THE MYTH OF MOTIVATION (AND WHAT YOU NEED INSTEAD)
Replies
-
Thanks...right on time0
-
HOORAH! ;o)
I totally agree. I hate hearing the whine, "I just need to get motivated." Umm a cattle prod "motivates" my cows to go where I want them to, and I would be happy to provide a similar service to a person. However, INTRINSIC desire and fortitude is not from extrinsic means. You just have to do it. Not find it, not buy it, just DO!
LOL.... the cattle prod imagery made me laugh... and yes there are days I wish I had a cattle prod for myself or others around me... but as long as we keep moving forward then it is all good.
Back to the article.... great post thanks for sharing! So very true I agree, it is all about replacing bad habbits w/good ones. Take it one habbit at a time, one day at a time, and you will get there. When you get thrown a curve ball, don't stop, adjust to the new circumstance and keep moving forward.
1 -
A lot of truth in what you wrote.
But...
99% of dieters say that they break their diet because they are depressed, stressed or bored. Feelings, not lack of willpower, get in the way.
So, in the long run these issues must be addressed. In this way, losing weight and keeping it off is very difficult. So, deciding to eat and exercise right is a great start. But dealing with depression, stress and boredom (or whatever it is that is keeping you from your goals) is hard but critical.
It's not feelings getting in the way. It is a lack of emotional responsibility. (as far as stressed/bored/sad - clinical depression is not a feeling, it is a condition)
you can't tell people what feelings that they can have Lt. That is the nature of feelings. The important part is how you deal with them.
Nowhere did I say that you can or cant have certain feelings.
Me: You have to be emotionally responsible.
You. NAH AH!! It's all about how you deal with feelings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Me: .............0 -
A lot of truth in what you wrote.
But...
99% of dieters say that they break their diet because they are depressed, stressed or bored. Feelings, not lack of willpower, get in the way.
So, in the long run these issues must be addressed. In this way, losing weight and keeping it off is very difficult. So, deciding to eat and exercise right is a great start. But dealing with depression, stress and boredom (or whatever it is that is keeping you from your goals) is hard but critical.
Emotions are a piss poor excuse for lack of willpower. Emotional eating is a piss poor excuse for stuffing one's face with 8000 calories in a day. He's still spot on. People need to get control of their heads. This also includes their emotions. If they cannot control these, they will ultimately fail at almost anything that they try that results in elevated stress levels.
they key is to learn to work with these emotions and how to handle them. That is really not a matter of willpower. If you use "willpower" to suppress your emotions eventually something will break. It is better to get in touch with them and find better ways of coping rather than eating. Meditation is one good way of doing that.
He didn't say to use willpower to suppress feelings. he said that some people have no willpower and instead of admitting that and strengthening their willpower, they practice zero self-discipline instead. Disciplining how your emotions can or cannot control you is will power.
It is not suppressing emotions.
Im worried you are reading negative things into these responses that just are not there.
No one is saying you cant have feeling, or that you have to swallow them and ignore them, or that feelings aren't real. What they are all saying is that learning to control your emotions so you can go where you claim you want to go and succeed at what you claim you want to succeed at.
I cried all the way through my last two gym sessions. But I got that barbell up in the air and I didnt sabotage all my goals or lose my momentum or eat a chocolate cake. I channeled my legitimate emotions into fuel for doing whatever I could to make my current situation better.
I felt those emotions, I acknowledged them, I allowed them to run their course - but doing those things has jack to do with eating or sleeping. I can am strong enough to feel things and lift things at the same time.2 -
Great post.0
-
Just what I needed!0
-
Great post and so very true!0
-
Interesting post. I've certainly found that changing habits has been very helpful for me.0
-
Wish I could make a profound comment to go along with that! Love the message, love the pictures with the message.
I made the decision to be fit and healthy. In the past, my exercise has been eclectic put present, my diet has varied from "clean eating" to "low fat". I am more confident today than ever because I know that I am in control of my physique and it has never been more simple than just loving food, eating what I want to eat and making decisions that do indeed become easier with practice.
"Stay strong!"0 -
Thanks0
-
Well, if an old post is going to be revived, I'm happy it's this one. More deciding, less whining.0
-
Bump.0
-
Bump0
-
Bumping for Truth0
-
Love it!Danny, this is what makes you awesome. Sooo true. Thank you.
ETA - the thing I always say when someone says "That had to be such hard work!" or some such comment - "Not really. Once I decided to do it, the rest was easy."
and definitely love this. Both are so very true.0 -
Wow... This is a total eye opener for me. New perspective. Thanks so much for sharing, Im going to be reading this whenever Im feeling lazy or when I start to complain about something being hard.0
-
Thank you! I needed this tonight.0
-
Amen! I couldn't have said it better myself.....0
-
the thing I always say when someone says "That had to be such hard work!" or some such comment - "Not really. Once I decided to do it, the rest was easy."
yes, people keep saying this to me, as well, about how hard it must be etc. I almost feel guilty that they are holding me up as some kind of heroine when in fact it's as easy as falling off a log!0 -
Thank you. I've been deeply searching my soul trying to figure out where my lack of motivation stems from, but this is correct. It's my lack of making firm decisions that's keeping me back.0
-
bump0
-
bump0
-
Hilarious! And true.0
-
One of the best pieces of advice that I've ever read on these forums went something like this: It's not motivation, but determination, that will get you to your goal. I'm reminded of that again reading this.0
-
Definetly need to keep these and refer back to it often!0
-
bump0
-
I needed to hear this! As a soldiers wife, I understand but make too many excuses for myself. Saved to bookmarks!0
-
Super bump1
-
Bump - again0
-
excellent post
must admit im one of those annoying people who over the last 20 years have been "motivated" many times into losing weight, the "motivation" lasted at best a month, it was only 2 years ago that i admitted defeat, realised i had to change my way of thinking before it was to late. when i've got the motivation to do something that's great, when i haven't i still do it anyway, half the battle with my weight loss and fitness is in my own head trying to talk myself out of doing things because i'm not strong enough, or telling myself that what i was eating isn't so bad, once i gained some self discipline it got easier
motivation got me nowhere, sheer determination did0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 424 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions