We hear a lot about motivation. People often tell me they want or need to get themselves motivated, to get in shape. I get it, motivation is hard! Other words for motivation are: prompt, stimulate, activate, incentivize, and push. Sometimes my brain thinks in pictures. Here’s one of motivating myself. I’m holding a big stick with a boot fastened on the end. I’m reaching back and kicking myself in the butt to do something I don’t want to do. I don’t like it. To me, motivation is pushing ourselves from behind, or having someone push us. It takes energy and willpower, which is often in short supply.
Inspiration on the other hand, pulls us toward it. Like a 40" full curl ram atop the highest mountain. I don’t care how hard it is to get there. That’s why I train for this stuff. I don’t mind the pain in my legs, the burning lungs, or how grueling it is. I am inspired to climb for just one shot at the prize. There is nothing pushing me, I’m being pulled!
I know that scenario doesn’t inspire most people. But the key is to find YOUR inspiration. What is your inspiring reason for wanting to change your body, or anything else you have in mind?
When setting goals, the majority of people set a goal to exercise. But that’s not a goal. There is nothing inspiring about running down the side of the road, eating dust. There has to be a bigger reason. A joyful purpose for doing the exercise that is going to bring about the results you want.
If I wasn’t bodybuilding or hunting big game, I would need to find another reason to stay in shape. Those just happen to be goals that inspire me. My motivation for lifting weights is to be strong, and to transform my body into the picture I have in my head of the physique I want. I am still in pursuit of that vision. I want my legs, back, heart and lungs healthy so I can compete in the backcountry with the animals who call the mountains home. To go hunt an animal on his turf, where he trains every day to stay alive requires some effort and a fine tuned machine. At least to make it an enjoyable process and not a hellish torture week.
I want to stay in good shape for other reasons too. My family deserves the best from me, and I don’t want to spend a fortune on medical bills. There are a lot of good reasons to be healthy. It just so happens that I am inspired by the fun things. It takes the drudgery out of exercise and diet.
This principle applies to everything. If you're tired of kicking yourself in the butt, try getting inspired instead. It's easier.