Running calms me. It reminds me I’m enough. It allows me to connect with my deepest thoughts and feel all the feels- all the stuff I ignore or am too busy to process in daily life. Running is so much more than just moving my legs, it allows me to move through life.
What is your WHY?
You don’t have to ask yourself why you do what you do. Most people don’t take time to think about their “WHY”. Everyone is buried under busy schedules and distractions like Netflix and Facebook.
Thinking takes effort. So we ignore the philosophical questions like “WHY?” and just focus on “What’s next?”
Why you should find your WHY.
You don’t need to find your WHY if you’re content with an average life. As I said, most people don’t ever think about why they do what they do. They just stay busy.
But if you want to go after a big goal or dream, your WHY can help you keep focused and keep you moving forward.
3 Steps to Help Find Your WHY.
Step 1: Get clear about your WHAT.
Before you can find your WHY you have to know your WHAT.
What do you want? This is the question you must answer.
Don’t be like the guy I used to be! I told myself that I wanted my life to be different and better. I lived way below my potential. But, if you’d asked me back then what I wanted my life to look like, I couldn’t have told you.
Step 2: Write ten or more reasons why you want what you want.
Here’s the time to dig deep. Your mind will try to trick you. Your first “WHY” answers will come easily, and they’ll make you feel good. And you’d be proud to post them on Facebook.
Tell your brain “Thanks! This is a good start, but what else?”
You see, your mind will always be satisfied with the easiest answer. And when your mind gets an answer it’s ready to move on to other important matters.
Bring your mind back to this question and write until you have 10 answer to your WHY.
Congratulate yourself when you’re finished and take a break. Yes, I’m serious. Do something else and give your mind a chance to wander elsewhere.
Then come back to your list and . . .
Step 3: Pick the one WHY that feels the most true.
Please understand this: I’m not saying that any of your WHY statements are untrue.
But some of your WHY’s are more true than others. Listen to your gut and intuition. Pick the one that feels the strongest.
Why does WHY matter?
If you’re a runner, why do you run?
If you’re going after a big goal or dream, why are you doing it?
Pick whatever change you want to make: losing weight, changing jobs, starting a business, changing the world.
Knowing your WHY will do two things for you. (Actually, you will use your WHY for more than two things. But you can discover those on your own.)
First, a strong WHY helps you in the day to day of working for your goal.
To run any distance, you have to put in the miles of training. The longer the race you’re training for, the more important your WHY is. You’re tempted every day to let “life” push aside working toward your goal. Your WHY will keep you on track and focused.
Second, a strong WHY can keep you going with the going gets tough.
Ultramarathon runners know well the “pain cave” that comes when you push your limits. Your body and mind are begging to just quit and forget finishing the race. A powerful WHY helps you bring back your focus to keep moving forward.
“Running is more than just moving my legs. It helps me move through life.”
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