Story time: 

Early on in college, my friend and I frequently attended a 6am cardio and core class. We enjoyed spending this additional time with one another, seeing the other regular attendees, and the feeling of accomplishment upon completion. What really kept us coming back, though, was the passionate instructor who urged us to “find our why.”

During the most challenging time of the workout, she’d always say something to get our minds on our motive. It’d sound something like this: 

Forget about the people to your left and right. Close your eyes and think about what got YOU here this morning. What motivated you to jump out of bed before the sun was up? What drives you to live a healthy lifestyle? What is your why? 

This may sound like a cheesy motivational speech to you, but it really helped us push through the workout and kept us coming back. 

According to a study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, individuals who set specific, challenging goals and have a clear understanding of their motives are more likely to achieve those goals than those who set vague or externally driven goals.

Intrinsic Motivation > Extrinsic Motivation

Research consistently demonstrates that intrinsic motivation, which arises from internal factors such as personal enjoyment, interest, or satisfaction, is more effective for reaching goals compared to extrinsic motivation, which comes from external rewards or pressures. 

For example, imagine two children who are given an essay assignment. The first sees the essay as an opportunity to explore a topic she’s passionate about and to challenge herself creatively (intrinsically motivated). The second views the essay assignment as a means to achieve a good grade and to avoid negative consequences such as disappointing her parents (extrinsic motivation). Both put in effort to complete the essay, but the first reaps greater rewards. 

Why? Studies have shown that individuals who are intrinsically motivated to pursue their goals demonstrate greater persistence and sustained effort over time. They are more likely to overcome obstacles and setbacks because their motivation comes from within, rather than relying on external rewards or incentives.

Knowing YOUR Why

Knowing why we do things helps us understand ourselves better. It allows us to recognize our strengths, weaknesses, desires, and fears, leading to greater self-awareness. 

Clarity about our motivations is also essential for setting and achieving meaningful goals. When we understand why we want to accomplish something, we can set realistic and purposeful goals that align with our values and aspirations. This clarity increases our motivation and commitment to pursuing our objectives.

At Faithful Workouts, we’re passionate about making healthy changes. We believe in the importance of taking care of our bodies. However, the reason that each of us wants to improve our health can be different. It might be a desire to grow in self-confidence. It might be wanting to prevent future diseases. It might be a yearning to fuel our minds with God’s truth. 

I want to share a brief video about the need to find your why, and a strategy for identifying your true why. I really can’t emphasize how important it is to recognize and remind yourself of the reason for making healthy changes. You might also consider sharing it with another to encourage them to do the same.