Chasing Fitness Goals: Why Your Big 'Why' Matters?
On top of the world, entrepreneur Peter Barton received a terminal cancer diagnosis, prompting a life-altering shift in his value system
Understanding one's "Big Why" can significantly impact motivation and success in personal fitness
Moving away from superficial or fleeting reasons for fitness can lead to a solid, long-term commitment
Real life examples elaborate the potency of a firm and substantial 'why' towards achieving fitness objectives
The shift from an external focus (how we look) to an internal one (how we feel and function) often triggers profound change in fitness journeys
Creating a distinct vision and connecting it to your deeper values helps achieve fitness goals
Employing techniques such as visualization and journaling can help to crystallize the "Big Why"
After being hit with a terminal cancer diagnosis, entrepreneur Peter Barton found his priorities shift dramatically. Things that once seemed so important, career success and status, paled in comparison when put against life itself. As tangibly devastating as this event was, his story isn't just one of trial and tribulation, but also provides us with a weighty reminder: understanding your "Big Why" results in a life-altering impact, including our pursuits in fitness and health.
Many of the athletes and fitness enthusiasts I've crossed paths with often begin their journey towards better health and fitness for reasons that feel right at that moment - looking better, fitting into that designer dress or suit, or outpacing their mates in a 5k challenge. While there's absolutely no problem starting out this way, the journey tends to take a turn when the motivation evolves into something deeper and personal, something more substantial - that Big Why.
Real-life illustrations have always been instrumental in driving home hard-truths. Take for instance, my mate who decided to shape up for his wedding day. He was smashing his workouts and eating clean, right until the wedding bell tolled. Once married, the motivation evanesced, and he slid back into old habits quicker than you can say 'kettlebell'. Now, consider another mate of ours who had a health scare. It made him realize the importance of his health for his family, and he was driven not by aesthetics, but by wanting to stick around and see his kids grow up. His 'Big Why' was substantial, and he made long-lasting changes leading to improved health and fitness.
This shift from an external focus to an internal focus is a powerful turning point. Sure, looking brilliant in swimwear for your jollies is a great goal, but as personal trainers, we also understand it's how you feel and function internally that constitutes the actual change, the true win.
So, how do you find this profound, life-altering 'Big Why', you ask? It all begins with creating a distinct vision that aligns with your deeper values, and it's not necessarily about looking good, fitting into certain sizes, or lifting a certain weight. Your 'Big Why' might very well be about feeling energetic, achieving better mobility, or even improving mental clarity.
Using techniques such as visualization, or writing down in a journal what your life will look like once your Big Why is achieved, can help you harness that raw power. Visualizing how you will feel when you're fit enough to play football with your kids without getting winded, or being able to climb a flight of stairs without knee pain, can be an all-powerful motivator.
From my perspective as a personal trainer, it's about helping people achieve transformation, not just a mirror image of a ripped physique. Authentic change doesn't stem solely from the pages of Men's or Women's Health. It wells up from a profound place within you - your Big Why. So, let's park that kettlebell for a minute and ask ourselves - what is our 'Big Why' and how it can ignite our fitness journey like never before. Because once you've unlocked that, there's no looking back, mates! Remember, fitness isn't just a destination, it's a lifelong journey. And the fuel for that journey? Your Big Why. Stay motivated, stay healthy!