SCREW Motivation!!!
A couple of days ago, I was sitting in my office at about 8:30pm in the evening and it was at that moment that I should’ve been headed to the gym.
However, to put it frankly, I didn’t want to go. I was tired. My feet hurt from several stubbed toes (how I got them is for another story in another blog). I also was quite comfortable where I was sitting and the thought of mustering the needed energy to go to the gym and get in a workout didn’t excite me. My preference was to go to Trader Joe’s, buy some Raw Almond butter, and then head to the crib to sit and enjoy it while listening/watching some inspirational YouTube videos.
You know what though? Even though I didn’t feel like going to the gym because I wasn’t motivated, I went anyway. To me, my commitment to a healthy lifestyle and being the greatest possible version of myself, as well at my integrity to myself is greater than the need to feel motivated.
Motivation is a great feeling to have. It often comes when we initially set out intentions to achieve a goal or adopt a new habit that inspires us. It gets us excited and makes us feel that we can do anything we put our minds to. However, because feelings are ephemeral, it comes and goes. Most people however, once they no longer have that feeling of motivation, give up on their goal or dreams altogether or wind up back in that same rut that they originally sought to escape. Or, it causes them to start and stop at something over and over again depending on how motivated they feel, which deprives them of the consistency one needs to accomplish something.
While motivation is “nice” to have, it’s a bunch of b.s. and not necessary. What really matters is your passion or commitment towards something. A big and strong “Why” if you will. Those factors, when strong enough, will help drive you through any period of trial or tribulation and weather you through any storm where you’re definitely NOT feeling motivated.
Many of the things that can improve the quality of our lives if done on a regular basis, whether it’s meditation, exercise, eating healthy, giving up that nasty cigarette habit, investing our money wisely rather than splurging on things that leave us broke or in debt, or some other life transforming habit because we’re feeling either depressed, or sad, or lazy, or tired, or distracted, or any other feeling that’s the DIRECT opposite of motivating, but we have to be committed to the long term benefits rather than the short term feelings.
After eating healthy for five years where I’ve given up sugar (except for the last day of the month), and given up the standard American diet for the Paleo diet (except for weekends where I allow myself a cheat meal or a cheat day), I sometimes don’t feel motivated to eat healthy and feel more motivated to buy a bag of soft backed chocolate chip cookies from Trader Joe’s or those delicious Insomnia Cookies (you seriously gotta try those, but I’m more committed to my health and well being.
For the love of God, please stop using a lack of motivation as an excuse for not doing something that you know that’s good for you. It’s not a good excuse at all. Once you become committed to something and put integrity with yourself as a top priority, you’ll see how unnecessary it really is.
This is The Viable Alternative.
Hope this helps,
Ike Love
