If you could name the biggest obstacle to making changes in your life, what would it be?

Over the last few years, I have read quite a few books, blogs, etc., from folks who have achieved success in the business world. I have also studied military leadership and principles of counseling (in various contexts.) That information, along with my experiences in counseling others, leads me to believe that there is one significant factor in bringing about permanent, positive change. This factor, while often overlooked, can be influential in taking things “to the next level.” This factor is: remembering your “why” – in other words, the purpose and meaning behind the desired change.

It is only in maintaining a strong focus on this “why” that we find the continuing motivation to sacrifice. It is only at this point that we will choose to take the hard steps necessary for accomplishing our goals. This is true when we have set the bar for change quite high, or if things are serious enough that failure is just not a viable option. It is easy – especially when life circumstances change or difficulties arise – to say “I don’t feel like it,” and just set aside a goal that we have set. (Just one more addition to the ever-growing pile of “one day I’ll ____.”)

The problem with forgetting our “why” and succumbing to outside forces is that our list of “started, but not finished” items grows larger and larger. As a result, our confidence in our ability to follow through diminishes. Soon, we may even lose the motivation to set goals for ourselves – or just set meaningless, easy-to-achieve ones. Why? Because we will look back on a long history of failure and conclude that we aren’t capable of winning.

The truth is if we embrace our “why” it will be far easier to stay focused. If we keep it foremost in our thinking, then it can be a powerful hedge against “I don’t feel like it” or “I never finish what I start anyway.” If our “why” is big enough, then we can begin to shift the discouraging narrative of our lives. If it is important enough, we will be willing to struggle through the journey toward success without giving up.

If the bar of our “why” is set high enough, we can begin to live the life we thought only others could live. We can look forward to more victories than defeats, more accomplishments than failures, more achievements than broken commitments. If we live with our “why” as a daily focus, we will begin to devote ourselves to the things that matter the most. And we will win, in both our professional and personal lives.

When we “remember our why” the question we ask ourselves changes. Over time, it shifts from “Why should I go through this struggle?” to “Why would I let this battle keep me from achieving my goal?” This change in mindset is crucial, and it is this shift that makes all the difference.

So, as you ponder making changes in your life for 2017, remember to ask yourself: “What’s my ‘why’?”

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