Everybody has a why – an inner motivation for every action. Finding your why isn’t too challenging, strengthening it is what it‘s about. Somebody may study to do well on a test, workout to look good, or eat healthy to lose weight. Everybody has motivations, but usually one’s success in accomplishing goals comes down to how strong their motivation or why really is. For example, Viktor Frankl’s goal during the Holocaust was to just get through it both psychologically and physically. Fortunately for him, Frankl’s strong why during his suffering pushed him through it. As he explains, “Whenever there was an opportunity for it, one had to give them a why – an aim – for their lives, in order to strengthen them to bear the terrible how of their existence. Woe to him who saw no more sense in his life, no aim, no purpose, and therefore no point in carrying on. He was soon lost” (pg. 76 in Man’s Search for Meaning). In everything you do, you must develop and strengthen that inner fire within yourself to keep moving forward. “When you feel like quitting, think about why you started.” And if that thought doesn’t ignite you, your why was never built properly in the first place. Don’t discover an artificial why and act like it’s the original. Find your real authentic why, and strengthen it consistently so it can withstand any challenges you face & what’s in front of you.
Eric Thomas on Buster Douglas upsetting Mike Tyson in 1990 (0:22) – “Life’s gonna’ hit you in your mouth & you’re ‘why’ has to be greater than that knockdown … Buster Douglas had a decision to make: when his mother died, he could die with his mother. Or he made a decision, ‘I can wake up and I can live for mom.’ And he knocked Mike Tyson out simply because his ‘why’ was greater than that punch. His why was greater than the defeat. His why was greater than his trials and his tribulations, and I’m telling you if you don’t know what your ‘why’ is and your ‘why’ isn’t strong, you’re gonna’ get knocked out every single day.”
Eric Thomas on Kevin Durant (0:52) – “He got a why! He ain’t just playing for no championship. You gotta’ hear what I’m telling you: If y’all gonna’ be great on that field, you gotta’ have a why. You gotta’ have a reason for why you do what you do. When he comes out … all he keep thinking about is, ‘I’m gonna’ get one for my coach.’ … The problem with some of y’all, the reason you don’t give 120% every doggone time you get on the field ’cause you don’t got a ‘Why’ for what you do! … What’s your why? Why do you wake up in the morning?”
– JH Inspired