This may sound wierd but I hate motivation. Yes, you read that right.
What?
I’m sure you’re asking yourself what the heck am I talking about? Well, here’s the truth:
Motivation is the main reason people don’t reach their goals.
Yes, you read that right.
Motivation is the main reason
people don’t reach their goals.
OK. Now I’m pretty sure you think I’m crazy. Well, let me explain by asking you a question.
How many times in your life have you really been motivated to do something? Let’s take losing weight for example. You were ready to go, you had the diet thought out. You were going to hit the gym a few times a week and do it hard. You were going to start Monday morning. You were MOTIVATED!!
Well, how many of those times did Monday come around and when that alarm went off at 5am you weren’t so motivated anymore? What did you do then? Well, the answer to this question is the answer to how successful you were at reaching any meaningful goal in your life.
Let’s put it like this: If you relied on motivation to get up at 5am on Monday morning, you turned off that alarm clock and went back to bed. More then likely you used a whole lot of “ifs” when you were setting that alarm clock the night before. “I’ll get up IF I feel good in the morning.” Who feels good at 5am?
Using an “if” in this way is you giving yourself an excuse not to do something.
The real gold lies in forgetting motivation. When that alarm goes off you don’t allow yourself to question it. You just get up. You do that because you know that you need to if you really want what you say you want. You don’t wait for motivation to strike because it will always be much easier to do nothing than to do something. You do it because you know you should. That’s the beginning and the end of it.
You can call it discipline, desire or whatever you want to call it, but that is the key. If you rely on motivation to get you through you will ultimately be disappointed.
Don’t rely on motivation like sad Dawson.
Here’s another quick thing. People who rely on motivation wind up being even less motivated because they see themselves as failures for not being motivated all the time. Funny how that works. If this is you, you have to understand that no one is motivated all the time.
You are not alone.
OK. Let’s finish up with a few tips to help you get over the lack of motivation.
Be OK with not being perfect. I know it may seem like everyone else has it all together, but believe me, they don’t. Beating yourself up over your perceived lack of perfection is a sure-fire way to not only make no progress, but to pile on a dose of low self-esteem and depression as well.
Do what you can. You don’t feel like working out? No problem. Just give yourself permission to come to the gym and do what you can do. No more. You don’t go all the way through your workout? No problem. Something is better than nothing. I have yet to have someone come in for a workout and regret it. Accept progress in whatever form it comes.
Don’t take no for an answer. By the way, the “no” is almost always going to come from you!! Tell yourself to be quiet and just get on with it.
Stop talking to yourself. What are the types of things you probably say to yourself at 5am? I’m guessing they’re not that positive or ultimately helpful. Just shut up and get moving before the voices have a chance to get too loud.
I hope that helped. These are pretty common issues that don’t necessarily feel that way. Please let me know if you’d like to talk it through. That can really be a huge help.
Mitch Rothbardt, CPT, PN Level 2 Lean Eating Coach, FMS Castro Valley Fitness 2861 Grove Way 510-755-9191 Mitch@CastroValleyFitness.com
Comments