Do you ever struggle with motivation? Motivation to workout, eat healthy, move more, do the laundry:) I know I do. Maybe not the working out but other things for sure!  My laundry and house work have a tendency to pile up!  So keep an open mind as we head down the rabbit hole here and look at motivation verse inspiration.

I need you to understand that motivation is an external component. You use motivation on someone to energize and excite them. It is great short term but doesn’t really last for the long haul.  Hence the wrestling cheer.  A wrestling match is short and filled with intense emotion.  Not sustainable for very long. But what keeps the athlete driven and focused in the hours of practice and disciplined with  his nutrition, recovery, and sleep? I would have to say it comes from somewhere deep inside. An internal component that the athlete draws from to keep plugging away on the journey.  I call it inner inspiration.

So how do we tap into that inner inspiration?!? First being aware that it even exist is a great beginning.  Quit looking for external sources to motivate you.  Go inside and look at the internal dialog/story (aka excuses ). Now, what is stopping you from doing what you want?  Let’s take a look at a few that  I have help others as well as myself over come.

“I don’t have enough time to …”    This is something I say to myself a lot.  I recognize this story in my own head.  I know that I make time for the things that are important to me.  If your intention is to start exercising I challenge you to start with once a week. Or make it even easier by starting with 10 minutes of pushups and squats at home once a week.  If you can be successful/ consistant with once a week feel free to add another day.  Make it easy.  Easy gets done.  Especially if you are just beginning.  I see to many people start balls to the walls and burn out after the first 2 to 4 weeks.  Long term consistency is what we want.  Just like the athlete.

“It is selfish to take time for  myself.”  Here is another one of my personal stories I struggle with.  But I have come to understand that I am so much nicer to be around and way more productive when I can take some time for myself to do a workout, prepare healthier food and take time to de-stress. Again start small.  Make it easy. Easy gets done.  Like a 10 or 20 minute bath or walk or some quiet time to read a book or a quick sweat session of pushups and squats:) I <3 pushups and squats can you tell:)

“I don’t want to cook two separate meals”  Hello!!! If it isn’t good enough for you to eat your kids shouldn’t be eating it either.  If they are hungry kids will eat the food in front of them.  Experiment with recipes. I have my kids help pick out things to try and have them help cook!

Strive to be the athlete that draws on their inner inspiration.  You are an athlete training for life.  Be 365 strong.  You are in this for the long haul not the next 30 days.  It is a journey, enjoy it. Practice being present and aware in the moment and the fat loss,  body, mind, soul transformation will happen!