Motivation Scmotivation

People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.

Zig Ziglar

I've gotten that question a few times recently; where do you get your motivation? "I really admire your motivation," says a friend.

What motivation?

"You're walking how many miles? Oh, I couldn't do that..."

Well, neither could I...

Motivation isn't like an energy shot. You don't drink a tiny bottle of expensive, foul-flavored liquid and suddenly feel inspired. Hells bells, I don't feel inspired most of the time either.

Let me tell you a story; a few weeks back, at my Weight Watcher's meeting, a new lady spoke up and said, "I don't like fruits or vegetables. Like, any of them. Unless maybe catchup counts." Thirty pairs of eyes trained on her with expressions of mixed disbelief and amusement. No vegetables? Honestly, I couldn't figure out what someone must eat if they won't eat ANY plant material. That was my first reaction: sheesh, what do you eat, lady? My second reaction was, "Are you an adult or what?"

Look, I don't like peas. Or cooked carrots. Or corn. My husband doesn't like squash, asparagus, lima beans, or cauliflower. But you know what? I just eat them. It's half a cup of peas. It doesn't matter that I think peas are gross. I'm an adult, I'm perfectly capable of paying bills, putting on my scarf in the winter time, cleaning up my own mess, and eating a goddamn dish of peas.

Where do I get the motivation to walk nine miles?

I don't. I just go. If I sat around waiting to feel enthusiastic about exercise or waited until I really wanted that dry-chicken salad... I'd still be sitting around.

Yes, sometimes I feel enthused. And these days, I sometimes find myself longing for that gym time. But I didn't, at first.

Seriously, think about your day.

How many of you leap out of bed in the morning and say, "God, I really am looking forward to taking out the trash!" "I just can't wait for my 10am meeting!" "Oh, I totally adore my hour and a half commute time, sitting in traffic! And I just bet someone will cut me off at the light, won't that be great!"

No.

No.

You just do it because it needs to be done.

Brooke: "I don't want you to do the dishes, Gary. I want you to want to do the dishes!"
Gary: "Why would anyone want to do dishes?"

The Break-up

It helps, in the beginning of any lifestyle change, if you have some idea of what you want, and it definitely helps if you have a plan to get there. But day to day isn't about motivation; it's not about enthusiasm. It's about manning up, putting on your big girl panties, whatever you want to call it, and just get it done.

No one says you have to like it.

No one says you have to sit down to your egg white omelet and love every bite.

Some days you will, some days, you won't.

What's going to get you where you want to be isn't motivation. It's not inspiration. It's not willpower. It's not even determination.

It's simple drudgery. You do it because it has to be done, and if you don't do it, no one's going to do it for you.

Every time you put something in your mouth is another opportunity for it to be the right thing. It's not a race, no one is grading you. (Ok, well some people might be judging you, but really, you shouldn't care what they think. If you figure out how to do this, please share.)

Just do it.