Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day – Dalai Lama
Motivation, I’m completely fascinated by it. It is one word that has immense power to it. It’s the driving force for everything you do. It is the very essence for your actions, it gets you out of bed in the morning and takes you on life’s journey.
What individually motivates people to move their body day after day, year after year, even overcoming setbacks continually physically challenging themselves?
Of course motivation is unique to each and every one of us. Losing weight for a special event, seeking validation from others, getting a bikini body for a holiday, fear of looking bad in photos are all examples of extrinsic motivators.
These external motivators can be effective, and you’re completely focussed to achieve the task in hand, but what happens when you’ve done that? For many, once that goal is achieved, they slide back into old habits.
I’ve done it myself. A holiday to the Bahamas when I was in my twenties got me motivated to get bikini ready. I hit the gym hard for the first time in my life, regularly for six months.
Even though mentally I felt the best I ever had from all the health benefits, once I was back from my holiday in the sun my training stopped. Just like that!
Looking back, I have no idea why I didn’t continue as I felt so good. Obviously, I had purely extrinsic motivation. I didn’t feel it emotionally, nor did I realise the importance of it for my future self.
The motivation that keeps you training or practicing consistently day after day, week after week and year upon year is your superpower. This is called your intrinsic motivation, its in the heart of you, we all have it. That innate driving force that is in each and every one of us and it’s a beautiful thing!
It is what makes you happy, to find this motivation for yourself, whatever it is can help you to have a balanced and healthy lifestyle. To be strong physically, mentally and emotionally. For you to feel your best for yourself is the most important thing.
It is what takes you through the days when your head is saying “No thank you, not today!”, it will pull you through, bridging the gap with that magical ingredient ‘consistency’ taking you from where you are to where you want to be.
This intrinsic, internal motivation is what you feel, it’s your hunger to embrace a life long learning. A desire to continue self-development through self -awareness and discipline. It’s the pure joyful emotion that your movement or action brings to your very being.
My motivation for feeling fit in my forties is different from in my twenties, it’s within me. I want to feel the best I can for my age. I want to be healthy inside and out. It simply makes me happy, with myself. I know I am doing the best I can, my body is my vehicle, it enables me to do everything I want, so in return I want to take care of it, as it takes care of me.
I have a yearning to step onto my mat as the wonderful feelings evoked within are so profound. Yoga connects my mind, body and soul. The journey of movement and breath continues to be a journey of getting to know myself, layer after layer. It is life changing.
The way my body continually opens little by little feels so beautifully freeing. Where will it take me? What will my mind and body unlock physically, mentally and emotionally? Using time patiently and consistently with kindness is at the heart of my yoga practice. These learnings also help me off the mat in other areas in my life too.
Acceptance for knowing I am right where I should be right now is all I need. Every day. Just a moment, to be, breathe and move, that is the gift, for I cannot be in a headstand and let my mind wander, this type of meditative movement gives me this perfect moment. It brings me to the present. Nothing else matters. That is more than enough.
I encourage anyone to move their body regularly and to feel the benefits of consistency. That is it in its’ simplest form. Remember little and often adds up.
Your motivation is personal to you, sometimes it’s easy to find and at others it is elusive, but look inside your heart, it is there enabling you to maintain consistency with longevity and a passion.
Water your own heart, mind, and soul daily, so that you can do, be, and give, from a more nourished and much fuller place - Lalah Delia
Be kind and go with the flow.
Jo x
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