In my last blog, I wrote that it takes commitment and consistency to get the results you want.
Commitment + Consistency = Results
I want to dig a little deeper and focus on what your Result is made up of. One of the first things you have to know is what you want. Sounds pretty basic, right? However, as basic as it seems, there are so many who people who, if asked this question, don’t truly know what it is they want. If I asked you this today regarding any particular area of your life, or anything you want to improve or change, would you know what you really, REALLY want to have as a Result in your life? We all have some vague concepts of the perfect body, the perfect relationship, the perfect job, being healthy or fit, eating better, or stopping smoking, or whatever you choose. But, do you really know in detail how that would appear in your life? And, the magic question that follows What you want is Why do you want it? Why is it important to you?
I first sat down to write this blog fully intentional on focusing only on knowing What you want. You can’t achieve a Result without knowing what you want. But the more I started writing, the more I realized your What and your Why are inextricably combined and not easily separated. They go hand in hand. Your What determines the direction, but it’s the Why that fuels the Commitment + Consistency in reaching your Result. Let’s explore this further.
Identifying a clear picture of what your result looks like is key. Without a clear picture, how do you know you are living it? How would you recognize it? Sometimes, I see people being swayed by others because they truly don’t know what they want. It reminds me of a willow tree that sways from one side to the other depending on the environment surrounding it. I’ll go here, now I’ll go there, now this sounds good, no, wait, that sounds good. Flexibility is important, for a willow tree and for people, but if you don’t have some concept rooted in your mind of your end goal, being swayed back and forth indefinitely will not get you to your end result. Trees are stuck in the ground, but they are still growing and know what their purpose is: to grow. Sometimes we forget we are supposed to grow, too, and we should always have a purpose for that growth. But I digress…….
Okay, back to defining the Result. You have to clarify what a successful result is to you. What does if look like? What does it feel like?
What I have found helpful in deciding what I want is to get out a piece of paper and at the top of the page write a statement. Maybe it’s “I want a new job….a new career….a new position in my company.”Or maybe it’s “I want to be fit….be healthier….have a better body.” Identifying what you want is the first step. Then make a list detailed enough to define what a successful Result looks like.
If you wrote I want to be more fit, define what exactly this looks like to you. Does it mean you will be able to run a mile, a marathon, take a 4 hour hike, or just make it up the steps without feeling like you’re going to pass out? Will being more fit include that you will lose 10 pounds, fit in your clothes better, or lower your blood pressure? If you wrote down I want a better job, does that include a higher salary? How much? You need a specific dollar amount. Are you looking for more purpose or fulfillment in your job? What would your perfect job look like? Would it require less travel? More travel? Would you work for yourself? Ask yourself these types of questions to really find out what you want.
As you make your list, you start getting into the details that include your Why. We all add meaning to our Results either consciously or not. Perhaps you believe being more fit will make you more effective in your job, or you will be able to run and play with your kids, or go biking with your spouse or friend, or wear that swimsuit on your next beach trip. What meaning do you attach to achieving your What? The Why is what helps you stay focused, keeps you motivated and reminds you why you are working toward your Result. Why helps you keep your eye on the prize because now you have meaning to achieving your Result. We do things because we believe it will make us happier in some way and/or improve the quality of our life.
You can make a list like this and ask yourself questions in any area of your life of what you Want and Why you want it. No matter how big or how small the Result, it still comes down to What do I want and Why do I want it? Know What you want and Why you want it, then you will be able to recognize it when you get there. Just like peanut butter and jelly, milk and cookies, pen and paper and salt and pepper…..What and Why go together.
Supporter of your health,
Irene
