It’s easy to be motivated when things are easy.
Here’s an example: You haven’t exercised in a while and you’re determined you are going to get into shape. So the first day you decide to take a walk in the evening. Even though it’s just walking, you’re out of shape and it’s a challenge, but you’re out there.
It’s easy enough to get started, but it starts getting hard when you’re taking that first walk and you reach the end of the block. You may start thinking about your options:
1. “I’m pushing through to the next block.”
2. “That’s a good start. I’ll just turn back.”
3. “Maybe I can start jogging now.”
If you do choose to turn back then you’re not really trying. Remember: It’s not supposed to be easy.
If you choose to push on through to the next block, how many blocks will you travel? Can you walk through the whole neighborhood? If you do, can you go a little further tomorrow?
Everybody has this inner struggle, particularly with fitness, but it applies to life as well. The inspiring thing about motivation is when you go further than you thought you could that motivation gets a THOUSAND times stronger.
It happened for me yesterday. I finished a hard day of heavy chest weights and was ready to leave. My trainer asked if I wanted to do some cardio. I thought sure, I can hit the treadmill for 5 minutes. He was thinking more like running hard for 30 minutes!!
Like my walking example above I thought, Well, I will at least give it a try. At the 10-minute mark, I was convinced I wouldn’t make it. In my head I said, “It’s not supposed to be easy,” so I kept pushing through. At the 15-minute mark, I asked the trainer if I could turn the speed down.
His response: “Only if you don’t want to get better.”
I decided to push through. At about the 17-minute mark, I was convinced I would quit at 20 minutes. When that 20-minute mark came around, I kept pushing through.
Long story long — I made it to 30 minutes.
And I’ll tell you what. I don’t know if I could’ve been prouder of myself and I’m more motivated then ever to tackle the 45 minute run!
My quote for the day comes from my grandmother: “It’s alright to fail; it’s not alright to fail to try.”
Day 7, John
No comments:
Post a Comment