Internal Motivation

Life is full of challenges and difficult times.  We often look for motivation in all kinds of shapes and forms; New Years Resolutions, bathingsuit season, vacation, class reunion, so on and so on.  We’ve discussed motivation and where it comes from quite often, especially when it comes to goal settings.  However, only true motivation has to come from with in yourself.  Lisbeth, from Functional Fitness Lisbeth has a great write up titled “Throw Down the Crutches,” in which she talks about this exact thing. 

Throw Down the Crutches

If you really want to achieve, you have to throw down the crutches. You have to be a big girl or boy and toss down the fears, the excuses, and . . . the external motivators. Yup. The goodies and the trinkets and the goal prizes are not going to get you what you really want. Only you can get you what you really want.

So, it’s time to stop playing “Little Suzie was a good girl and gets a treat” and start playing “Little Suzie wants 20 f***ing pull-ups.” Little Suzie needs to get dialed in and focused. On herself and her Functional Fitness.

See, you can’t settle for the crutch of the external motivation. It won’t be enough when things get really hard.

YOU have to want it more than anybody else. Because YOU are what is left at the end of the day, all alone, with your decisions and your fears.

There’s no prize or reward or goodie that can really soothe your soul, quiet your mind, make peace within you. External motivators are like drugs or alcohol. They make you feel good for a little while and then they’re gone. And then you need the next hit or drink to survive the new set of pain that will come. And the pain always comes.

Better to just find that motivation within yourself. Figure out why you are not achieving what you want in this life — in the gym, in your job, in your relationships. Yeah, you’re going to have to dig deep. Really think about things. Sort some sh** out. But you can get there. And then, armed with internal motivation, you can achieve again and again and again.

Or you can just keep aiming for the next prize. The next goodie, the next trinket, the next empty victory. And miss. Maybe hit. Then miss.

Why not just do the work and take the sure shot?