Motivation -The End

I'm getting as sick of writing this series as those who might be reading it. So I'm ending this today.

I think.

In summary, there are two basic ways of making changes in your behavior. One is motivation, which primarily comes from outside influences. The other is desire, which comes from within. Motivation is the weaker, immature form of accomplishing change, and it's short term. Longer lasting change, brought about by inner desire, is the reasoning, maturing change that comes through a planned lifelong discipline.

Like everything else in life we all start out with the immature approach. Those who grow up, see what needs to be done and just do it. Motivation is powered by emotion. Desire is a reasoned approach. One works the short-term, the other is in it for the long haul. Desire is the form of change mature people grow into.

As a health club trainer years ago, it's easier to talk about fitness and diet goals when writing this series of blogs, but the change I'm talking about comes about in every area of life. It could be education, career paths, or even what kind of person you are. The principles are the same.

I also write from a one-time coach's perspective. Nothing is harder than motivating people WHO KNOW THEY SHOULD BE IN BETTER SHAPE but have no real desire to do so. Why? Because people are lazy. They just want the results WITHOUT putting in the work, and that problem is compounded  by people wanting those results FAST.

You know as an instructor that fast change without work is impossible. You also know that most people, when faced with that fact will quit within a few months, because even the best motivation from you will not be enough. You can make it fun, you can give them a good diet, you can be reasonable and varied in your approach, THEY WILL SEE RESULTS, and they will still quit. Why? Because they had unreasonable, immature expectations AND too much work was needed to see further results.

We live in a society like that. Our goal as coaches was simply to have people mature enough in the first few weeks so that they could see the best way to change isn't a t-shirt slogan. We needed them to desire the change so that they could see the need to continue. At the beginning of these blogs, I said that people will not change unless they really want to. BUT THAT IS ONLY THE FIRST STEP.

I mentioned yesterday a summary of the other steps, and have decided NOT TO EXPLORE THEM FURTHER. I'll summarize them again and finish this. Foremost you must desire change. Secondly you have to figure out for yourself if it's a worthwhile, good change worth pursuing. Better put, after thinking about it, it's the time that you start committing to change. Third in all of this, if the doctor okays this, you have to figure out if can you commit personal resources (time, money, extreme effort) into this. Are you in it for the long haul?

Along the way you have to design some type of game plan, detailing what you expect to accomplish, and how you expect to accomplish it.

And finally, you have to put in the effort. Lots of effort. Lots and lots of effort. Sometimes never ending effort.

 With the right coach, the right game plan, the right early motivation, and the gradual changeover into long-term desire, change is possible.

Now a quick plug. IF you need someone to motivate you, if you NEED someone to get it all going, if you need someone to help you work out a fitness and diet plan that works, someone who will help you see the best way to get better at changing your physical health and fitness level (and be with you every step of the way if you need it) I'd like to suggest my brother, Brent Mielke, at Dungeon's Gym. He isn't just the best in the area, he's the best. Period.

He'll motivate you when you need it, but he'll also help you build the desire. The success stories he's had, with average people like you, is unmatched. Give him a call. He'll take it from there.

And be prepared to put in a lot of fun effort.