Balanced By Katie
Ok, real talk….
I woke up the other morning not wanting to run. Which is weird for me because typically every day starts with a few mindful minutes in bed, a run with the dog, a warm cup of joe, and then I’m ready to get after it. Waking up and not feeling like lacing up my shoes also came with a huge sense of guilt. Not only did I not want to run, but I was feeling guilty for feeling this way. This was a conversation with myself that I wasn’t enjoying.
Why was I feeling guilty for listening to my body? At that point, I thought about going for a run, but guilt didn’t feel like a good reason to force myself to do something. So I asked myself, what truly motivates me to run? Is it this sense of guilt? Is this sense of guilt forcing me to run on the daily? Is guilt a good reason for me to do something? The answer to that one is probably not… so if it’s not guilt, what else motivates me to move?
And my answer?
… let’s dive into this first.
Moving with positive motivation. Sit and think about what that means to you. For me, it means that I choose to move and am motivated by the fact that I have a body that allows me to run, that I want to maintain an active lifestyle because it makes me a better, wife, friend, daughter and physical therapist. I’m motivated to move because movement fills my tank up with energy that fuels me for the day and boy does that feel good. I think often times we get caught up in the notion that we have to move because we feel ashamed for not moving. On top of that, our motivators are often extrinsic in nature, meaning we seek other peoples approval to do something instead of our own. So if we should shift away from extrinsic motivators, what other types of motivation can we use?
(Need a positive group to help motivate you? Join us Friday mornings for Virtual Strength and Conditioning )
Intrinsic motivators. These are the internal motivators that ‘light your fire’ or ‘fuel your tank.’ But watch out, there are both negative intrinsic motivators and positive intrinsic motivators and those negative intrinsic motivator seem to captivate our thoughts more often than not. A study by The National Science Foundation has shown that 80% of our thoughts are negative, with 95% of our thoughts being repetitive (1). So if these negative intrinsic motivators are so prevalent, where will we find these positive intrinsic motivators? Well let’s start by wiping away those motivators of guilt, sadness, comparison and instead shift to motivators such as empowerment, happiness, energy, and self-growth. That’s a good start.
Positive intrinsic motivators can be found in thoughts or ideas help you form a healthy relationship with staying active. These are the “I want to” thoughts instead of the “I have to” thought. The “fuel your fire” feelings and the “warm and fuzzy” thoughts. Maybe you’re motivated to stay active to get on and off the floor to play with your grandkids, or you want to be able to run down the soccer field to coach your kids team. Whatever it may be, make sure that these positive motivators resonate with you. Make sure they aren’t malicious, aren’t fueled by guilt or comparison. And once you find them, hold onto them tight.
What are three things that motivate you to move? Don’t cheat, think about the first three things that come to mind and go ahead, write them down.
1)
2)
3)
Now I want you to cross out whatever is a negative motivator on that list, and instead replace it with a positive intrinsic motivator.
Let’s make this a daily habit for the next month. Prior to working out each day, I want you to check in daily with where your motivators are at, make whatever changes need to be made, and proceed with getting after it.
I’ve been keeping track of my motivators the past few weeks before I workout… and boy do I have some personal work to do, I will be the first to admit it, but I’m already making progress, and I am excited to see the progress you make as well.
So what motivates you to move? I’ll ask you that question again come March, and I can’t wait to hear what you have to say.
Happy moving with motivation!
Love, Lauren
Feeling inspired to move? Need a few ideas? Check out our blog Five Tips To Exercise Without a Gym During Quarantine
Balanced by Katie offers physical therapy in Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, Solana Beach, and other regions of San Diego.
Resources:
Physical Therapy near Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar Physical Therapy