Chris Mance II - Mental Skills Coach

Imagine standing at the edge of a track, the cold air burning your lungs and stiffness in your legs as you eye the stretch ahead with your frosty breath visible in the winter chill. You know the run will be grueling, yet something deep inside nudges you forward. This is the daily reality for athletes worldwide, a constant battle between the mind’s resistance and the heart’s persistence. However, this struggle isn’t exclusive to athletes. It’s a universal challenge, touching every endeavor from arts to academics, from professional milestones to personal goals.

The Universality of the Struggle

Motivation isn’t a constant; it ebbs and flows like the tide. Elite athletes, often seen as paragons of relentless drive, face periods of deep motivational drought. It’s a misconception that professionals wake up every day brimming with energy to conquer their goals. The truth is much more relatable. They too struggle; they too feel the weight of inertia. This struggle is a normal, inherent part of the human experience, not a sign of inadequacy or unsuitability for the task at hand.

Just like the rest of us, these athletes face days when the weights feel heavier, the track seems longer, and the pool appears just a bit colder. They grapple with personal doubts, fluctuating confidence, and the temptation to skip just one more day. They too have personal lives, with challenges ranging from family pressures to academic stress, all of which can dampen the fiercest of fires within.

This struggle isn’t confined to physical exertion; it’s a mental and emotional marathon, often fought in the quiet moments alone, away from the cheering crowds and spotlight. It’s in these moments of doubt and solitude that the struggle becomes most apparent and most relatable, reminding us that the path to success is paved with not just triumphs but also with perseverance through countless unseen battles.

Misconception: Lack of Motivation as Unsuitability

Many interpret a lack of immediate or constant motivation as a sign that the activity isn’t for them. Some may see it as burnout as well. These beliefs are traps. They discount the value of perseverance and growth. Not all motivation comes naturally or easily. More often than not, it’s a flame that needs constant tending. The presence of struggle does not negate your potential or suitability for a sport, a job, or a creative pursuit. Instead, it’s often a sign of the significant growth and rewards that lie beyond the comfort zone.

The journey toward mastering any skill or achieving any goal is rarely a straight line; it’s more akin to a series of peaks and valleys. Each valley of motivation isn’t a sign to turn back but a challenge to cross. Consider the greatest achievements in history, in science, art, or sports—they were often the results of navigating fluctuating motivation, overcoming doubts, and persisting despite the urge to quit. When you view a lack of motivation as a natural part of the journey rather than a roadblock, it becomes something to manage, not a sign to stop.

Shifting Your Perspective on the Motivation Struggle

This ongoing management is like steering a ship through changing seas, constantly adjusting to maintain course toward your ultimate destination. Just as a sailor doesn’t control the changing seas or the unpredictable weather, we can’t control the ebb and flow of our motivation. What we can do is master the art of navigation, adjusting our sails and tactics to suit the currents and winds of our motivation. By anticipating these natural fluctuations and preparing strategies to adapt to them, we become adept at maintaining our course, regardless of the shifting tides of our drive and determination.

This shift in perspective is essential; it not only sustains us through our journey but also redefines our entire approach, turning what might feel like individual shortcomings into universal voyages of endurance and continual opportunities for personal development.

Steps to Manage the Motivational Struggle

1. Acknowledge and Accept the Struggle: Begin by recognizing that motivation is a common struggle. Accepting this can alleviate the guilt or anxiety associated with motivational lows and reframe it as a normal, manageable part of the process.
2. Set Micro-Goals: Break down larger goals into smaller, achievable tasks. Celebrating these small victories can provide a steady stream of satisfaction and encouragement, fueling further effort.
3. Seek Inspiration: Draw motivation from others who have walked this path. This could be athletes, historical figures, or even characters from a favorite book or film. Their journeys can provide not only a blueprint for success but also a source of motivation.
4. Cultivate Discipline Over Reliance on Motivation: Discipline is what keeps you moving forward when motivation wanes. Establish routines and habits that align with your goals. As the adage goes, “Motivation gets you started, habit keeps you going.”
5. Establish and Track Routines: Develop a routine that supports your goals and track your progress. Whether it’s a daily run, a weekly review of achievements, or regular practice sessions, consistency is key. Use apps or journals to track your streaks and celebrate consistency. If you miss a day or break a streak, don’t despair. Part of resilience is learning to restart with the same determination, aiming to beat your previous record and understanding that perfection isn’t the goal—persistence is.
6. Reflect on Your ‘Why’: Reconnect with the reasons you began the journey. Whether it’s personal fulfillment, competitive success, or a desire to improve, remembering your ‘why’ can reignite your motivation.
7. Embrace Rest and Recovery: Sometimes, a lack of motivation does stem from feeling burnt out. However, feeling burnout doesn’t mean you are burned out. Take the time to rest and recover, both physically and mentally. But don’t quit. Rest, recover, restart.

Motivation Must not be a Deterrent

The struggle for motivation must not be a deterrent but accepted as part of the journey to achievement. It’s a universal experience, not a personal failing. Recognizing the struggle for motivation as a common hurdle demystifies the journey, aligning our experiences with countless others who’ve faced and managed lacking motivation. This shared struggle is a testament to the human spirit’s resilience, not a reflection of individual weakness or inadequacy.

By understanding this, and equipping ourselves with strategies to manage this struggle, we move closer to our goals. The next time you find yourself wrestling with motivation, remember, you’re no different than the most successful people you know, and like them, you have what it takes to push through and emerge stronger.