Motivation…
with the buzz of the new year comes a renewed sense of motivation or something like that…
This is the first in a 3 part blog post series discussing 7 motivation myths and why motivation is not what you are lacking!
In a survey conducted in November of 2017 of over 1000 US respondents aged 18 and older, 43% set a New Year’s resolution to lose weight or get in shape (1). Yet, according to U.S. News & World Report, 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions will fail by just the beginning of February (2).
The journey to improvement in anything is just that.. A journey, not a destination. That is a cliché for a reason.. It’s the truth!
The only way to not only maintain positive change, but also to continue on the path of improvement, is to... well... change!
Change Your Habits.. Change Your Mindset.. Then it Becomes a Lifestyle!
If this is a change or improvement you wish to be permanent, then the new habits, mindset and resulting lifestyle you develop need to be permanent as well. Something that you add to your priority list and integrate right into your life routine and adjust your habits to support this. This is where continuous and lasting improvement comes from!
Being motivated isn’t the same thing as feeling like doing or wanting to do something, or even being excited to do that thing. Most everyone is motivated to get out of bed everyday, but that doesn’t mean we always want to :)
The truth about motivation... It doesn’t come from an outside source, that would be inspiration! Motivation comes from within and it isn’t rainbows and unicorns everyday.. It is knowing what you want and cultivating the will and desire to improve and succeed.
You don’t always have to want to do the thing, you just have to know it’s worth it!
Myths:
1. Being motivated means you will always feel like doing it (whatever the it may be for you at the moment)
Find a purpose or a goal that is so fiercely desired that no excuse can get in the way of, whether you feel like completing the task at hand or not.
Weak desire = weak results
You don’t truly want something unless you are willing to do what it takes to get it.. Again, whether you really feel like doing it at the moment or not.
“Achieving greatness - in anything - isn’t simply a matter of taking the steps that get you there. It’s also a matter of being willing to pay the price. And that price is responsibility.” - The Slight Edge
2. Motivation comes from external sources
False! Inspiration is what comes from external sources. You’ll see and hear things that inspire you, but that means a whole lot of nothing if you don't take action! Motivation is the internal excitement to do a new thing and this will get you started, it won't, however, stick around for very long. You have to make the choice to keep going long after that initial burst of all the happy motivational feelings have worn off.
“The simple things that lead to success are all easy to do. But they’re just as easy not to do.” - Jim Rohn
Not doing them, doesn’t make your life any easier. Motivation (or a lack of) has nothing to do with it! It’s all a choice. You either choose to or choose not to.
Keep an eye out for the next blog post, "Motivation Myths...And why it isn't what you're lacking!!! (Part 2)" for 3 more motivation myths and how to bust through the plateaus these myths create for us!
References
1. “United States - New Year's Resolution for 2018 | Statistic.” Statista, Statista, www.statista.com/statistics/378105/new-years-resolution/.
2. “Why 80 Percent of New Year's Resolutions Fail.” U.S. News & World Report, U.S. News & World Report, health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/articles/2015-12-29/why-80-percent-of-new-years-resolutions-fail.
Tags
Commentaires