One thing people frequently comment on is my
motivation. How do you stay focused, even when it becomes challenging?
I’ve been trying to find the right word to describe
it because I truly don’t believe this is a case of being motivated. Motivated
implies there is some force that is compelling me to do something. Like I’m
pushing myself to do this thing I don’t really want to do or an external
condition (like diabetes) is forcing me to change my behavior. That is not the
case.
I haven’t been struggling with food as much as a
thought. I feel like I have plenty of food to eat and I have a load of options.
The reason I drink a banana breakfast smoothie every morning isn’t because I
make myself. It’s because I actually love those damn things.
Banana Smoothie:
1 cup frozen banana
1 cup milk of your choice. I use almond milk.
1 TBSP Peanut Butter (use the Teddy brand because once you have the good stuff, you realize everything else is crap)
2 TBSP protein powder of choice (you can also not do the protein powder, but I kinda wanted the extra protein)
1 cup frozen banana
1 cup milk of your choice. I use almond milk.
1 TBSP Peanut Butter (use the Teddy brand because once you have the good stuff, you realize everything else is crap)
2 TBSP protein powder of choice (you can also not do the protein powder, but I kinda wanted the extra protein)
Put in blender. Blend. Drink.
Same with exercise. I don’t struggle with dragging
myself to do activities. I give myself lots of choices – I can swim, I can use
the treadmill, I have some workout videos, I have that Wii I liberated from my
mom (she wasn’t using it!). I can always walk if I’m not feeling any of those
options. I have plenty of choices, so I don’t have any excuses.
Truthfully, sometimes when I don’t feel like doing
exercise, and I do it anyway, I realize that it kinda feels good.
So if I don’t feel like it’s motivation, what is it?
I thought maybe it was Inspiration. I’m inspired to
make better health choices. That sorta fits. Inspiration is something that
uplifts us and gives us hope and a sense of possibility. This is definitely
more of an intrinsic feeling, so the word fits.
Inspiration still doesn’t feel like a perfect match
to me. I can inspire someone, but it feels weird to say that I’ve inspired
myself.
If that works for you, take it. Everything I’ve read
says that it doesn’t matter what makes you do a thing. Inspiration. Motivation.
Whatever pushes you – you use that. It’s different for everybody.
So,
motivation. Inspiration. Not quite there. I looked for a hot minute at
Influence (a directive force that provokes change), but no. Not it.
Commitment.
I committed myself to change.
Because I committed myself, I am determined to
follow through.
You might say, …. Wait for it…. That because I have
committed, I am channeling my indomitable spirit.
It’s not that every week or day is perfect either.
Sometimes I eat the cake. Sometimes I skip the exercise.
But it doesn’t happen often because I want the
results.
Also, fun fact, if you cut out lots of sugar from
your diet, cake is too sweet.
But I digress.
Commitment works because it is intrinsic. It comes
from me. No doctor said I had to. I choose. It’s also a bit sneaky because if
you commit to a goal, what happens when you hit the goal?
You have to make a new goal.
Oooh.. did I say goals?
Yes I did.
That’s a whole different post...
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