Knowing your why in goal setting is part 2 of our series of the secrets of setting goals and achieving them. This part of the series is one of the most important, if not the glue that holds the success of achieving your goals.
If you are like me, I have been asked by my friends why I wanted to achieve a certain goal. If you have never been asked this question, here it is from me. Tell me why you want to achieve this goal you have in mind. Can you provide me with a contract answer that’s deep, meaningful, and sets your soul on fire? If not, then this article is for you.
The why behind setting a goal can be simple; it must be rich & have depth. Why is this? Surface level goals such as I want to eat well, (why) because it makes me feel healthier; although there is nothing wrong with this goal, the depth of the because dot dot dot does not hold enough ground to build a goal that will succeed. It’s simply too shallow; digging deeper, we need to ask ourselves, what is healthier to you, who would you be if you were healthier, etc.
So how do we get to the deeper why behind our goals? I believe that taking a DRONE view of your goal will help you establish your why.
The DRONE View
D- Dive deeper into the motivation behind the goal
Your motivation to set your goal is closely linked with WHY you want to achieve the goal in the first place. I like to describe diving deeper as being as curious as a child. When my niece was younger, we were out getting ice cream, and I remember her asking me why is ice cream cold, why are all the flavors not the same, why does it melt, why, why, why, why. As frustrating as this can get to be asked why about everything, there is beauty behind a child wanting to understand the world around them in a deeper way. We need to look at the motivation behind our goals; why do we even want to set this goal? Why would it affect my life? Why do I feel I need this change? We can ask ourselves many questions, so be like a child, exploring the meaning of why and diving deeper into the reasons behind your goal.
R- Relationships with yourself & others affects your why
Relationships are a big part of who we are; we are not meant to venture through life alone. There is always someone on the other side of your goal, and it may be yourself, your children, or your loved ones. Whoever it is, write that down as a letter to yourself or to them. Knowing you want to improve or change an unhealthy habit for love is one of the best motivations you can have.
O- Ownership over the goal
Own it; this is your goal, and it’s time to take hold of it. You’re why behind your goal does not need to be validated by anyone but yourself. Whatever your why is, take ownership of it and take it seriously; the time for change is now, and only you can do it.
N- Navigating fear
Fear can have an impact on the why behind our goal. Sometimes when we discover why we want to improve or change a lifestyle habit, fear of failure can arise. I encourage you to navigate that fear by placing it into your why behind your goal; for example, if I don’t make this change, I am afraid I will become….This creates a healthy motivation behind your goals without hitting a full stop to achieving them.
E-Establishing Power
Lastly, you have the power in this goal; your why it is more powerful than you currently realize, and it will help propel you to success. Make your why a statement to yourself, an affirmation that you can and will achieve whatever you set your mind to, that you can be successful in seeing your goal through to the end and thriving in life.
Now that we have covered the why behind your goals, in part 3 of our series, we will define your goal into a SMART goal. You don’t want to miss next week’s post; it will be extremely valuable.
This article is for informational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. To the extent that this article features the advice of physicians or medical practitioners, the views expressed are the views of the cited expert and do not necessarily represent the views of Continued Wellness.
