The Key Ingredient To Success Most People Leave Out
The inevitable ending of one chapter and the fresh energy of a new one make this time of the year perfect for reflection, goal setting and re-adjusting daily routines.
Many os us make New Year’s resolutions, set intentions or even plan out an actual action strategy of making it all come true in the months ahead. However, as time goes by, life gets in the way of planning and oftentimes the things we envisioned for ourselves in the spirit of new beginnings on January 1st slowly ebb away and we find ourselves wondering why even the best of our intentions did not work.
The key ingredient to success when it comes to setting new goals, cultivating new habits and actually sticking to them in the long run that most people leave out is digging deep and knowing your why.
We may be starting a habit or setting a goal out of motivation. We may continue with it with the help of daily rituals and achieving of small milestones. However, the only way we will make it a sustainable change and an actual part of our lives is by knowing and consistently returning to why we want to make it happen.
Here is a reflective exercise that will help you get to the heart of your desire and the core of the why behind it that will guide your decisions, actions and priorities going forward. It is called The 7 Levels Deep.
Let’s say that one of your goals and habits you want to cultivate this year is to get into running.
Level 1: Why is it important for you to start running? Perhaps it is about finding a way of moving your body that makes you excited about exercising.
Level 2: Why is it important for you to move your body? Perhaps it is because you want to have a strong body.
Level 3: Why is it important for you to have a strong body? Perhaps it is because you want to have great energy.
Level 4: Why is it important for you to have great energy? Perhaps it is because it also helps you have a clear mind.
Level 5: Why is it important for you to have a clear mind? Perhaps is it about feeling mentally strong, sharp and resilient.
Level 6: Why is it important for you to feel mentally strong, sharp and resilient? Perhaps it is because it allows you to be more present and peaceful in your life, especially in challenging times.
Level 7: Why is it important for you to feel present and peaceful? Perhaps it is because you want to enjoy your life to the fullest and not miss out on the important things because you do not feel good in your body and mind and that stops you from doing the things you want to do with the people you love.
You see how a simple goal of getting into running was actually all about being able to feel good in body and mind to be able to experience life to the fullest?
You can insert whatever else your goal might be this year, or whatever else habit you wish to make a part of your daily routines. The point of this exercise is to keep digging deep and questioning the previous answer until you get to the true core behind your initial desire.
This is the why that is going to drive you on the days you do not want to work out, when you feel tired, when you are having a bad day, when you do not want to say “no” to something or someone, or whatever else might get in the way because life happens.
And it is okay to get off track sometimes, we all do. But knowing your why is what will build the foundation for your daily actions, guide your decisions and nudge you towards better choices.
So what is your why?