I would _________ if I could only get motivated.

Why don’t we do things?
Some would say because we don’t have the motivation.

Motivation is one of those words that we throw around
to explain why we don’t do
what it is we want to do.

But evidently
it’s only some small part of us that wants to do
while a larger part of doesn’t want to do.
Otherwise, we would “do.”

There is a science of motivation,
but psychology hasn’t made motivation into such a science
that there is a consensus on what it is.

And so, let me ask you to consider an alternative interpretation:

If you’re not doing something,
it’s not because you lack the motivation to do so,
it’s because you can’t…
at least in that moment.
If you could have, you would have.

Can I prove it?
No.

Can you disprove it or prove otherwise?
Uh uh.

So let’s set aside argument and continue on the alternative interpretation:

If you’re not doing something,
it’s because it isn’t good for you…yet.

How is it that I came to this perspective?
I’ve witnessed perpetual progress.
I’ve seen that progress doesn’t require psyching up, it just requires showing up.
I’ve seen the more effort being used, the less progress is made.

Yes, this is in the gym, but tell me,
how are the behaviors of the gym
so different than the behaviors of life?

I don’t think they are.
Both are just movements.

Let me ask you this -
How is something you can’t do or can’t do often in the gym,
let’s say a heavy deadlift,
all that different from something you can’t do or can’t do often
in any other aspect of your life?
I don’t think it is.

But if I do light and medium deadlifts,
especially when they test well,
I’ll eventually be able to do that heavy deadlift.

I couldn’t perform that heavy deadlift,
but by doing things that I can
I’ll eventually be able to do things I can’t.

In that light,
I don’t want you directing your attention
to what it is you can’t do.

What can you do?

Focus on that and I believe
you’ll eventually be able to do what it is
you really want to do.

It’s not that you lack motivation,
it’s that you’re not doing the things
you could be doing
that will help you to do
the things you want to be doing.

You’re not less than…
You’re just not doing enough of.

So…
What can you do?