You had the goal; you wrote it down. You got excited and you probably took some action toward it. And you felt good. You may have kept it to yourself so you could nurture it. You felt pumped, you had the motivation. Then, a few weeks later, you look at the goal you wrote and it’s been days since you even made a half-hearted attempt to chip away at achieving it. You ask yourself, ‘What happened? Where did all that drive go?’.
I know it’s hard to commit to your goal when all the motivation you had seems to have gone away. It can be crushing to feel that you have resign yourself to not only not achieving your goals but maybe you’re a failure.
What you need to know, however, is this: persistence and determination become your new motivation. And in fact become a stronger motivator!
There is so much power in doing what you thought you couldn’t. There is a satisfaction that comes from being determined and persevering that becomes your new motivation. And while others are flicking through Netflix in the evening, you’re working on your goals, bringing them into reality.
I remember my time training for the London marathon. I’d be up at 6am in the wind and the rain pounding out the miles. I wasn’t necessarily cold but I was wet and a little tired. As I ran down the last bit of road to home, the new motivation would arrive. Here was I finishing a run while others were just waking up. Despite the wind, the rain and the comfort of a warm bed, I was disciplined enough to put in the training. That was when I realised the power of that quote.
I will continue to remind all of you who need to hear this: motivation will run out. Discipline, commitment and determination will always feel better and last longer than motivation ever will. And I implore you to think of this quote next time you feel motivation begin to subside.
Let me know what you think down in the comments; I love to hear from you.
If you enjoyed this article, hit the like button below. Would mean a lot to me and it helps other people see the article.
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn
Ben Jackson is a registered counsellor, coach, and lecturer with nearly 10 years of professional experience. He helps clients with stress and anxiety, anger management, self esteem, confidence, and depression.
If you would like to schedule a free intro call then please click the button below – I recommend having a brief initial call to make sure you feel you can work with me as well as discuss fees and arranging your first session.
Book a free introductory call