When the season changed from summer to fall and I embarked upon a journey of new directions to change with it, that word "why" kept resurfacing. When I opened my business in June (see it – over there on the left? I figured out how to put it there yesterday!) anyway, when I first opened it and attended trainings, that word "why" was always in the first lesson. A few weeks ago, a dear friend embarked on on a new exercise program and when she was telling me about it, the first thing she said was, "I'm doing it because…". She stated her "why". Today, as I was working along, another Dr. Philism flew out of the TV. I heard him say, "Inner words are very powerful words". He was talking to an overweight woman and went on to explain that those "inner words" must be ever-present in her mind for true change to take place.
Soon after that, I went for a walk to ponder this "why thing". I thought of all the new age talk of vision boards. In my business training we were instructed to make a vision board and put it in front of us where we could see it daily to remind ourselves of our "why" for doing this business. My friend keeps her "why" front and center so she won't get sucked into missing workouts. The lady on TV had to repeat her "why" many times a day to keep to her new eating schedule. I concluded that stating very clearly "why" we are doing something and constantly referring to that "why" is a catalyst for change and without it, nothing changes. We sit on square one.
I used to be of the school that when someone asked me why I was doing something, being of the retirement age, I could just say, "Because I can", like I don't need anyone's permission to do it anymore because my age and life experience give me the right. Now, I think that while that may be a very freeing thought, it's not really a good thing for focusing on something and initiating real change. Currently I'm working on big changes in three areas of my life and since being involved in the 100 Day Personal Development Challenge, the Ultimate Blog Challenge, my business training sessions, and the new bible study, the writing of clear goals (both long range and daily) is stressed across all four activities. If it's taught in all of these things, evident in my friend, and on Dr. Phil, perhaps it's something I should give more reverence.
In looking back over the last 5 weeks, I guess I have given up the non-chalant "Because I can" line of thinking. I have been diligently writing goals, setting deadlines, and stating my "whys" very clearly. In the first few weeks, I'd actually do my 100 Day Challenge lesson at night, and write my goals for the day after the day was over. It was great to see I was progressing and getting things done in my writing and in my business (afterall, just look at the left side of this page). Just this week I tried writing my goals at the beginning of the day. It was difficult to predict what I was going to accomplish that day at 8am. I realize now that my "whys" need to be stated clearly and visible to me when I start my day. Whether it's writing that query letter, gathering new customers, (again, look to the left – you might want to be one), or keeping to that workout schedule, my own, personal "why" is the driving force in accomplishing those goals.
And so, as another day goes by, I'm awed by that sentence I heard today: "Inner words are very, very powerful", I clearly see the need for keeping the "why" front and center in any area of my life I really want to change, and ….I have written.
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