Mental Moment-What’s Behind Your Lack of Motivation

Do you struggle with motivation? 

Do you feel like you need to be in control of everything in your life?

Do you lack focus?

These themes have come up a lot this past week. Clients have talked about these challenges and coaches are struggling with these situations in their athletes. Regardless of who’s having the conversation they voice definite frustration around these situations.

Problem: a woman is struggling with motivation to exercise. Why? She didn’t grow up exercising and it was not a value in her family. Solution: figure out how to attach it to her values, find some form of exercise she loves, set small realistic goals and recognize that she’s meeting them.

Problem: coaches who have an athlete who wants to be in control of everything. Why? Fear. Solution: help the athlete fund the root of his fear (loss of control, emotions, perfection, etc.) and find other ways of coping.

Problem: employee loses focus and is unable efficiently get through the day. Why? Anxiety around not having the organizational skills to get it all does. Solution: ask for help. Learn to deal anxiety in a different way than losing focus and feeling scattered.

We get frustrated with ourselves for not being motivated and in some situations others see this lack of motivation, need to be in control and inability to focus as a failure; an imperfection. We aren’t aware of what’s behind these things so how can other people no. The point is don’t judge yourself or others for something you know nothing about. For me motivation is a great example. In the past I would have seen lack of motivation as lazy and now I am able to ask what’s behind this lack of motivation. That completely changes most all scenarios.

Happy end of the week!

Dr. Michelle

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