Finding Motivation

In all my work as a personal trainer the one thing that will lead to success for all my clients is to help them figure out what motivates them. Sometimes I am successful sometimes I am not. Being in the business of true change and not just another "program" means having to watch clients fail and begin again over and over, which of course is something I know about personally and is the only reason I am where I am today. True change doesn't happen overnight unless you have some very strong and impactful motivation that happens in your life. Some change because of a medical test result, or a heart attack, or other diagnoses which seems to "shock" them into action. Others find motivation because they are sick and tired of hurting or being out of breath from a simple walk or they have a big event in their life (wedding or class reunion) and they feel compelled to change. What I have learned is that motivation is a tricky beast. It seems that many find themselves on fire one minute with working out and eating well and the next minute making excuses to stay where you are. I try to keep clients focused on what motivates them, I try to encourage and remind them that this is a marathon they are running not a sprint.  Reality is real motivation has to come from within each person, as the saying goes "you can't change anyone but yourself". 

I think part of the problem is that we see motivation as a single solid word  that is concrete, almost like an obelisk in its expression, buried in the clay of guilt and shame. We feel like failures when our motivation ebbs and flows as we try to prop up the monument as the storms of life hit us.  I have seen, and experienced myself time and time again the passion of newly realized conviction be toppled over into a sea of hopelessness in a mater of days or weeks. I myself have experience going from full blown fitness junkie, conceited in my fitness prowess,  to couch potato overnight. What is it about motivation that is so difficult for some and so easy for others? How can we stay motivated when we find our selves happy with the status quo. How can we motivate our selves to change even-though we know the path we are on will lead us to heart attack, strokes, less mobility and less energy?

I believe the biggest hurdle is changing how we view motivation itself and how we view fitness and health. Over my years of trying and failing I can tell you from experience that we need to think differently when it comes to how we motivate ourselves. Motivation is less of a ridged obelisk standing on the horizon far away which we struggle to obtain and more of boat anchored secure.  As the storms of life hit us our boat rocks and sways and pitches and dips, but if we can just hold on to the anchor we will see the storm will pass and we will have the courage to continue.  For true change and longevity of our goal, we also need to delve a bit deeper into our motivating terms. Yes, it's fine for a reunion or wedding to motivated us to eat better and workout, but if we delve deeper we can begin to change our lives for ourself instead of for an event.  If we can choose to see how impactful good nutrition and exercise can be for our cholesterol, or diabetes,  and how those can help us handle stress or negate depression then we are likely to stay motivated for a longer period of time. 

Lastly, we need to understand that life is going to happen, and life itself is going to try and throw us off course. In those moments we need to remember that we are worth the effort to stay motivated. Here's some practical tips on how to keep going the you want to throw in the towel. 

• Find inspiration: Search for people who have changed their lives and reach out to them for encouragement. Read about others successes and find hope in their stories via youtube or other blogs or websites. 
• Let your medical family history and your own blood work motivate you to change. Be determined to do what you can now to negate diabetes, high blood pressure, or other family medical issues. 
• Share your commitment to change with those around you, even if they don't agree with your choices. Become who you dream of with ever bite and every step. 
• Stop listening to self negativity. Commit to a positive self talk. 
• Realize that you will fail. Failing is part of the journey. Make a commitment to yourself that each time you fail you "Claim" what threw you off course instead of "blaming" others or yourself. Claim it, own it, take a deep breath and START AGAIN. This time with the knowledge that that situation knocked you down but didn't keep you down, learn from that punch of life and be determined to not let it knock you down again in the future.  

You are worth the work to begin again. 

We need you to inspire us with your story of self care. 

Your loved ones need your example of how to be healthy and happy even through the storms of life. 

You can do it! I know you can! Believe in the power of YOU!