The Truth About Motivation

These words really shifted my perspective and helped me see the long term power of discipline and determination. It’s something I implore you to remember especially when your willpower or motivation seems to fade.

You had the goal; you wrote it down. You got excited and you probably took some action toward it. And you felt good. You may have kept it to yourself so you could nurture it. You felt pumped, you had the motivation. Then, a few weeks later, you look at the goal you wrote and it’s been days since you even made a half-hearted attempt to chip away at achieving it. You ask yourself, ‘What happened? Where did all that drive go?’.

What you need to know

I know it’s hard to commit to your goal when all the motivation you had seems to have gone away. It can be crushing to feel that you have resign yourself to not only not achieving your goals but maybe you’re a failure.

What you need to know, however, is this: persistence and determination become your new motivation. And in fact become a stronger motivator!

There is so much power in doing what you thought you couldn’t. There is a satisfaction that comes from being determined and persevering that becomes your new motivation. And while others are flicking through Netflix in the evening, you’re working on your goals, bringing them into  reality.

The Secret Juice

I remember my time training for the London marathon. I’d be up at 6am in the wind and the rain pounding out the miles. I wasn’t necessarily cold but I was wet and a little tired. As I ran down the last bit of road to home, the new motivation would arrive. Here was I finishing a run while others were just waking up. Despite the wind, the rain and the comfort of a warm bed, I was disciplined enough to put in the training. That was when I realised the power of that quote.

I will continue to remind all of you who need to hear this: motivation will run out. Discipline, commitment and determination will always feel better and last longer than motivation ever will. And I implore you to think of this quote next time you feel motivation begin to subside.

Let me know what you think down in the comments; I love to hear from you.