It is important that we don’t confuse this step with setting goals or listing responsibilities. This step of the plan is about finding your motivation to stay mentally strong. For example, as a mother, my Why? is my kids. Not because they depend on me, but because I want them to be proud of me. I have had an age appropriate conversation about my struggles with mental illness with both of them to help them understand when I need quiet or I am not up for certain activities. I want my children to always see me fighting to be the mommy they need to be.
Finding your “Why?” also MUST include you. You should be your own motivation. Maybe there is something you want to do before you leave this earth, maybe a place you want to go, but YOU should be enough to get YOU going. If it isn’t, it is time for you to explore why. Start by walking through the negative things you have said to yourself about you and acknowledge those things to be the lies that they are. Look to scripture, or affirmation, to do this. For example, any thought in your head that starts with I can’t, remember Romans 8:37, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
If you aren’t big on scripture, or religion, walk through a positive energy guided meditation. It will help you to combat those negative thoughts and gain the self-confidence you need to get better.
Obviously, your “Why?” can be anything, but its important that you keep it in the perspective of Motivation and not goals to achieve. The above exercise is for you to find a way to put YOU on your list of “Why?”.
Once you have made your list of “Why?”, no matter how long, or short it is, keep it close at all times. I have pictures of my kids on my phone which is always near by. Sometimes I use them to keep me motivated at work when things are really busy and I’m feeling overwhelmed.
Use your “Why?” as fuel to keep pressing though a crisis. Understand that you will come out on the other side of it and better is waiting. Motivation is everything. STAY MOTIVATED! KEEP PUSHING!
