Is there something that you’re having a hard time figuring out how to do?
I’m reading Folks, This Ain’t Normal by Joel Salatin. His book is humorous, to the point, and it will definitely push some people’s buttons. I’m pretty easy going, so my heart rate doesn’t change much while I read his controversial chapters (maybe it’s because I agree with him), but it’s sure to give a lot of people a small cardiovascular work out. I don’t talk often about food politics here at Beyond The Peel, and I won’t be today so don’t worry, but if you’re looking for an eye opening read on the state of food, I recommend it.
Instead I wanted to share a quote I came across while reading Folks, This Ain’t Normal, that I hope you’ll find helpful.
This quote really struck a cord with me. I’d heard it before in a different context, but it is so applicable in all aspects of our lives, I thought I would talk about it a bit today.
“Until we can answer why, the how is not important.” – Joel Salatin <—Click to tweet this!
Here Joel Salatin is talking about genetically modified organisms (an example would be corn DNA mixed with moth DNA) and why we are motivated to take our time and energy to do these type of unnatural things, but I want to touch on it in the context of what motivates us as humans.
It’s the WHY in our lives that creates the powerful motivation for change and breaks old habits to allow room for more positive ones.
Have you ever wondered:
- Why your diet didn’t stick?
- Why your plans to start eating healthy didn’t last?
- Why you’ve worked for the same company with no hope of promotion or advancement even though you’re not that happy there?
- Why you’ve always wanted to run a 5 mile race (or triathlon, marathon…) but have never taken the first steps towards making that dream a reality?
Ask yourself this. What is your WHY? A big why, or a list of why you want to do something, accomplish something, change something. You’ll be amazed that the “how” works itself out.
It truly is an amazing thing. When you want something bad enough and the reasons are BIG enough, the how will magically present itself.
If your only why for eating better is because you know you “should” because its “trendy” or because you’re coworkers look at you funny when you put your frozen entree in the microwave, then these are not good enough whys. They won’t stick!
So if you have a dream, a lifestyle change that you know needs to be made, a trip you want to take, or whatever it is, and it seems to keep getting derailed, take 10 minutes and sit down and write down your whys! You’ll find them to be a powerful tool for change.
In the hopes of staying within the context of this website, I’d like to focus on “why” to eat better or “why” to lead a healthier lifestyle.
What is your why for eating better? Or what is your why for being more active?
Please share with us your motivation in the comment section! Let’s help each other make the change for more positive habits!
I’m sharing this with Mangia Monday, Monday Mania, My Meatless Monday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Tasty Tuesday, A Little Birdie Told Me, Fat Tuesday, Friday Food Flicks, Fight Back Friday, and Foodie Friday.
