Waking Up To Your Why

We at Wellness Leadership LLC believe you can’t have wellness without a why! Read below how our co-founder Don Grier wakes up each morning to his why.

Each morning I wake up with a why in my heart and head, sometimes two! What is a why? A “why” is the motivation for taking on something difficult and the purpose for doing so. A why drives you forward even when you feel you can’t go on. Why’s are imperative to change a bad habit or get out of a rut.

I did not always have a why nearby. For seven years, I wandered without a cause or purpose. In the process, I gained over 100 pounds, lost my drive, and, in general, was a bear to be around. 

Two things hit that got me back on track. First, I learned that I had a severe health issue. Second, I received an invite to my 30th West Point Reunion. These two combined to develop that first why. Get in shape for my reunion!

 Here are four things you need to put in place your unique why.

1. Visualize Your Why. It is essential to have a visual representation of the outcome you want to get. A graphical representation helps to keep you motivated when times get tough. One way to do that is to create a Vision Board, a series of pictures and text snippets that visualize your goal.

My initial vision board included pictures of my academy years and my parents.    I topped it off with my class motto, “For Excellence We Strive, 85”. 

I looked at the Vision Board each day. It drove forward when times got tough. I looked at it after getting through TSA with my CPAP machine to get a good rest on a work trip. Or when hitting the hotel gym at 9 PM after work. Or when avoiding a beer and eating vegetables at the concierge lounge. It helped me keep my eye on the prize as I lost 100 lbs. before the reunion.

2. Adapt Your Why. Once you get one “why”, focus on another; whys are not static. The excellence of today is the mediocrity of tomorrow. A new reason or mission can drive you on to more extraordinary things. Other of my “whys” include walking 50 miles in a day to raise money for Veterans and achieving lifetime status at WW.

3. Share your Why. When you determine your why, do not keep it to yourself; please share it with friends and family to help prod you and keep you on track. The ability to communicate helps you. Various communities allowed me to share my motivation and progress toward health. Live and share your why with friends to keep moving forward!

4. Wake Up with Your Why. I end with the beginning. You can take concrete steps to wake up with your why each day. I do this through journaling and meditation. I record three “I am statements” daily to help me visualize my end goal. Here is a recent example: “I am a devoted coach who passes on the lessons to improve the lives of others.” I also visualize my favorite moment from the day before. Last, I list the things I will do today to help make the world better. The journal helps me focus on my purpose on this earth. Along with meditation in the form of prayer, I remain fixed and progressing toward my why.

Do not wander and wallow in the unknown without a why. Visualize your why and build a better future for yourself and others!