The power of "WHY" (Trinidad & Tobago)

Are you getting done what you need to get done? Are you achieving your goals and objectives? If you answer “yes,” then congratulations and high-five to you! Your reason for “why you must succeed” is big enough.

If, however, you answer “no,” then your “why” is not big enough. It is as simple as that. You need not complicate it with any stories or rationalizations as to why it may be otherwise. I like to say, “don't bother to rationalize the otherwise.” Remember, rationalize can also be viewed as rational lies.

It's these rational lies we tell ourselves and others that allow us to drift through a life of mediocrity — of not achieving our goals.

Imagine a goal you have for yourself that is not getting accomplished. The only reason it is not getting accomplished is you haven't created enough leverage in your mind as to why it really must be achieved.

Things only get done when the “why” is big enough. Let's face it, if your life or the life of loved ones depended on you getting done what seems to be eluding you, then you would find a way to get it done. That's leverage.

Too often we wait far too long to step up and associate to the cognitive leverage point needed to propel us to get the job done. It might look like the following:

• Losing our job for poor performance

• Losing a relationship because we took the other for granted

• Losing our home because we didn't find a way to earn enough income.

If you find yourself experiencing these types of setbacks, the good news is you have developed a high threshold for pain. The bad news is you have developed a high threshold for pain. The way to lower your threshold for pain is to increase your “why” to avoid it.

To do this is as simple as becoming consciously aware of the reasons why you must achieve the goal. That also becomes your acid test as to whether it is the right goal for you. If you can't come up with enough compelling reasons why you must accomplish the goal, chances are it's someone else's goal or it's not the right goal for you. If either is the case, let it go and move on in peace. Free yourself up for your goal.

The biggest mistake most people make is waiting for the how to show up before they go after their goals. If you come up with enough compelling reasons why you must achieve the goal, a vacuum is thereby created. In that vacuum you will gain access to the recourses needed of how to achieve the goal, or, until the “why” is compelling enough, the how appears invisible.

Here's my challenge for you this week: Identify a goal you know you really want to achieve that has been eluding you up to this point. Write it down. Underneath the goal, write down 20 or more reasons why you must achieve it. As you do you will start to notice and tap into your inspiration. In that inspired place you are on the side of the solution and will gain access to a different thinking of how to achieve the goal. Each day reread what you have written. Add to your list each day.

Remain open throughout each day to achieving your goal and know that you are either on the side of the solution or the side of the problem. When you are clear on your “why,” the “how” and the inspiration will show up and only to the extent you are clear on your “why.”

Make it up, make it fun and make it happen!

Reference: Bestselling author Machen P. MacDonald is a certified life and business coach with ProBrilliance Leadership Institute in Grass Valley.

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