Knowledge Isn't Enough

Making a major life change is almost never a knowledge issue. No one finally quits smoking because she suddenly wakes up one morning with the realization that cigarettes are bad for her. Someone who loses 50lbs doesn’t accomplish that because of an “Ahah! Moment” after reading a Facebook post explaining that donuts for breakfast and McDonald’s for dinner are poor health choices.

Logic and reason are great, but they very rarely change behavior. Altering our habits requires more than just knowledge, there must also be a burning in the soul – an emotional trigger – that ignites the fire of change. There needs to be a greater purpose. We need a “why.”

Gyms are empty again by February, not because new members start doubting the health benefits of exercising, but because they’ve come up with reasons to skip workouts that are more compelling than their New Year’s resolutions. They have intellectually identified the solution, but have not engaged their hearts with the deeper purpose behind it. Losing 50 lbs because your clothes don’t fit right is probably not a big enough “why.” Losing 50lbs because the weight is stressing your heart and you want to be healthy enough to see your grandkids grow up and graduate from college is probably a better step in the right direction.

Whatever you set out to do in life, make sure your “why” is big enough. Otherwise, your excuses certainly will be.

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