Wellness Starts with Why

One of the most essential questions in the quest for a healthier and more fulfilling life is simple: Why? Why do you want to embrace a healthier lifestyle? Why do you choose to move your body, nourish yourself well, or take moments to breathe deeply?

Wellness starts with why. When you identify your deeper motivation, everything shifts and your choices become more intentional, your habits more sustainable, and your journey more meaningful.

The Power of Your ‘Why’

Your reason for pursuing health and wellness isn’t just a fleeting thought. It’s a powerful force that can propel you forward and keep you grounded when things get tough. Your ‘why’ is your intrinsic motivation, the internal compass that guides your daily decisions.

For me, that motivation was building muscle strength, optimizing my immune system, and entering my sixties with vitality and resilience. My husband’s ‘why’ is to stay strong enough to lift his grandchildren well into his nineties.
What’s your reason?

Common Wellness Motivations:

• Health goals: Managing a chronic condition, increasing energy, or building strength
• Quality of life: Feeling more confident, capable, and vibrant
• Longevity: Living longer, but more importantly, living well

How Your ‘Why’ Influences Daily Choices

Understanding that wellness starts with why gives your choices direction and clarity. It helps align your behaviors with your intentions across the three pillars of well-being:

Diet

Your ‘why’ might steer you toward more nourishing food choices. Whether it’s to manage a chronic condition, improve your energy, or simply feel better in your skin, mindful eating becomes a tool for healing.

Exercise

Movement becomes more meaningful when it’s tied to your ‘why.’ Whether you’re walking for stress relief, strength training for mobility, or dancing just for joy, your motivation keeps you moving.

Mindfulness

Meditation, breathwork, journaling, or simply taking time to rest can all be part of your wellness journey. If your ‘why’ is to reduce stress, improve clarity, or connect more deeply with yourself, mindfulness may be key.

How I Stay Connected to My ‘Why’

I ask myself one question almost every day:
“How is this choice affecting my 90-year-old self?”
This question helps me stay focused when I’m deciding what to eat, whether to rest or exercise, and how to respond to stress. It keeps me aligned with my deeper intention to thrive in the long run.

Try These Strategies:

• Write it down: Make your ‘why’ visible in your journal, planner, or fridge
• Set clear goals: Link your motivation to specific, achievable actions
• Celebrate wins: Every small step matters. Honor your progress
• Surround yourself with support: Connect with people who share your values and goals

A Gentle Reminder

Wellness starts with why. And your ‘why’ is yours alone. It might change, evolve, or deepen over time. That’s okay.

The path to better health isn’t about perfection; it’s about connection. To your values. To your body. To the version of yourself you’re becoming.

So ask yourself, “Why do I want to feel well?”
And let the answer guide you, one nourishing choice at a time.