As a health blogger focusing on behavior change, you understand the importance of digging deep to uncover what genuinely motivates individuals. Many clients come to the table with apparent goals: losing weight, quitting smoking, exercising more, and so forth. Yet, as any seasoned coach or therapist understands, these surface-level resolutions often mask the true desires lurking beneath. To guide your clients toward meaningful and lasting change, it’s crucial to unearth these deeper, more authentic resolutions. Here are four key questions that can illuminate the path to your clients’ genuine motivations.
1. “What is your WHY?”
The first question to explore with your clients is perhaps the most straightforward yet profoundly transformative: “What is your WHY?” This question encourages clients to delve into the underlying reasons behind their resolutions. For example, a client may have a goal to lose 20 pounds, but the true motivation may be deeper, such as wanting to feel more confident in social settings, to have more energy to play with their children, or to prevent health issues prevalent in their family.
Encourage clients to explore this question by journaling or through a guided discussion. Ask them to consider what achieving their goal would mean for their life, and how it aligns with their values and long-term aspirations. When clients understand their core motivations, they can anchor their behavior changes in values and desires that hold significant meaning for them. This understanding not only ignites initial motivation but also sustains perseverance through challenges.
2. “What obstacles have prevented you from achieving this before?”
The second key question dives into the history of past attempts and the barriers that thwarted success. By asking clients, “What obstacles have prevented you from achieving this before?” you gain insights into patterns of behavior, external challenges, and internal mindset blocks that need addressing.
Clients might recount logistical challenges, such as lack of time or resources, or internal barriers, such as fear of failure or ingrained habits. These revelations are invaluable as they highlight areas where strategic interventions can be made. For example, if time management is an obstacle, you can work with the client on planning and prioritization skills. If fear of failure is a sticking point, incorporating techniques to build resilience and self-compassion might be key.
Understanding obstacles also allows for the customization of approaches that respect the client’s unique circumstances, ensuring that strategies are practical and applicable. Identifying hurdles is the first step to effectively overcoming them and preventing them from derailing progress in the future.
3. “What will success look like for you?”
Success means different things to different people, and gaining clarity on what success looks like is a pivotal part of any behavior change process. By asking, “What will success look like for you?” clients are prompted to visualize their desired outcomes tangibly and specifically.
Visualization helps transform abstract goals into concrete markers of progress, creating a clear roadmap and serving as a motivational beacon. For some, success might look like a number on a scale, but for others, it could be the ability to run a 5k, feeling energized in the morning, or fitting into a favorite outfit. Beyond the tangible, success might also encompass intangible aspects, such as feeling more confident, at peace, or connected with others.
Encourage clients to articulate not just the end result but also the journey they envision. What feelings do they wish to cultivate along the way? How will achieving their goal enhance their daily life, relationships, and self-perception? This detailed vision of success sharpens focus and inspires action, making the pursuit of their goals more attainable and relatable.
4. “Who do you need to become to achieve this?”
The fourth and final question centers on identity, arguably the most powerful determinant of behavior. By asking clients, “Who do you need to become to achieve this?” you steer the conversation toward an exploration of identity alignment with their goals.
Achievement of resolutions often requires an evolution or reframing of self-identity. For instance, someone aiming to exercise regularly might need to embrace the identity of an “active person” rather than someone who sporadically works out. This question invites clients to consider the traits, beliefs, and habits they need to cultivate to support their desired change.
Discuss with clients the characteristics of this evolved self. What habits do they have? How do they handle setbacks and challenges? What thoughts and beliefs do they entertain about themselves and their capabilities? This exploration helps in identifying actionable steps and strategies. Additionally, it fosters a growth mindset, promoting the belief that identity is not fixed but adaptable.
Cultivating this new identity involves intentional practice and often the shedding of limiting beliefs. Equip your clients with tools and resources, such as affirmations, visualization techniques, and regular reflection exercises, to nurture and embody their envisioned self.
Conclusion
Uncovering your clients’ true resolutions extends beyond setting goals—it requires a journey into understanding deeper motivations, barriers, visions of success, and identity evolution. By integrating these four key questions—focusing on purpose, obstacles, vision of success, and identity transformation—into your coaching framework, you empower clients to embark on their behavior change journey with clarity and determination.
True transformation arises when clients not only know what they want but also understand why they want it, visualize what success looks like, and embrace who they need to become. In exploring these deeper dimensions, you’re not just facilitating behavior change; you’re guiding clients towards a life of authenticity and fulfillment. So, keep these questions in your toolkit, and use them to unlock the true potential of your clients, paving the way for sustainable and meaningful change.
