Why Understanding Your Reason for Change is Essential in Achieving Success

Change is hard. It’s often so difficult that change sustained over a long period of time is referred to as transformation. Significant change can be life-altering. This is why we need a compelling reason for most change.

Understanding your "why?" or your motivation for change is a key element. It's essential to making lasting change in our behavior and habits. Without a compelling reason, most change is either avoided or will not be maintained once the moment’s urgency is gone.

Your "why?" is your intrinsic motivation and your highest stimulus for change. It drives you into action because it's what you want to do. It inspires you to grow and be better. And when you're doing something that inspires, you want to share your desire with others and increase your level of engagement. It creates a "whatever it takes" mindset and becomes a powerful ally in your path to success.

4 steps to identifying your "why?":

1. Start with the end goal: For example- 10 lb weight loss, healthier skin, etc

2. Make a list of the things that will benefit from your goal: For example- better fitting clothes, more energy, fewer wrinkles, more confidence.

3. Identify the root cause for wanting to make your change: For example- longer life, improved mobility.

4. Keep your “why?” in a convenient place: When you need it to remind you why you’re making your change, it’ll be right there for you. It really works, so get going! Considering putting your "why?" on the bathroom mirror or on the refrigerator door, or on your phone or computer screensaver.

Remember that you’re making whatever change you’re making for an improved outcome- so do your best to keep reminding yourself through the process of why you’re doing it- it really helps!