Struggling with motivation? Here’s why…

Motivation. Or lack of it. Is the reason the majority people I sit down with give when I ask why they have struggled to maintain a positive change to their life. Be it a push to lose weight and get healthy, stick to their rehab plan post knee replacement or even when trying to improve their business or professional life.

We start with gusto… and then flame out!

But why?

Let me share a short, but personal story.

I’ve always been goal orientated and hungry for a result — the next BIG thing… and occasionally impatient. This led me, in both my own health and fitness, and in business to always be looking for the “thing” that was going to change everything.

I would be incredibly motivated every time I found the next “silver bullet” that would allow me to achieve all my goals if only I just KNEW and DID the thing.

From “Corrective, Holistic Exercise” to Bootcamps, kettlebells, weight lifting, CrossFit and everything in between — I did it all in the space of a few years, both from a business sense and personal exercise regime.

Short periods (6–12weeks) of intense focus and consistency, followed by a month or two (sometimes 3) of… well…. Stuffing about.

I’d achieve some of the things I set out for, missed many and was generally frustrated and stressed about my lack of consistent results,

Then one day, everything started to click.

I became a Dad.

I’d moved in with my now wife, Kacie — and with that came (the best part of the deal) an energetic two-year-old boy!

It wasn’t an overnight change, in fact, a gradual change over a few years. 
 
 My focus started to become clearer. No longer were the external rewards (big muscles, making “the” rugby team or material financial success) my priority, but family.

No longer was my health and fitness about me. Nor the business success I had longed for. It was about setting an example and providing stability for my family.

I’d discovered my why.

With that consistent focus, came consistent effort. With consistent effort came consistent results in both my health and my business life (surprising, right?).

You see, motivation comes and goes. That’s why I and so many other people would stop after a poor result, get frustrated and emotional and lose motivation.

Like a shower, we need motivation daily.

Daily motivation comes from having a clear purpose.

It’s even in the definition;

motivation (məʊtɪˈveɪʃ(ə)n/) noun

noun: motivation; plural noun: motivations

1. a reason or reasons for acting or behaving in a particular way.

Motivation comes from having a reason to act. For me, that’s to support my young family and set a great example that I hope they will follow.

For you, it may be different.

But one thing is for sure — if you want to change an area of your life there must be a strong emotional reason why you must change.

If you don’t have a strong “why” you’ll always struggle with motivation…

Need help with you personal why in business or health? Please reach out to me at dane@opt.net.au