Motivation is Garbage

Motivation

1. The reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way.

2. The general desire or willingness of someone to do something.

Many trainers would probably share that their role is to motivate their clients to achieve their goals.

I'm going to tell you a secret. When you sit with a trainer for the first time, most of them (and I was of them) are taught to ask you a series of open-ended questions to assist you with defining your “why”. Why did you decide to join a gym? Why is now the right time? Why do you think you need a trainer? Your why is the nugget the trainer uses to keep you motivated.

In my experience, most clients’ why is not the vacation that's coming up, or their best friend’s, wedding. The majority of whys fall along the lines of, “I want the body that I had before the marriage and children” or “I am tired of being in pain.” But that's another conversation.

Let’s say hypothetically, you want to get your hot, sexy, before marriage and kids body back. You have an idea of what steps to take to achieve your goal. But you begin to think, “What’s missing is motivation.” So, you purchase that treadmill or the state-of-the-art elliptical believing it will motivate you. You subscribe to a gym membership thinking it will motivate you. You purchase sessions with a personal trainer, thinking he or she will motivate you.

We all know what ends up happening. That new piece of gym equipment winds up as a clothes hanger. You stop going to the gym after two months, and you won’t return the trainer's phone calls, even though you are still paying them.

At one time I believed it was a lack of discipline issue. Then I watched this video, and it changed my thinking about the mindset of my clients and myself.

Mel Robbins nailed it right on the head. We bought into the lie that we need to "feel like" doing something. When the truth is, we may never feel like doing the things necessary for us to improve our lives. Whether it be to start a business, to be the best parent, or in this case, to make the changes necessary to get that hot sexy body back.

The work may appear to be too hard. The experiences may seem too uncomfortable. The steps before you may look too daunting. Motivation fades and we no longer feel like doing the things we need to do to better our lives.

Motivation turns to negative self-talk and we are back to where we started, or even worse off.

Success is about doing the right thing, not doing everything right. ~Gary Keller

So, what's the lesson here?

It’s not about motivation, it’s about accountability. Simply put, do what you need to do. That little voice in your head that tells you not to do something while knowing in your gut that something must be done, is normal. You are going to have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. There will come a time when we must do things that are scary and risky.

When it’s time to go to the gym and you don't feel like it? Go anyway.

When it’s time to see your doctor for pain or you see that lump in your breast, and you don't feel like it? Go anyway.

When there are no prepared meals in the house and you don't feel like cooking? Cook anyway.

When you don’t feel like it, hold yourself accountable and do the right thing – anyway.

Remember, take care of your body for it's the only place you have to live.

Clarence