Everyone loves the feeling of being motivated but many don’t like to do anything with it. It’s like when you go to an inspiring movie. You leave the movie standing a little taller, more energy, and you feel like you want to attack the world. But then the days go by and that motivational feeling fizzles away.
Internalizing motivation is finding motivation not from external factors like grades, trophies, appearances, or status, but rather authentic aspiration and desire.
Why do you want to be Kū? Why do you want to build a Kū body and live a Kū life?
These are questions I constantly ask myself.
We are motivated by different things – mostly external factors, to be honest – which is why if you can Internalize Motivation then you have a very powerful force because then you drive by a desire that doesn’t promise a reward.
How to Internalize Motivation
1. HIGHER PURPOSE
Find your WHY to what you are doing and what you want to accomplish. This will take some time to figure out for some but you can simply ask the same questions I ask myself, Why do you want to be Kū? Why do you want to build a Kū body and live a Kū life? or Why am I here? You will find that the purpose is beyond you, towards the greater good, and serves as your guiding light of staying motivated.
2. VISUALIZE
Visualize a moment when you felt proud. Feel that movement, relive it. Remember that feeling. Think of what it would feel like when you achieve a goal that you are working towards. Once you do that, then go and do something that will help you get closer to your goal.
3. FOLLOW YOUR NA’AU
Follow your intuition. Many times we don’t listen to ourselves or what our gut is telling us. Instead we listen to our de-motivator within our heads or come up with excuses on why what you are thinking/feeling is stupid. Most times? It’s not.
4. SHARE WHAT MOTIVATES YOU WITH OTHERS
This goes in line with my belief that strength is contagious. If you find a higher purpose for achieving a goal and it makes you feel stronger, share your goals and why you want to achieve them with others. It can be with family, friends, a colleague, or online. Where ever you feel comfortable with, but share it. You’ll be surprised about the response you get from others when you talk about it. You will learn who are the supporters and detractors in your life which is essential to find out when you are working towards accomplishing a specific goal.
For me?
I believe my higher purpose is to decrease the CVD mortality rate amongst Native Hawaiians, be a positive role model in fitness and health for my family and community, and build a health and fitness business that improves the human performance of over a million people to help them live stronger and better lives. There are more, and it may sound crazy, but the most biggest drive I have is going through the process of trying and doing it.
