Being in the fitness business exposes Diane and me (former expediters now gym owners) to motivation issues all the time; not only in our own inner game but with gym members as well. Why do people work out in the first place? What motivates them to act? What motivates them to quit?
When faced with the many healthy vs. unhealthy choices each of us has in a typical day, what motivates us to do the healthy thing vs the unhealthy thing? Why is it that one day we happily choose the apple for a snack and another day we polish off a large bag of chips? Why is it that some days we are eager to get into the gym to work out but on others it is a challenge to make the trip or even do a few knee lifts where we stand right now? Why do you experience unhealthy cravings in the first place? Why do you give into them sometimes but overcome them other times?
Motivation applies to all domains of life. Christians practice their religion with devotion and then backslide. Office workers maintain pristine desktops and then let things pile up. Motorists keep their cars in top condition and then let them slide. People seek out uplifting people and conversations one day and slip into unproductive and harmful gossip the next. Sales people charge eagerly into their work one week and find it nearly impossible to pick up the phone the next. Married people keep their vows but some will break them when the temptation of another man or woman present themselves. Some people quit smoking for good, others quit only to take it up again. Expediters tend diligently to their trucks while on layover one week and lay idly for hours in front of the TV the next. The truck sleeper or cabinet that needs a good spring cleaning sometimes gets done, or it may remain dirty and cluttered for months.
A characteristic found among the most successful people and top performers in any field is strong willpower. If you want to improve your results in any area of life, one of the best things you can do for yourself is strengthen your willpower.
This is a fascinating topic that I now study on an ongoing basis. One of the best insights I have gained is that willpower is like a muscle. We can use it only so much before it gives out. The good news is that, like a muscle, willpower can be trained and made stronger. The even better news is that ways to strengthen your willpower are readily available and easy to apply. As with physical exercise, a certain amount of work is involved, and as with exercise, this work can be done by almost anyone, anywhere, anytime. Once you know what to do, it's easy to begin and it's easy to start slow and build strength and endurance from there.
One of the best books I have read on this is The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why it Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It by Kelly McGonigal. Check it out.
P.S. These thoughts were prompted by the thread Lawrence initiated: Need Motivation? It's Here! Rolling Strong Weekly Wellness Call. Participating regularly in calls like this is one of the things you can do to strengthen your willpower.
When faced with the many healthy vs. unhealthy choices each of us has in a typical day, what motivates us to do the healthy thing vs the unhealthy thing? Why is it that one day we happily choose the apple for a snack and another day we polish off a large bag of chips? Why is it that some days we are eager to get into the gym to work out but on others it is a challenge to make the trip or even do a few knee lifts where we stand right now? Why do you experience unhealthy cravings in the first place? Why do you give into them sometimes but overcome them other times?
Motivation applies to all domains of life. Christians practice their religion with devotion and then backslide. Office workers maintain pristine desktops and then let things pile up. Motorists keep their cars in top condition and then let them slide. People seek out uplifting people and conversations one day and slip into unproductive and harmful gossip the next. Sales people charge eagerly into their work one week and find it nearly impossible to pick up the phone the next. Married people keep their vows but some will break them when the temptation of another man or woman present themselves. Some people quit smoking for good, others quit only to take it up again. Expediters tend diligently to their trucks while on layover one week and lay idly for hours in front of the TV the next. The truck sleeper or cabinet that needs a good spring cleaning sometimes gets done, or it may remain dirty and cluttered for months.
A characteristic found among the most successful people and top performers in any field is strong willpower. If you want to improve your results in any area of life, one of the best things you can do for yourself is strengthen your willpower.
This is a fascinating topic that I now study on an ongoing basis. One of the best insights I have gained is that willpower is like a muscle. We can use it only so much before it gives out. The good news is that, like a muscle, willpower can be trained and made stronger. The even better news is that ways to strengthen your willpower are readily available and easy to apply. As with physical exercise, a certain amount of work is involved, and as with exercise, this work can be done by almost anyone, anywhere, anytime. Once you know what to do, it's easy to begin and it's easy to start slow and build strength and endurance from there.
One of the best books I have read on this is The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why it Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It by Kelly McGonigal. Check it out.
P.S. These thoughts were prompted by the thread Lawrence initiated: Need Motivation? It's Here! Rolling Strong Weekly Wellness Call. Participating regularly in calls like this is one of the things you can do to strengthen your willpower.
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