#1 Thing That Kills My Motivation

I talk about this a lot!

At least, that's how it feels to me.....

I often get asked questions around motivation and how I stay motivated.

In all honest, right now, I don't feel so motivated in different areas of my life.

• Swimming, whether sea or pool doesn't happen often

• Running, is sporadic

• Gym is slipping

That's only 3 and they are all fitness related, granted, but they are key areas I know I am feeling less motivated in.

Why do we want motivation?

If we dig into motivation, I would say that most of us see it as the thing that drives us to take action to do anything in life.

I say this because, whenever you ask someone why they haven't done something, they usually follow it up with "I don't feel motivated or I don't have any motivation"

In some ways, it's become an excuse for us, a get out of jail free card, because we can hide behind a lack of it.

In reality

Motivation will always come and go!

It isn't motivation that drives you to take action, it's self discipline. It's taking the action even when your motivation levels are low because you know it's what you want and need to do.

There is never going to be a time where you forever feel motivated to take action, no matter how badly you want something.

The key is to put the right habits in place in order to support you when the motivation train leaves the station.

The biggest thing affecting my motivation right now

Comparison! It's that simple!

I am comparing myself to so many people right now that it's resulting in me doing less.

I love to use the Strava app to track my exercise activity because it motivates me, holds me accountable and I enjoy seeing what other people are up to.

But there in lies the issue. Seeing what other people are up to, also shows me that they are doing more than me.

A fact that shouldn't bother me or impact what I am doing.

• There are people running more often and further than me.

• There are people sea swimming multiple times a week and for longer distances

Why is it bothering me?

It bothers me because I always want to push myself to do more, to be my best and to show up for myself. I know I am doing way more than a lot of people but I still beat myself up on silly little things.

So I am writing this post to call attention to the way I am feeling and to maybe highlight this same feeling for someone else. I need to know and I want you to know, that it's ok to feel this way UNTIL it stops you from taking action towards what you want. It's up to us to re-write our story and change the outcome.

Here's what I am going to do

I am going to step less time on the Strava app looking at what other people are up to. I am going to shift my focus instead to what I am doing and take the feelings I am feeling to change things up a bit. I can use the comparison to my advantage. Here's some questions to do that:

1. Who am I comparing myself to and why?

2. What are they doing that I think I should be doing?

3. Why do I think I should be doing that?

4. How can I start to do more of that (if it's what I truly want)?

5. How can I step away from comparison - what do I need to do more of and what do I need to do less of?

6. What am I going to do going forward?

As I said, I am going to spend less time on the Strava app and focus more on myself. I will revisit my goals for each of these areas and see where I can call in support and where I can call in accountability.

Comparison can either drown you or serve you, and I hope you choose the latter.

Now,

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