What drives us? What inspires us? What are we trying to accomplish? Those answers are different for all of us, and the secret to it all: Knowing who YOU are! Who are you, and what are you about? What are your interests? What is your passion? What motivates you? Do you motivate anybody else? Those are some questions to answer for yourself. For me, what motivates me is my wife Sarah, and of course our kids, but I also find motivation from the people who we run with in our run club. We all have our stories. We all have different goals for ourselves. Yet we all have that same common factor: we like to run! This is the central point that drives us all. We may all get there by a different route, but we all help each other along the way. Motivation though is truly an inside job. We may have help along the way to keep us going, but if we did not have that driving force inside of each of us, we would not make it. That is what you need to help you be successful in your goals, whatever those goals may be. You have to be able to dig deep inside of yourself to truly find the secret, and then utilize all of the other outside help you get from your family, and also your friends. Never pass up help! Besides, they are looking to you for help and encouragement as well.
Often times how we feel when we exercise can be like the weather. There are some days when it is foggy, dreary looking out, and you feel tired, and not particularly excited to go workout. Your particular mood sets the tone for how that workout experience is going to go. Not every day is “magical”.
This picture is the same part of the bike trail as the one with all of the fog. Some days everything is crystal clear, everything is clicking right along. You feel smooth, strong, can see “for miles”, and actually the miles can go fast when you can also let your mind go and just have time to think. These are the days that make up for the bad ones. This is why I keep going at it. It is a lot like golf for me. I don’t play much now, but before what kept me trying was I would hit that one great shot, and it would fire you up to keep going, despite all of the other “crappy” shots you may have had prior. It was enough motivation to keep you going. It is no different with working out. Find out that motivation drive within you, and hang onto it.
This is the whole point of exercise. You are trying to reap the benefits of all of this, and you can, you just have to keep going. Some days may be tougher than others, but keep going.
You have to learn to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Keep reminding yourself of what it is you are trying to accomplish. It is also a great way to learn about other people around you, but it is even a better way of truly trying to find out about yourself. What is it about you that makes you different? What makes you unique? What do you have to offer? We all can learn from each other. We all have our life experiences, good and bad. We have to learn to take risks, and to take on challenges. You have no idea what you are capable of until you try. So…
If you keep this in mind, you can’t go wrong. Follow your heart, and do something healthy for your heart. Be there for others, but be there for yourself as well. It would be hard to be motivating to others, or to make them happy, if you are not happy, and can’t motivate yourself! There is only one you, so be the best you that you can be!
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3966
