#22: Motivation Is Powerful… But It’s Not Enough

Motivation is a state of mind propelling an individual towards a goal. One often characterized by intensity and persistence. Throughout time, it has been regarded as one of the strongest tools in a human’s mental arsenal.

It can be intrinsic or extrinsic, meaning that one could be driven by internal factors (like enjoyment, amusement, or fulfillment) while others could be driven by external factors (like rewards, recognition, or even punishment).

Motivation can also be short- or long-term, meaning it can be classified on a temporal basis too. Short-term motivation is associated with the achievement of goals in the very near future, but long-term motivation necessitates the willingness to sacrifice time and effort over an extended period. That is, until the intended goal is reached.

Intrinsic or extrinsic. Short-term or long-term. The compelling nature of this drive can pave the way to success, but I wouldn’t dare call it the ‘be all, end all’ of achievement.

Why not?

Motivation Is Not Easy To Find When Rewards Are Scarce

Health and longevity are both strong goals that inspire one’s motivation. But most of us are motivated to pursue these goals only after having suffered a significant health event (like a heart attack).

In truth, most of the folks I work with actually feel fine, despite being overweight, sedentary, or physically weak. They enjoy the ‘good life’ a little too much, ignorant of the impending health scare insidiously creeping upon them.

These consequences are just that - insidious - because the human body is profoundly competent at keeping illness at bay. That is, until all its internal resources for doing so are exhausted.

Then, after one tastes the reality of his mortality, one magically finds the will to alter the future.

For this reason, intrinsic motivation is more often regarded than extrinsic motivation, because the intrinsic motivator is associated with a sense of purpose and personal autonomy rather than an actual ‘prize’. Enjoying the pursuit of health and longevity, therefore would likely yield better results, partly because it is done long before infirmity rears its ugly head. But there’s another reason.

Intrinsic motivation tends to come with a stronger commitment and persistence. It is also a key factor in cognitive, social, and physical development, if not also high-quality learning. So getting healthy because you genuinely want to, will likely keep you tied to your goal through the bad times and the good. More than any extrinsic motivators could, in theory.

That is not to discredit extrinsic motivators at all. Let’s not forget that to be healthier, in general, would mean saving on medical costs, better aesthetics, fewer incidences of illness, reduced rates of health insurance, and simply spending more time with your loved ones.

Motivation Is Powerful, But What If It Has A Small ‘Gas Tank’?

Let me speak from a personal point of view here.

I have a very strong desire for health and longevity. So to achieve them, I try to eat as healthy as possible and train often.

But do I always feel like doing so? Of course not! I would much rather eat burgers and donuts while watching TV all day long.

Relying on motivation alone, especially for a long-duration goal, is like sprinting across a great distance. You will go fast, but not for long.

One needs to take it back a notch and find a sustained ‘fuel’ to keep the mission going. Again, in my experience, that would be through discipline.

I would argue that motivation is nothing without discipline.

Discipline is knowing what you must do and doing it consistently. Unlike motivation, it operates in the absence of emotions and feelings so you’ll not only work on the days when you’re excited. You’ll also work when you’re tired, sad, angry, depressed, and heartbroken.

I can assure you that if I hit the gym on the days when I felt like, I would train hard but not enough to see real results. For this reason, I had to make a concerted effort to stick to my plan no matter what.

Motivation Can Work Against Us, Without Us Even Knowing

We talked about intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, and we also talked about short- and long-term motivation. But these are only two aspects of a wider picture.

Where motivation is concerned, we also have conscious and unconscious motivators. That is, motivators to which the individual is aware (conscious) and motivators to which the individual is unaware (unconscious).

So, an athlete may consciously and altruistically state that he wants to win a gold medal in the name of his country. Therefore, he enrolls in a tournament and tries his luck. On an unconscious level, however, he could be doing so because of an innate desire for fame. Subsequently failing in his objective, therefore, will not only hamper the athlete’s mental state because of the defeat itself, but it may also lead to the realization that his sport only offered a ‘mirage’ of what he truly wanted. His sport, therefore, was merely disguised as a vector to achieve his true dream.

With fame impossible here, it would only be a matter of time before said athlete entertains the idea of seeking it elsewhere.

I see this phenomenon with a lot of would-be athletes today. Especially in advanced athletes pursuing the elite level.

Advanced-level athletes have all tasted success locally and internationally, maybe claiming a few medals here and there. They all work hard. But sooner or later, a day will come when they will be outclassed by a better athlete or team. Hard defeats inevitably bring with them the hard questions.

In a video, Dr. Jarrod Spencer, a Sports Psychologist, explained that the difference between the top five tennis players in the world versus the top 25 players was in their thinking.

“In the ten to fifteen seconds after a point had been scored in tennis,” Spencer began. “The athletes that were thinking positively, on the lines of ‘I love this game, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. I may not have scored that point but I’ll get the next one, watch this!’ had successfully slowed their heart rate and breathing rate and conserved more energy throughout the entire competition. They were feeling better about themselves.”

Spencer highlights the importance of positive thinking. But can you imagine how powerful an athlete could become if his only motivator was the love for his sport and personal growth?

Motivation Is Powerful, But It Is Not Enough

It’s good to have motivation because you can be driven to accomplish great things through it. But motivation will not carry you through the journey in the long run. Discipline will.

After establishing what you want, formulate a plan and execute the plan without any compromise.

Remember, motivation may wax and wane with the passing sands of time. But it can be reignited with the occasional win or milestone in your journey.