We often wait for “motivation” to strike before starting a health journey. But a fitness professional argues that “motivation” is a myth. It’s fleeting and unreliable. The real key is discipline, and discipline is a product of your mindset. If you can build the right mental framework, you won’t need motivation. Here are three shifts to build discipline.
The first shift is to slow down. “Motivation” often comes in a “hypersonic” burst. We’re “motivated” to go all-out, try a crash diet, and work out for two hours. A veteran coach explains this is a trap. This pace burns out your “motivation” in days. Discipline is built by slowing down. A patient, deliberate pace is sustainable. It’s a “boring” pace that “motivation” hates, but “discipline” loves. This is what leads to faster, permanent progress.
The second shift is to focus on your ‘controllables.’ “Motivation” is often tied to results. You’re “motivated” when the scale goes down. But what happens when it doesn’t? Your motivation disappears. Discipline is built by focusing on your efforts. A fitness expert insists you must focus on what you can control.
This means your energy must be invested in controllable, daily actions: your sleep, your hydration, your food prep, your workout. You don’t need to be “motivated” to do these; you just need the discipline to do them. This leads to the third shift: choose small, ‘easy’ changes over big, ‘hard’ ones. Big, “hard” changes require “motivation.” Small, “easy” changes just require a little discipline, and they build on each other until they become an unstoppable, disciplined routine.