Motivation – Is it in you?
MOTIVATION [moh-tuh-vey-shuhn] Noun. Definition: that which gives purpose and direction to behavior
We can motivate ourselves to rush through a project so we can get out of work early. We can motivate ourselves to give up our daily trip to the coffee shop for a month to pay for that impulse purchase we just made at the mall. We can even find the motivation to sprint through a slippery parking lot to get to our warm car. But when it comes to motivating ourselves to exercise and eat right, why is it we just can’t seem to find the motivation to do it? We know all the facts: it will make us feel better, we’ll live longer lives and it will give us more energy. It’s something that has positive results and we know we should be doing it, so why do most people find any excuse in the book to not do it? Well, the answer to that question is simple – being fit and healthy takes work and the results are not IMMEDIATE. Humans are all about instant gratification. We know what we want and we want it NOW! The “average Joe” is used to getting things instantaneously – Instant Messenger, Fast Foods, Buy It Now. No waiting with minimal effort! So what happens when the “average Joe” decides to get healthy? The “average Joe” gets on the treadmill for 15 minutes, pops a few magic diet pills, eats a salad for lunch and expects to lose 15 pounds in 2 days. And when those expectations are not met, the “average Joe” gives up. And that, my friend, is why the “average Joe” in America is overweight and unhealthy. It doesn’t take a person 1 week to get unhealthy, so it’s insane to think that it’s possible to get healthy overnight and without some sort of effort. Just because you are not “seeing” immediate results does not mean that small changes aren’t happening. Each small change contributes to the big changes. When it comes to your health, think ahead and see the big picture. If you take care of yourself now, in less than 2 weeks you can be feeling much better. In a few months you can have a “new” body. In a few years you can be achieving goals that you never thought were possible. And, in a few decades you can be a healthy, medicine free “senior” running laps around your walker bound friends. Your health is not something that you should disregard just because you don’t feel motivated to do something about it. Just knowing that your quality of life will GREATLY improve should be motivation enough. The next time you feel your motivation to workout and eat right waning, think about how much that one workout or one healthy meal can help your health in the long run.
