Investing in Motivation

I have a great friend who has been an inspiration to me on my fitness journey.

She will be running the same half marathon that I am and then, a few short weeks later, will tackle a Half Ironman. 

So, on most days when I'm running or spinning or lifting...she's doing some insane combination of running, cycling, swimming, and lifting.  And, almost 100% of the time, she has a smile on her face while she's doing it.  She's uplifting.  Positive. Informative. And HUGELY motivating.  She's got two children of her own and understands the demands of balancing family, work, and fitness. 

And her motto is that motivation does not come to us.  We must actively seek it out and invest in it regularly. Motivation is not a well that once discovered we have unlimited access to...we must invest in and continue to reclaim it over and over again.  What do I mean by this?

For example, on any day,  I can have an amazing run where I feel challenged, elevated, focused, and on top of my game.  The next day with just as much sleep, nutrition, and stamina, I can have an exhausting, barely breathing, can't wait to be done, about ready to die run.  And there's no reason for the difference  So, what propels me to get back up and try again?

Motivation.  How do I tap into it?  Everyone has different techniques.  I'm a visual girl.  I see myself crossing that finish line racing like a friggin machine on fire.  I see myself climbing hills like it's my job and running stairs like I can't be stopped.  I wear insanely bright colors and play sexy ass songs and I tell myself that I can and I will do this.  One step, one moment, one day at a time.

And, I never arrive.  I always have to keep pushing myself.  And I have to believe it more than anyone else does...otherwise, it's just wasted effort.

Motivation.  It must be reinvigorated, engaged, invested in daily.  Because it fades, it wanes, it falls by the wayside.  It needs someone, something to believe and then it takes you where you want to go.