The Myth of Motivation

I don’t want to get up at 5 am. I really don’t. It’s not my favourite. But I do it. I do it because I want to workout. I want to feel fit, strong and energized. I want longevity and a high quality of life. So I do it. 5 am.

Why 5 am? As a busy mom, this is the time I can CONSISTENTLY carve out for myself. There is literally no other reason for me to be up at that time. I have tried working out in the evenings BUT something always comes up that I wasn’t expecting. That blank spot in my calendar can easily become filled with a last minute science project, bake sale emergency or any other kid/household crisis that can only be handled by mom. As a working mom, I wanted to spend my evenings with my family, squeezing in quality time whenever I can.

Am I MOTIVATED to get up at 5 am? Not particularly. Sounds like a great plan the night before when I set my alarm, but some days when that alarm goes off, I’d like nothing more than to shut it off and pull the blankets up over my head and go back to sleep. And there have been times when I have done that. I usually have a 5 minute argument with myself about whether I should go back to sleep. I have lost that argument before and stayed in bed. Those days end up being shitty days. Despite having more time in the morning to get ready, without the workout I usually end up late for work, feeling fatigued all day and angry at myself for “failing” to do what I actually wanted to do. I actually want to work out. I want the endorphins, the feeling of accomplishment, the body that comes from the hard work. In the moment that I choose to sleep instead, what I am actually choosing is the opposite of my truest desires. I am consciously choosing to not have those things.

If I want to achieve my desires, I have to CONSISTENTLY show up and choose to do the hard thing. Even when I am not so motivated to do it. It is easy to do things when we are motivated and energized by the thought, but real change comes from doing the thing even when we don’t feel like it. If we rely on motivation alone, we will fail. Motivation is fleeting. It’s great to kick start something but if you want to create lasting change you have to build habits like a muscle. Keep lifting it up and putting it down, even when you are tired and don’t want to anymore. Keep going, that’s where the magic happens. In the moments when you don’t think you can, but you do anyway. That shit is EMPOWERING. Doing something you didn’t think you could makes you an ass kicker of life! Beat your chest like Tarzan and swing through the rest of your day like you’re the queen of the jungle.

A big mistake I have seen time and again is people “waiting” for the right time. When dance season is over, I’ll have more time and energy. Once I get this house under control, when things slow down at work. The excuses go on and on. The truth is, there is never a good time and there will always be a million reasons not to do something. If you are wondering when motivation is going to show up for you and kick your ass into gear, it’s not. You have to DECIDE to be your own motivator. Decide that what you desire is more important than your excuse and do it. Just do it. Remember why you want something in the moments you waffle. Show up for your dreams, for yourself and do the damn thing anyway. There is something so incredibly powerful in doing something you didn’t think you could do.