No matter what it is you are reaching for – a new job, a relationship, something material like a new house or car, the perfect vacation, weight loss, or any other goal that takes hard work and dedication to obtain – you must ask yourself one important question: How bad do I want it?
When I was actively working with Arbonne International (an all natural health and wellness company) I was told numerous times to “find your why.” What they were asking of me is to nail down exactly what was motivating me to succeed. For some people, the motivation was about being in a job they hated and they were looking for something more enjoyable. For others, the motivation was a bit stronger – they were homeless and living out of their car and found Arbonne as a way to earn a living. What the leaders found is that when our motivation is fueled by something major (like being homeless) we are much more likely to succeed! In cases like that, failure really isn’t an option. But if we are motivated by something not so urgent, like perhaps we just want extra money to purchase more material things or we want better vacations, we tend to give up when the going gets tough. The motivation must be enough to push you through the tough times.
I have found this lesson of finding your why to be valuable in all aspects of my life. When something is right for you or meant to be – it grabs you! It grabs your attention and you’ll find it difficult to ignore. What I’ve learned is that when something grabs me – I feel confident in pursuing it. If it doesn’t grab me – I’ll likely pass it by. I’ve used this to make important decisions and not so important decisions. So far, I’ve been very happy with the results.
When I first met Mark, everything in my head told me I was not being wise to move so quickly and everyone around me told me the same thing. But Mark grabbed my heart and I had no choice but to throw caution to the wind and run with it! It has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my entire life. He is perfect for me and we clearly have a perfect marriage! So if it was such a great decision, why was I advised against it? Because it’s common knowledge that you should never make a major decision while going through a trauma, especially big ones like death and divorce! Mark and I were both experiencing fresh traumas and had no business jumping into something so serious when we clearly weren’t able to think rationally. Thank God we jumped! He grabbed my heart and still has it.
The next time you are deciding on a goal, ask yourself how bad you want it. The answer may determine your success with it. Either way, it’s always good to have your why nailed down so that you can pull it out as a reminder when things get tough. And remember, when something really grabs your heart – run with it!
