The Missing Piece: Why Some People Succeed While Others Fail
A few weeks ago, one of our clients quit suddenly.
She was making great progress--exercising consistently, changing her eating (and drinking) habits, getting stronger.... for about 6 weeks....
Cody and I were stunned.
I felt like we'd failed.
She was winning. Why would she walk away?
She said it wasn't the workouts or time or money.
On reflection, I think her real challenge was this: The old identity--the one that says “I’m the person who eats indiscriminately” or “exercise just isn’t for me” -- was louder than the new one.
Change isn’t just about habits.
It’s about who we believe we are.
We treat goals like “eat more vegetables,” “get back to the gym,” or “lose weight” as if they’re a finish line.
But those are just tasks.
When motivation dips (and it always does), the tasks stop.
What keeps us going is something deeper, our identity:
Ahealth mission.
Your health mission is your North Star
Your mission is the bigger story behind why you want to feel stronger, move better, or take care of your body in the first place.
It’s the why behind every healthy choice.
A goal is “I want to run a 5K.”
A mission is “I want to feel strong enough to do what I love at any age.”
"I want to be able to keep up with my kids and grandkids."
"I want to be strong enough not to have to depend on others."
"I want to stay out of the doctor's office as much as possible."
Goals give you something to achieve.
A mission defines who you are becoming.
Motivation gets you started.
Your mission gets you through the days when motivation disappears.
I don't want to get up and go for a run. When my motivation lags, I remind myself that I'm committed to trying. If I still don't feel up to it once I've gotten to the end of the block, I can turn around and go back.
Usually, I overcome the lack of motivation and keep going.
When you have a clear mission…
✅ It’s easier to stay consistent when motivation fades
✅ Daily choices feel meaningful, not like chores
✅ You stop chasing quick fixes and start building a lifestyle
✅ You make decisions that align with the person you want to be
Your mission becomes the internal voice that says:
“Skipping today doesn’t match who I want to be.”
What's your mission?
1️⃣ Ask:Why does my health really matter to me?
— More energy for travel?
— Staying independent as you age?
— Being a role model for people you love?
2️⃣ Choose qualities that matter to you
— Confidence, vitality, resilience, self-sufficiency
3️⃣ Create one short sentence
“I want to feel strong and capable so I can keep doing the things I love.”
“I choose the foods that provide energy and good health.”
“I train to stay strong for the people who count on me.”
“I take care of my health because I want to feel great.”
4️⃣ Consider your mission regularly.
When life gets messy, you don’t give up--you come back.
If you’re making a change that feels foreign or uncomfortable… that’s normal. Keep going!
You’re building a new identity, one aligned with the future you want.
When the story you tell yourself changes,everything changes!
