Leave Your Mark - Power of Your Why"

     I recently have been asked a few times "how do you have a career in teaching and manage kids everyday during the week, then come to coach kids CrossFit classes on Tuesday and Thursdays for two hours each day and then add volunteer opportunities with youth programs at church?" I will be honest, it is not a question that I have given much intentional thought because.... I authentically enjoy it.  And, I will be honest again... it is not easy.  There are days where patience feels like it is the hardest thing to hold.  There are days where I am tired and could use a few hours to just myself, but after thinking about that question and comments over the last few weeks it has led me to believe how powerful your why is.  I could get really specific, but in general I feel like my purpose and my why is to leave an impact and help set up our future generations for a better future.  For me, doing that through Health and Fitness is my vehicle.  I have had people in my corner as a kid that set me up to be where I currently am and I want to provide that to others. 

    What we do is incredibly important.  I recently heard this idea in a podcast from Craig Groeschel.  What we do is what leaves the impact, but if we do not know why we are doing what we are doing, then the what becomes almost pointless. 

    I think about those days that I am emotionally exhausted from managing kids pretty much 24/7 or the days where I could take some more time to myself, but I get fired up (in a positive way) knowing that why I am doing what I am doing is leading to kids building strong foundations of fitness, immersing in communities that are encouraging, supportive and providing opportunities for youth to build healthy and strong habits mentally, physically and socially.  That is what keeps me doing what I am doing and doing so with such a fired up energy.

    So what do we do with this? I think too many of us get comfortable doing things that do not necessarily line up with our why and when our why and our what are not aligned, burnout or frustration or lack of fulfillment pours through.  We need to identify our why.  Ask these questions: 

1. What do I care about? 

2. What are my values? 

3. What are things that I am passionate about? 

4. How does what I do leave my "mark"? 

5. What does my why look like in action? 

    I firmly believe that when we have our why lined up with what we identify that we are passionate about, what we do allows us to leave our mark and leave a lasting impact. 

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