Yesterday, we asked you how ready, willing, and able you are to change.
Part of being ready, willing, and able is knowing WHY you’re doing something in the first place.
What do you value?
Dig down for a second.
- What’s most important to you in life? Why?
- What kind of person do you want to be? Why?
Are you living those values? Chances are not as well as you’d like.
When we don’t do what we believe or feel in our gut to be “right”, we don’t feel good. And our bodies show it.
Knowing what’s important to us and why gives us direction and purpose.
If we live according to those values, life (and often, good health) “flows” almost effortlessly.
We get — and stay — strong and powerful.
We also need to know why these things matter to us.
Do your actions match your values? The 5 Whys
The “5 Whys” was a system originally used by the Toyota Motor Corporation. It’s very simple and really cuts to the core of why we want something.
When you want to accomplish something (or if something goes wrong), you ask one why.
Why do I want to accomplish this?
Then, with whatever answer you come up with, you ask why to that first answer.
And so on, five times.
Here’s an example from a 626 Coaching client:
“I want to lose weight.”
- Why do I want to lose weight?
Because I want to have better health. - And why does that matter?
Because then I’ll be able to take better care of my partner. - And why do I want to be able to take better care of my partner?
Because we’re a team and I want to be able to forever be supportive in every way. - And why do I want to be able to be forever supportive?
Because when I can support my partner I am supporting our values and reciprocating love. - And why do I want to support our values and reciprocate love?
Because we’ll both be happy and be able to get what we want out of life.
Wow. That’s a lot of insight for a few little questions.
For this guy, losing weight really meant being happy and making his partner happy. That’s a crucial insight.
He’s not just looking for a different weight on the scale.
He also wants to feel a certain way at the end of the process. Happy. And being a supportive partner.
And that’s what’s really important to him.
The other stuff is just a way to get there.
Your 5 Whys
Ok, now it’s your turn to play. Choose a goal, and write down your 5 Whys.
Really.
Give it some thought.
Be honest.
- What really matters to you? What makes you tick?
- At the end of this year, what kind of person do you want to be?
- What do you want to feel?