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Remembering Your “Why”

My very type A self has a ton of photos saved on my phone organized into different categories. The first category I ever had was running motivation. When I started training for my first half marathon, I needed something that got me out the door and reminded me why I should continue to push through the hard parts. It clearly worked because I now have about a hundred motivational images on my phone just in that category alone. One of my all time favorites?

When you want to quit, remember why you started.

It made me take a step back and realize that even if it was hard right now, I was doing this for a reason. I feel like I say this often, but running is my metaphor for life. I don’t just use this reminder when running gets hard. I also use it when life gets hard.

Speaking of running being a metaphor for life, it’s often a marathon rather than a sprint. A lot of what we tackle is a longer process than not, meaning that the end point (or the finish line, continuing with the theme) isn’t always in sight when we’re in the middle of journey. It’s easy to lose sight of your “why”, especially when you’re in the middle of a difficult time.

Whether you’re on a weight loss journey, working for a promotion, raising kids, maintaining your marriage, training for a 5k, trying to launch a blog, writing your own songs, or anything else you can possibly think of – you need to keep track of your why. Your why is what keeps you going, and your why is what makes it easier to push through those difficult times.

What if you don’t know your why?

It’s amazing when you have that clear vision of why you’re doing something. You love your child. You can’t imagine life without your spouse. Your career is your passion. Sometimes, it’s not so clear why you’re on a particular path. Journaling can be an excellent way to unpack some of these feelings and figure out your why. Writing down your thoughts and feelings about a situation can help you figure out what your motivation is and can give you something clear to focus on when the going gets tough. If you’ve tried everything and just can’t seem to get to the answer, it might be time to re-think the road you’re on.

Whether it’s your passion, your means to an end, or the love of your life, remember your why. Say it, write it, save it in your phone. Your why is what will get you through anything.

 

Need some extra help figuring it out? Feel like you’re on the wrong path? Let us know. We can help.

Author: Rachel

Rachel is a licensed therapist and co-founder of Viva Wellness. She gets most of her inspiration for the blog while on the run, and if you ever need to find her, she’s probably in Central Park. If she’s not running, you’ll find her planning the next time she’s going to eat, exploring all things wellness in NYC, or raising her stress level by watching her sports teams.

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  • Amen to that! 🙌
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  • What happens when you feel like you don't look like the usual gym bodies? You learn to define your own meaning of health and wellness, and that's exactly what @rachelgersten and @jorelcaraballo did.

For Rachel, running after being told that she couldn't meant not only taking control of her own health and wellbeing, but also providing a sense of accomplishment that she had been craving. For Jor-El, it meant incorporating walks, getting active with his dog Nomi and listening to what made him feel good physically.

Head over to our podcast as we discuss our views on wellness and how we got there in the latest podcast episode, Wellness Journeys. You'll hear how @rachelgersten came to refer to a certain fast-food joint as "the yuck place" and how @jorelcaraballo came to define his own meaning of health and wellness after he realized going to the gym to lift weights wasn't quite for him (you can guess that that quote was from him). Don't forget to subscribe so you can be notified of the latest episodes as soon as they come out, and leave us a review! #linkinbio
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  • Go on, stop and smell the flowers. Sometimes you need some quiet moments to truly appreciate what's around you.

We all know the great feeling of having a few minutes to yourself, but did you know that it can also boost brain growth and improve your memory? Our friends at @helloworkwell explored some of the benefits of silence, and it's definitely worth taking a bit of time every day to yourself. Bonus points if it's a walk outside in #CentralPark (hello, spring!).
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#silence #quiettime #mindfulness #bemindful #selfcare #almostspring #mentalhealthmatters #wellnessblogger #fitnessblogger #lifestyleblogger #iamwellandgood #healthymindset #mindbodygram #yearofyes #wellnessadvocate #wellnesslife #wellnessblog #therapist #therapistlife #healthandwellbeing #bossbabe #powerofshe #nyblogger #holisticwellness #wellnesswarrior #wellnesslifestyle #inspireme #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness
  • Your #WednesdayMotivation to keep taking chances, via @thrive.
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#motivation #inspiration #wednesdaywisdom #mentalhealthmatters #wellnessblogger #fitnessblogger #lifestyleblogger #iamwellandgood #healthymindset #mindbodygram #yearofyes #wellnessadvocate #wellnesslife #wellnessblog #therapist #therapistlife #healthandwellbeing #bossbabe #powerofshe #nyblogger #holisticwellness #wellnesswarrior #wellnesslifestyle #inspireme #poweryourpassion #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness
  • Our co-founder @rachelgersten is headed to the city of Brotherly Love this week to talk about the importance of prioritizing mental health at the #BeFearlessSummit! Before that, she's taking over their Instagram account today to give some sneak peeks. Head to @befearlesssummit to follow along.
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  • As we're trying to adjust to the new daylight hours (thank you, #DaylightSavingTime), @rachelgersten and @jorelcaraballo have a couple tips to make the transition easier: -Make sure to drink plenty of liquids. Avoid alcohol and caffeine starting in the late afternoon to help your body sleep smoothly.
-Try to still go to bed and wake up at the same time, even though the sunrise and sunset times are different.
-More daylight after work and (hopefully) warmer days means it's a great time to walk home a bit from work. Start slowly, especially if you haven't had a serious exercise regimen in the winter. It's a great time to play tourist in your own neighborhood, like @rachelgersten did when snapping this shot in Washington Square Park.

What are your best tips for adjusting after Daylight Saving Time? Share with us in the comments 👇
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