We’ve all heard it, said it, believed it. “Motivation drives success.” “What is your “Why?”” We’ve created dream boards to help keep us motivated. But really, who cares about motivation if that’s all you got.
That’s harsh, I know. So, maybe its not about being motivated but rather how motivated you are? Can that be it. Like if I really, really, really, want, need, dream about, seek or value something is that enough?
I don’t think so! Nope, not at all. Even if the end benefit is a healthier (fill in the blank__(really! fill this in)__).
I have people tell me all the time how much they want something and quickly follow that up with what’s preventing them from going for it. Simple things like I want to lose some weight to fit in my clothes better to I need to quit engaging in some unhealthy activities because it’s killing me! Really… like a doctor says “quit or die” and people won’t or can’t quit. It’s not motivation I think that’s holding them back.
So the lesson to me is that motivation is a nice compliment to success but it’s not going to get me to the end result I want. It’s nice to feel motivated, but it won’t overcome barriers. Feelings like being motivated come and go. Like happiness and sadness, being frightened or brave. Motivation is a feeling and it will change pretty regularly.
If we really, really, really want to achieve something, to have something, to be something what does it take if motivation is a nice feeling we have when doing it, but it doesn’t always show up?
We know what we need to do is to:
“Carry into action deliberately”
“Obligate or bind…to obligate or pledge oneself”
“Pledge to some particular course of action”
Ultimately what we want to do is to:
Achieve, carry out, perform, follow through, fulfill, or simply “Do!”
Right?! Just Do It! — where have we heard that?
But we can not “Do It” if we are not Committed!
Commitment is the key here. Commitment will get you through the rain, the heat, sore muscles, fatigue, even boredom. The words above are, according to the Merriam Webster dictionary, synonyms for “Commitment.”
Common ways we may see a lack of commitment, according to Webster, are sentences like:
“He keeps delaying his decision because he doesn’t want to commit himself.”
“They have not yet committed to a particular course of action.”
It would seem we may know what we need to do. We may know what our decision is or how we are going to achieve something. But the missing link in performance and reaching our desired outcome is Commitment.
My Challenge to YOU!
I want to challenge you to a 6 week challenge. I want you to find something that is challenging physically, but not impossible, for you. It may be a walk, riding a bicycle, or running for 20 minutes. It doesn’t matter something physical that you know or think you should do to reach some physical goal you may have like losing weight or becoming stronger.
I want you to find a time that works and then COMMIT to doing the activity for 5 days a week, for 6 weeks. No backing out. No excuses. No “buts” or “soons.” Just commit to it and do it. Even when you don’t feel like it. Even when you are not motivated!
My story is this. I was just being tired and feeling weak but knew I needed to increase my activity level get stronger and more capable of doing the things I really wanted to do like hiking.
I committed to walking a path in my town that was about 2 miles in total every morning at 6:00am — in the winter — in the pacific northwest! That was over 2 years ago. I still walk 5 mornings a week. Not quite as early and sometimes not quite as long. But I’m still doing it.
If you can commit to 6 weeks. 30 days and keep to it you may find your life changed. After that what other things can you perhaps commit to, to help you live a more active and fulfilling life?
Send me a note, make a comment. I want to hear your stories of commitment.
Until next time — Move Better, Live Better!
Coach Don
