*The title of this post was taken from the Jane’s Addiction song of the same name*
Some time in late 2010/early 2011, I was dealing with two very different situations.
My oldest son, Jackson, was in the middle of a series of tests to diagnose some challenges he was having verbally and behaviorally. Those tests led to a diagnosis of high-functioning autism.
My father had been diagnosed in the summer of 2010 with multiple myeloma (bone marrow cancer) and was quickly losing his battle having not been successful with chemotherapy treatments.
Jackson was approximately 3 years of age. My father, 59.
Watching from an outsider’s perspective of what each of my loved ones were dealing with helped me shape a mantra that stuck with me for several years and remains with me to this day: For Your Father, For Your Son.
I knew that everything I needed to do mentally, monetarily, and physically was bigger than myself.
I knew that I had to make this business successful because providing for my son would be a lifelong endeavor.
I knew that being physically and emotionally strong would be crucial because my father would be leaving my mother and I behind.
And I don’t say this lightly when I say that my ability to deadlift well beyond my bodyweight was a huge help when I had to pick my father up from the floor or from a bed.
There was nothing that was going to stand in the way of me accomplishing these things.
Here we are 7+ years later and I find myself similarly motivated to succeed, to progress and to inspire others how to do the same even though my own life has changed dramatically since then.
And to be fair, the stakes are higher for me now too: I have a wife and another little boy. I have more than 3x the clientele that I did back then and 3x the space for business operations. The times have changed but the motivation has not.
When you hear people say “Find Your Why”, this is what they mean.
And that “Why” can mean very different things to different people.
It can relate to your obligations to family (as mine are.)
It can relate to being a better role model to others.
It can be about fitting into a size of pants you haven’t fit into in years.
And it is 100% okay for you to be selfish with your “Why.”
Because YOU will have to put in the work, YOU will have to make the food plan successful and realistic, YOU will have to get yourself back on track when your environment will fight to keep you the way you were. Even with trainers like us to help you and guide you, it is YOU who makes the decisions.
So, I believe your right to selfishness is what will help you succeed.
It is selfishness for self-care and self-preservation.
It is to determine your “Why.”
We are fortunate to have a community of clients who are diving into their “Why” as well.
Will you be one of them?
