On Saturday, January 4th, my hometown of Lexington, MA, greeted us with a bitter chill: 27°F (-3°C), with a windchill that made it feel like 15°F (-10°C). The kind of cold that makes you question stepping outside, let alone running a 5K. Yet, there I was, about to participate in the Resolution Run for Cancer. Frankly, I surprised myself just by considering it.
Why? A couple of reasons almost held me back. First, the weather. In the past, I’d have thought it sheer madness to run in such conditions. Second, I’ve been battling Plantar Fasciitis for the past six months, and my running has been sporadic at best—just two short runs in recent months (1.5 and 2 miles). By all accounts, I had every reason to stay home and skip the race.
But then I thought: What if I flipped the question? Instead of asking, “Why should I run this?” I asked, “Why not?” One of my goals for 2025 is to run more—so why not start now? Why not embrace the iconic Nike mantra and “Just do it”?
With that mindset, I decided to give it a shot. My simple goal? Run the whole race if I could, but be kind to myself and walk if needed. To my amazement, I ran the entire 5K. My body surprised me. In the past, running 5Ks always required weeks of preparation. But it seems that years of sporadic running have left me with some muscle memory—and, more importantly, a mindset that’s shifted. I’ve become someone who embraces the challenge, who can ask “Why yes?” and act on it.
This idea of flipping “Why not?” to “Why yes?” is something I frequently explore with my coaching clients. It’s easy to fall into the trap of finding reasons not to try something new. You get stuck in cycles of self-doubt, focusing on why something feels out of reach or why you might fail. But when we turn the question around, we uncover possibilities and perspectives we might otherwise have overlooked.
By asking “Why yes?”, you give yourself permission to start.
You step into the unknown and allow the possibility of surprising yourself. It’s about shifting focus from what’s stopping you to what’s possible. This shift often reveals opportunities, hidden capabilities, and a deeper sense of confidence in your own potential.
So, what could you say “Why yes?” to?
Maybe it’s bringing a New Year’s resolution to life. Maybe it’s a shift in attitude or trying something you’ve never done before. Whatever it is, you might just surprise yourself—just like I did.