The Answer To Why Is?

Create new habits, instead of staying away from chocolate.

Build more fat-burning muscle, rather than "gotta go to the gym."

Construct a point in tennis, instead of hitting corner-to-corner.

Manage emotions and self-talk on the golf course, in place of crushing the ball.

Focus squarely on a perfect routine on the balance beam, instead of the mistake that could ruin your score.

Lead by example, in place of talking-the-fancy-talk.

Create life evolving momentum, instead of simply wanting to change.

Too often, we get stuck focusing on the second part of each of these sentences, mainly because they're all short term goals. To really make a difference in what we're hoping for, we must look at the bigger, more detailed long term picture. 

Rather than going to the gym because we know we should and it's good for us, create a more specific picture of why we're pushing our bodies and comfort zones. Our unconscious minds need a "deeper" reason for waking up at 6 am to run on the treadmill. It needs a motivation that can construct and sustain it's long term goals. Our unconscious is listening 24 hours, 7 days... give it something powerful to hear!

On the golf course, it's important to be able to blast a ball 300 yards, but not as crucial as learning how to deal with the emotional roller coaster that's inevitable with every hole. Knowing why we think the way we think, and building a game plan to help manage those thoughts will make us better in the long run. I see too many players focusing on past and future thoughts, rather than learning how to formulate a blueprint that keeps them in this one single moment. Hitting now vs. Focusing on the now... the biggest downfall of most athletes!

I was recently talking to a woman who was "trying her hardest" to stay away from chocolate, forgetting about the why part of the equation. She consciously knew why, but hadn't yet learned to make it her primary focus. Trying not to eat chocolate will only work in the short term... creating new, powerful eating habits will ultimately lead her to what she wants. She, like so many, is focusing on what she doesn't want, rather than the new way she wishes to eat and live. When she makes that switch, everything she's hoping for will click into place.

So many of us fall short of achieving what we want for many different reasons. In my opinion the main reason is not working backwards from our big, detailed picture down to our smaller day-to-day actions. We consciously know what we want, may even take a few small steps... but in order to establish long term success, it must come from knowing why, and the motivation behind that why.

Your answer to why is?