Alright, we all know that being fit is a great feeling, that staying fit is a 4 – 7 times every week maintenance job and that getting fit is… well, sometimes a hard thing to start.

Do you remember playing tag and getting away from your friend who was chasing you? Wasn’t it fun to tease your ‘hunter’: moving right, left, forward, backward, making that quick juke? And how great it felt to get away!! When you first learned to catch a ball, how many times did you drop it? Did you quit? Or did you keep going? In any case, when you stopped playing, you were typically more accomplished then when you started. You didn’t think much of it, because you were already off to doing your next thing. And when it was time to go home, you were hungry and tired, or you were not done playing yet…. Where is that feeling now?

Not everyone is motivated the same way, by the same thing. In high performance coaching, we have compressed motivational factors into 3 broad categories: winning, fame, and material wealth. What motivates you? Do you want to beat someone at a game? Do you want to be known for how good you are at what you are doing? Are you willing to do something you may not like because it will somehow contribute to making money?

I had a client, Charles, whose biggest motivation came from winning. He was an elite runner who ran middle and long distance events. He had figured out how he would win most of his races: lead all the way. By the time he came to me, he had settled into a pattern of setting the pace and leading most of the way, until inevitably someone would kick at the end and pass him, pulling other runners right along with him and leaving Charles in 4th, 5th, 6th or worse place. Needless to say, he lost his motivation. He started to tell himself a story: that when he gave his best, he could never win. When we began to work together, we looked at a number of variables and changed some around, while always keeping in mind that he was motivated by winning.

Step one: sign up for races you can win.

Step two: change your self-talk; change your story.

Step three: believe that you can win.

Step four: win. Win again. Repeat. Stay realistic in what you can accomplish. Grow when you are ready. Advance because of consistency in your performance, not because of one stellar day that you have not been able to repeat.

Charles started winning and the more he won, the more motivated he became. He advanced to faster races, larger platforms and eventually hit the peak in sport that was tall enough so that he could go on to doing something else that would keep him fit. Now he is a rower – out there on the water….

Are you ready to design YOUR strategy to get going? Let’s take a closer look at what you want: First, determine which of the above factors MOST motivates you: winning, fame, results/money? Now: what kind of a situation do you like: do you want to be alone on a team; in a group; in a class? Do you like to be told what to do? Do you like to perform in front of a crowd? Do you want to be in a gym; outside; in the water? Do you want to learn new skills? Do you want to fulfill a childhood dream?

Answer these questions without over-thinking them – like: I couldn’t do that, there is no pool, it is too expensive. Remember, right now we are just looking at what motivates you. As you are answering these questions, are you noticing a certain curiosity coming in? Explore your options. Be free from restraint. Have a playful approach: what if….

And then, you put your puzzle together. You find your optimal set-up. Whatever is not exactly as you like, consider accepting the best of the available option. This should not take long – we are not doing brain surgery here. Once you get on point with your inner knowing, your answers will be easy and right in front of you.

Go for it! You can do it – because you are following your inner playful nature. Have fun with it and remember: it’s not supposed to be hard. It is supposed to bring your life energy up. Now, you can be successful in your quest – and accept the moments that might be along the lines of “this is not what I asked for”. Keep your goal in mind and keep trekking. The adventure is in the journey!