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Finding your 'why'

By Breanna Simon-Seibel, 08/17/19, 5:45AM CDT

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Pouring gas on your fire will only make you burn brighter

You might have heard people say “what’s your why” or “my why is…” but do you really have any idea what that means? At a very basic (and hockey related) level, this means finding out why you play the sport. Why do you get up early for games? Why do you choose to workout? Why do you spend your Saturdays and Sundays at the rink? Finding your “why” is finding out what fuels you internally and using that as gas to keep the flame burning all season.

When you’re overwhelmingly exhausted, remember your why.

When you’re not getting recruited the way you want, remember your why.

When you feel left out for missing Friday night’s party for a hockey game, remember your why.

When your boyfriend or girlfriend gets mad at you for always being gone, remember your why.

When your teacher wants you to stay after school for extra help, remember your why.

When you have one set left in a workout and you can barely feel your legs, remember your why.

When your lungs are on fire and feel like they might implode into a million pieces, remember your why.

When you think that there is no possible way that you can take it anymore and you’re about to give up, remember your why.

Any time that things get tough, remember your why.

Your why will get you through late nights, early mornings, long runs, impossible lifts, never-ending sprints, poor coaching, peer pressure, bad reffing, frozen toes, soft ice, blood, sweat and tears and any obstacle that life puts in your way.  

So- I think you get it. I’m sure you understand the importance of finding out what fuels and motivates you…but how do you find it?

To help find your “why”, you need to dive deep into yourself and think about your goals in ways that you haven’t before. I created an activity to help you do this.

Activity:

Make a journal entry or use the attached worksheet and answer the following questions.  Really put some thought into these answers. Take a couple minutes per question and answer it in as much detail as possible. After you’ve answered the first nine questions wait 24 hours and revisit them. When you revisit your journal entry, look for common themes and fill out question ten.

  1. Why do you play hockey? What parts of hockey do you love?
  2. How has hockey changed your life?
  3. What are your hockey related goals?
  4. How would your life be different if you achieved your athletic goals?
  5. What are you willing to do to accomplish those goals?
  6. What are you going to do to accomplish those goals?
  7. What are your strengths?
  8. How can your strengths assist you in reaching those goals?
  9. Why are you going to succeed?
  10. Wait 24 hours before answering this question. Revisit your answers to the above questions and look for common themes. Come up with one or two main reasons as to why you play hockey. Next answer the question: what is your “why”?

 

After you’ve discovered your “why”, you can choose to share it or keep it private. However, you always protect it. Your “why” is your motivator- hold on to it and cherish it. Protect it with everything you have. Your “why” is what will get you out of bed in the mornings, it’s what will keep you fighting when you have nothing left to give and it’s what will give you euphoria when you reach your goals. Never, and I mean NEVER, let anyone- not your parents, not your coaches, not your friends, not your significant other, no one- take away your “why”.

If you have questions, comments or would like to share your “why” and your completed worksheet or journal entry, send them to breannalynnseibel@gmail.com.

I’d love to see what keeps you motivated!