Here’s how to find your why and discover deeper meaning behind your goals. Finding your purpose will keep you motivated to see it through.

+++

Ever get beyond annoyed at your toddler for asking “Why?” approximately 2 Million times?

Yeah, we’ve all been there.

The first two or three “whys” are okay. He’s being cute. But as we progress to the additional second dozen, it’s time to plug my ears with a spork.

Unfortunately, those little humanoids are on to something.

And it’s the key to determining your own true motivations for achieving any goal.

Whether your goal is to:

• Write a book
• Get six pack abs
• Run a marathon
• Start a business
• Read more books throughout the day

It’s that toddler game of “Why?” that will help you dig deep and figure out how to keep going even when you aren’t feeling it, too busy or just plain tired of trying.

Today, we’re going to talk how to find your why so you can find your own purpose

Once you determine a goal, and make sure that goal is attainable, it’s not enough to just execute.

You need to take the next step and really figure out if that goal is right for you. This exercise that I’m about to show you will help you do just that. 

You’ll find deeper meaning behind your goal. Or maybe you’ll determine that your goal really isn’t what matters and perhaps there’s something else you’re really after.

All of this matters when trying to crush your dreams and live your best lift. Whether that’s a goal of writing a book, managing a business or earning a set of six pack abs.

Let’s get into it.

+++

Sports parallels life. In many ways.

Watching teams struggle through adversity only to come together and persevere to get a victory is the perfect analogy for our own personal lives.

Sometimes, we need to take a timeout from the craziness to reset and rebalance our strategy to make it through the rigors of parenting and work and life in general.

And then there’s the exhale and excitement of finally overcoming that major goal, that huge obstacle to finally crush that goal and win.

My entire life was devoted to sports through the first few chapters of my life.

I made it my first career as a television sports anchor. And had a blast doing it for almost a decade.

Earliest memories of getting into sports came from my father. A natural athlete who would watch and explain the ins and outs of sports to his young son.

I loved those times.

And when I finally got big enough to play basketball with my pops, it was some of the most memorable experiences of my life.

My dad taught me everything about dribbling and shooting and even that little trick to gently pull on a dude’s shorts while he was trying to rebound to keep him from getting too high so my short ass would have a chance at grabbing the ball.

Pops had a crazy work schedule. So our time on the court was limited. 

But when we did get to play, we made the absolute best of it.

As I got older and played with the high school kids, my dad would jump in from time to time and show the younger peeps that he still had it.

Now I’m a dad. 

And I want to have that same bond with my kids.

I want to play basketball with them while they are little and then again when they get older. I want to have the energy to hang with them on the court. And maybe one day do the same with their kids.

This is my “why.” 

It’s why I train and eat well. It’s my intrinsic motivation to stay in shape. 

When all else fails and I’m struggling to eat some more protein or lift another weight, I think ahead to 20 years from now and how this will pay off to have the same relationship with my kids that I had with my pops.

It’s time to play that toddler game to help you find your why

Right now, I want you to stop and really think about your goal.

Let’s say that goal is to lose 20 pounds.

Now, channel your inner child and let the questions fly.

Ask yourself …

Why you want to lose those 20 pounds?

Maybe it’s cosmetic and you want to fit into a new dress or an old pair of jeans. Both admirable reasons. 

However, neither are strong enough motivators to get you moving and keep you moving along this fat loss journey.

So, let’s dig deeper.

Ask yourself …

Why you’d like to fit in those clothes?

Perhaps it’s because you haven’t worn those jeans since before your first child was born. We’re talking about a few years of staring at those damn jeans taking up space in your closet and you’re determined to get back to your pre-baby weight range.

Now we’re getting somewhere.

But, I think we can do better. So, keep it going. 

Why do you want to get back to that pre-baby weight? Why not a more manageable number?

Because you are convinced that you can do this. You’ve committed to getting into the best shape of your life and making your (30s, 40s, 50s, etc.) the best decade of your life.

You want to prove to yourself that you have what it takes to finally see it through to set a goal and crush it.

Most people would stop here.

I’ll encourage you to continue.

Why is it so important to you to crush this goal and prove it to yourself?

And maybe this answer seals the deal:

Because you want to set an example for your kids that you can crush your goals and create a healthy way of eating and movement that compliments a better lifestyle.

Boom.

You write that “Why” down on a piece of paper.

Save it as your screensaver on your phone and desktop.

Tape it to your refrigerator and bathroom mirror.

And you go back to this “Why” every single day during your morning routine to remind you WHY you are here and WHY you are doing this.

It’s bigger than just 20 pounds. More important than those jeans. This is about your kids. And making sure your kids grow up understanding the appropriate balance of eating and movement.

You want to set an example for them that once you set a goal, you need to work every single day to see it through.

Setting a goal is just one small part of this entire process

Find your why by playing this “Why?” game will reveal so much more as you find your why and reveal your own purpose.

Hell, you might even find out that the goal you have in mind isn’t worth it as much as you once thought. Maybe you’d like to pursue something else as a result.

But in practicing this game to find your why, you’ll find that internal motivation. That’s the real awesome sauce.

Stop looking to your friendly neighborhood fat loss coach (that’s me, by the way) for more motivation when times are tough and the schedule is daunting. There’s only so much inspiration that a random dude on the Internet can provide.

Instead, look inside yourself for that motivation.

Then understand that even that deep motivation won’t be enough some days. Which is where two really important things come into play:

Momentum and accountability

Learning how to build momentum with small and manageable steps so you can create life-long habits. Skip the overly-restrictive fad diets that force you to cut out foods.

Embrace doing one small thing per day until it bakes in as a habit and it becomes second nature (like brushing your teeth every night).

Then learn how to get that momentum back when you slip up. Because, you will slip up. You’re human after all. 

That’s where understanding the importance of small and manageable steps really helps.

It’s also where accountability helps take you to the next level.

Find an accountability partner. It could be a friend, family member or a coach. You could look to a community or an individual. 

But, find someone that supports you and your goal and your passion for crushing that goal.

Then get to work.

Let me help you find your why … 

I’m here to help you out. 

If you have any questions, reach out. I answer all of my emails at pete [at] petecataldo [.] com … Hit me up with the subject line “Find your why” and I’ll answer any questions you have to make this work for you.

Or you can hit me up anytime on the socialz on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

If you enjoyed this post, maybe you’d like more knowledge bombs from me. I’d be honored if you join my mailing list to get regular updates every time I post something pretty dope. Enter your name and your best email address below and you’ll get 52 Free Fat Loss Workouts as my gift to you for being awesome.