When embarking on a journey to a healthier lifestyle, many people look for motivation to kick-start their workouts and diet plans. This is why most people create a fitness resolution around the new year. New year, new me right? While motivation can be a powerful spark, it is not the sustainable fuel needed to achieve lasting results. Progress happens when motivation ends and discipline kicks in. Understanding this distinction is crucial to transforming your health and fitness routine.
Motivation for Fitness: A Fleeting Force
Motivation is like a wave. It surges with intensity, pushing you to start new habits and tackle challenges. However, waves inevitably recede. Research shows that motivation fluctuates due to various factors such as mood, environment, and external influences (Miller, 2012). When motivation wanes, many people find themselves struggling to continue their healthy routines, leading to frustration and often giving up entirely.
Discipline: The Sustainable Powerhouse
Unlike motivation, discipline is about creating habits and sticking to them, regardless of how you feel on any given day. Discipline is the commitment to show up and do the work, even when it's hard, even when it's inconvenient. It’s about building a routine that puts you on autopilot. You don’t think about it, you just do it.
"Progress happens when motivation ends and discipline kicks in."
Accountability vs. Responsibility
As a weight loss and fitness coach, I am here to educate, design and hold you accountable, but you are ultimately accountable to yourself. You are responsible for your success. You are in control. You are the author of your life’s story. How will your next chapter read? How will your book end?
The Comfort Zone Trap
Making excuses is another way of saying you would rather live comfortably and unhealthily than choose to be temporarily uncomfortable to achieve health. Excuses are a defense mechanism, shielding you from the discomfort of change. However, this comfort zone is a trap. The fear of change is what keeps you stuck. To break free, you must confront this fear and push past it. Growth and progress lie just beyond your comfort wall.
Getting Out of Your Own Way
To succeed, you must get out of your own way. Acknowledge the fear and resistance, but don't let them dictate your actions. Embrace the temporary discomfort as a necessary part of the journey. Remember, every small step taken with discipline is a step closer to your goals.
By understanding the limits of motivation and the power of discipline, you empower yourself to make lasting changes. The journey to a healthier life is challenging, but with unwavering discipline, you can achieve remarkable progress. It’s time to stop seeking motivation and start cultivating discipline. The responsibility for your health and fitness lies with you. You are in control.
References:
Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2012). Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change. New York: Guilford Press.
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