The secret sauce to motivation

Who’s someone you really love?

Picture them in your head.

Maybe it’s your child, sibling, niece/nephew, or best friend.

Now picture them trying something new. Maybe they’re going swimming for the first time, or making scrambled eggs, or holding a paintbrush - excited to create something for you.

What would you say to them?

Probably words of encouragement, support, and kindness, telling them not to be scared, that they’re doing awesome, wherever they’re at, whatever the outcome.

Now picture yourself, about to do something for the first time.

What do you say to yourself?

We’re often the last ones on our mind when we think of who we love in this world. Who we want to treat well. Who we want to encourage, motivate and inspire.

There’s nothing either right or wrong about this. The human brain was designed before we had a say in it.

What we do have a say in is how our mind works. Even if we didn’t do the original programming, we get to choose what the next OS upgrade is going to be.

What if your next upgrade allowed you to accept yourself wherever you are at, just like you would with the people you love?

The secret sauce to motivation - the thing that keeps us going no matter how tough things get?

Self-acceptance.

We don’t learn mindfulness to stop the thoughts.

We learn mindfulness to learn how to advocate for ourselves, no matter what the thoughts are.

The fastest killer of motivation is how much we judge ourselves on day 1.

If you can accept where you are on day 1, think about where you’ll be on day 10. If you accept yourself where you are on day 10, think about where you’ll be on day 100.

You won’t be like this forever. That’s the one thing you can count on.

If you don’t stop, you won’t fail.

What’s something you’ve been putting off?

What are you going to choose now, knowing you can’t fail?