Motivation follows Action! By far this is one of my most favourite mantras and my belief in it has served me well time and again. Just today I woke up on what must have been the wrong side of the bed. I had low energy, my thoughts were less than positive and being self employed with 2 kids at home I was feeling less than motivated to start let alone complete any tasks. One such task on my to do list for today was to get out and jog. I was inspired by Andreas recent post on learning to run and have committed to her 12 week learn to jog plan. I am just starting on week 2 and I didn’t want to do it!! I figured I had 2 options.
Option #1: Stay in bed all day.
Option #2: Just do it. Unfortunately option#1 isn’t actually an option and so I had no choice but to take option #2 and so I did it. I knew that exercise was first on my priority list as it would make all other things better. As I said above, I didn’t feel like it but knew that I couldn’t wait for the motivation, by acting, I knew through experience, I would get motivated.
Did it work? Absolutely! I had committed to a 20 minute walk/jog and 45 minutes later I returned back ready to take on the world. I was productive at work, I was a happy mom, I met my self set goals for the day and reinforced once again that action is the precursor to motivation.
Is there something you are waiting to get motivated to do? Lose weight, exercise, organize, paint…?
Don’t wait, just do.
Happy acting!
Christine
Christine is a yoga instructor, personal trainer and nutritionist who specializes in weight loss and womens health at Four Forty Fitness for Women in Burlington, Ontario. Check out the website at www.fourfortyfitness.ca
Christine, you are SO right! I have found this time and again. Often I have phrased it as, “there’s no such thing as willpower” but I prefer your terminology. Thanks for this!