To be motivated means to be moved to do something. The feeling of not wanting to do anything defines a lack of motivation, you aren't going anywhere. When it comes to achieving goals, motivation tends to come in ebbs and flows. How can you control your attitude so that you need never seek motivation again.
Imagine four people who walk into a gym, they are consulted by their trainer and come up with 4 different reasons for training.
- Looking good for a holiday
- Becoming the best version of themselves
- Winning a bodybuilding competition
- Improving their health
One of these reasons is significantly different from the other three, can you identify which one it is. Can you identify why it's different?
Reasons 1, 3 and 4 are all motivations originating from these people's environment, they are what we call extrinsic motivations.
Reason number 2 is a far deeper and more powerful reason, which comes deep from within, an intrinsic motivation.
Think back to a time when you were bloody minded about something, where you just did what you had to do irrespective of any barriers or obstacles you faced. I'll bet the motivation to do it came from an intrinsic source.
Goal setting is a powerful tool for extrinsic motivation, but it should not be the exclusive form of your motivation. If you only allow yourself to be motivated by external factors, then you will find over time your enthusiasm and motivation will diminish. After the euphoria of achieving a goal dies away, all that is left is a sense of 'what next?'. Constantly looking outwards and seeking new motivation means that you're never directly acting upon your core values, you will never be truly happy.
Whereas external rewards are fleeting, intrinsically sourced motivation is permanent. It is a state where no matter what changes around you, your values propel you into action. All that you need to further your progression lies within.
Picture this: Instead of forcing the beast into your consciousness , the beast from within will be bursting out of you.
Creating a source of motivation from within
Once you have spent time thinking about these things, and have begun to create your source of intrinsic motivation, do nothing else but allow it to manifest itself. Exercise it like any muscle and as it grows stronger, embrace its power.
Solidifying and acknowledging your values around health and fitness
If you do all of this then you will be well on your way to being unshakable in your resolve to better yourself and achieve everything you want to be.
Think back to a time when you were bloody minded about something, where you just did what you had to do irrespective of any barriers or obstacles you faced. I'll bet the motivation to do it came from an intrinsic source.
Goal setting is a powerful tool for extrinsic motivation, but it should not be the exclusive form of your motivation. If you only allow yourself to be motivated by external factors, then you will find over time your enthusiasm and motivation will diminish. After the euphoria of achieving a goal dies away, all that is left is a sense of 'what next?'. Constantly looking outwards and seeking new motivation means that you're never directly acting upon your core values, you will never be truly happy.
Whereas external rewards are fleeting, intrinsically sourced motivation is permanent. It is a state where no matter what changes around you, your values propel you into action. All that you need to further your progression lies within.
Picture this: Instead of forcing the beast into your consciousness , the beast from within will be bursting out of you.
Creating a source of motivation from within
- Firstly you need to develop an internal locus of control. Your life is in your hands and no-one else's. Remind yourself that you are a result of your actions and if you want to change then it is only by letting go of who you are now that you can make way for who you must become. Only you control your future, not your partner, not your God, but you.
- Then you need to have a gym which allows you to exercise without constraints. As your passion develops coaches will be coaches and not dictators, as the direction of training will come from you. Obtain the tools for your continued success.
- Become used to the idea of being into fitness for the long haul. Short term is not an option. The ultimate ambition should be to master fitness, to become the strongest possible version of yourself.
Once you have spent time thinking about these things, and have begun to create your source of intrinsic motivation, do nothing else but allow it to manifest itself. Exercise it like any muscle and as it grows stronger, embrace its power.
Solidifying and acknowledging your values around health and fitness
- Simply ask yourself who do you think is the best role model for fitness? List their qualities
- e.g. a gymnast
- Flexibilty, power, strength and endurance, aesthetics
- What is the best training method for long term fitness, for both enjoyment and results? List the qualities
- Intense interval training
- Short, interesting, challenging
- Improves fitness and aesthetics
- Resistance training
- Builds strength, power, endurance and flexibility through primal movement patterns
- What is the best approach to nutrition? List the qualities
- Eating unprocessed whole foods most of the time
- Simple and proven
- Satisfying and varied
- Encourages a to a healthy social life where you can enjoy food
- With these qualities in front of you, write concisely what you value in health and fitness.
My health and fitness values would sound like this:
"Simple, long term and effective, nutrition and training designed to achieve an advanced and balanced level of performance and aesthetics."
Having identified your values, and having worked on your source of intrinsic motivation, now establish extrinsic goals to measure and accelerate your progress. But be careful to ensure you don't lose sight of the bigger picture.
Your goals must not contradict your values
Your goals must not contradict your values
- In my case a bad example of a goal would be to train for a marathon, specific endurance training would counter my value of a balanced physique.
If you do all of this then you will be well on your way to being unshakable in your resolve to better yourself and achieve everything you want to be.
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