It’s possible you are one of the lucky few whose purpose and motivation hits them in some lightning bolt moment of inspiration or undeniable “aha” moment, but for most of us, the path to discovering your deeper purpose and motivation isn’t that simple. Finding your “why” requires taking time for careful thought and reflection. This may be a frustrating suggestion for those who prefer concrete action steps rather than what may feel like passive reflection, but I promise you, taking time now to reflect on your “why” will pay dividends in the long run when it comes to achieving your goals.
So grab your notebook, pen, and cup of warm coffee, or carve out an afternoon for a reflective walk, and give yourself some time and space to discover your deeper motivation. Here are some helpful reflection questions to get you started!
- What makes you come alive? What are you deeply passionate about? What activities make you feel the most energized, most yourself? Perhaps it’s when you’re spending time with your family. Maybe problem solving and hands-on projects bring you to life. What topics could you talk about for hours and never run out of things to say?
- What are your strengths? What things have you always been good at? These are probably the skills and traits that other people tend to identify in you. Maybe you’re a good listener? Perhaps you are incredibly organized and excellent with details. Whatever your strengths may be, tapping into your natural abilities can lead to a greater sense of success, self-fulfillment and ultimately, provide motivation to keep going!
- What does success look like? When you reflect upon your goals, what does success look like? How do you know you’ve achieved your goal? Define it. Often, the goals we set are accompanied by vague or unrealistic measures of success. Make success tangible by taking time to define what success looks like when it comes to achieving your personal goals.
Wherever you happen to be in the process of achieving your goals, whether you’re just starting or have been working for quite some time, it’s never too late to figure out your “why.” It’s time to infuse your goals with the passion that only comes from knowing your deeper purpose and motivation. For more encouragement and support as you activate your goals and build your dreams, sign up HERE to be notified about new content and resources on our blog and podcast that can help you along your path to achievement.
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