The Myth of Motivation

​Motivation:
noun
1.
the act or an instance of motivating, or providing with a reason to actin a certain way:
I don't understand what her motivation was for quitting her job.
Synonyms: motive, inspiration, inducement, cause, impetus.
2.
the state or condition of being motivated or having a strong reason to act or accomplish something:
We know that these students have strong motivation to learn.
3.
something that motivates; inducement; incentive:
Clearly, the company's long-term motivation is profit.
 

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people say they fail to stick to their goals because they lose motivation or that a lack of motivation keeps them from ever beginning in the first place.  I’m here to tell you that motivation is temporary.  The great myth is that successful people have an unlimited supply of motivation that keeps them moving forward.  Bullshit.  You cannot rely on motivation as a sustainable force to help you achieve your goals. 

When you first set out to achieve a goal you are excited and full of energy!  Your desire to put forth the effort to do whatever it takes is strong!  You have your goal, you know WHY it’s important to you, and you feel unstoppable.  However, after a few days, or maybe a week you may still feel inspired, but maybe not as energized.  Maybe a few weeks later you’re feeling like you’ve put in a ton of work and you’re not getting the results you want as quickly as you want them.  As time passes sticking to your goals starts to feel more like drudgery and you may find yourself failing to stick to your original plan. 

You are not alone! 
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Everyone experiences this at some point.  It’s part of the process!  So what can you do?  How do you stay the course?

• Break down your plan into small easily achievable steps. 

When a goal is too big it can be overwhelming and you may not know where to start.  It can be easy to give up when the end result seems unattainable.  When you break a large goal down into smaller, easy to achieve goals it can be less daunting.  Reaching those smaller milestones can give you sense of accomplishment and encourage you to keep moving forward. 

•  Re-visit your “why”.

Having a deep sense of meaning behind your goals will give you an emotional connection and additional drive.  Superficial goals are much easier to abandon as they have no true value.  If you want to lose weight so you can look good naked it may be difficult to use that reason as motivation to get you through the tough days.  There may want to surrender your desire for the perfect body and accepting that pair of sweat pants are preferable over the healthy diet choices and consistent workouts.  However, if your “why” holds a deeper meaning, for example, “ I want to maintain an active lifestyle so that I am able to maintain my health as I age to avoid illness and be around for my family”, you are more likely to put forth the effort to stick to your goals long term.  If you’re struggling to stay the course re-visit what your goals are and why they are important to you.  You may need to tweak things a bit to add significance that aligns with your principles that will make your goals a higher priority. 

• Expect that some days are going to suck. 

Life is not always sunshine and rainbows.  Some days you’re going to have to suck it up buttercup.  Nothing worth it comes easy.  The beauty of putting in the work is that one day, when you have achieved your goal, and you look back at all those days that you didn’t want to make the hard choices or put in the time, and you will realized that it was all worth it.  You’re going to feel proud and accomplished, and excited to take on the next challenge.  But maybe today is one of those shit-tastic days where you’re tired, sore, and want to throw in the towel and say “to hell with it all”… I get it.  I’ve been there.  DO NOT GIVE UP.  Embrace the suck.  This will pass.  Be your own cheerleader and tell yourself you’ve got this!
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• Don’t quit. 

The only difference between you and the people you perceive as successful is that they didn’t quit.  It takes willpower, determination, and consistency to come out on top.  Happiness and success are not a destination, but rather a journey that is constantly evolving as we reach new levels and set new goals.  You may find that life gets in the way.  Life will always get in the way.  Shit happens.  Work gets hectic, family problems arise, there are births, deaths, holidays, vacations, accidents, injuries, stress… a never ending parade of things that make great excuses to skip out on your goals or temporarily derail your efforts.  Don’t let temporary setbacks become permanent.  If you find you’ve had to take some time off, refocus, prioritize, and get back to work as soon as possible.  Falling down is part of the process, but you haven’t failed unless you’ve given up. 
 
Motivation is great while it lasts, but you can’t expect to be able to sustain a high level of energy long term.  Setting attainable goals, having a solid “why”, creating a mindset that will allow room for bad days, and staying the course will help to keep you going after your motivation has left the building! 


"motivation". Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 12 Dec. 2017. <Dictionary.com http://www.dictionary.com/browse/motivation>.