As I was brainstorming ideas for goals for the upcoming year, I kept coming back to one question: what is my why? Why do I want these to be my goals? What do I want to accomplish with this? How hard am I willing to work to achieve these goals?
What is your why?
I started this year out with a health goal because without my health, it’s harder to do other things. Not impossible, just harder. I work in a hospital and see sickness daily. I see people of all ages, struggling to move. Struggling to get in and out of bed, to walk down the hallways, to walk up and down the stairs. Health is of the utmost importance for daily function.
I have “tweaked” my back a few times over the last 10 years. The first thought that always occurs to me is “I am a physical therapist, I should know how to keep my back healthy!” Then, I spend the next few days having a hard time moving, not sleeping well, not working, not seeing friends, and not living the life I want to live. I never want to have that pain I experienced with back pain again. I never want to be sidelined from life again, even if it was just a short period of time (although it felt like forever!).
What is your why?
Your “why” should be stronger than your excuses. It should be something that you think about and it motivates you to start and to not quit when you are halfway through, feeling like you want to stop. Your why should be strong enough to get you through those times. We need a strong why.
What are some possibilities of your why as it relates to a health goal?
- being able to play with your kids, nieces, nephews, and grandkids
- Standing from the floor with ease
- Getting out of bed without pain
- Traveling and exploring with endless energy
- Having steady energy throughout the day
- Moving with ease, with no pain
Overall being the healthiest version that we can be, 1% at a time. What are some of your reasons?