Action Precedes Motivation – and why knowing this is important!

 

“The most important conversations you’ll ever have are the ones you’ll have with yourself.”

– David Goggins

Hey, Lovelies.
In a year of opportunity, where we are encouraged toward growth and evolution, it’s inevitable that we will need to move out of our comfort zone and do things differently if we really want to experience change.

But are you waiting for motivation to strike before you get yourself moving in a better direction?

If so, you might be waiting a very long time.

One of the most important things you can remind yourself this year is that ACTION PRECEDES MOTIVATION.

That means taking action even if you are tired, flat, disinterested, disconnected or defeated.

Even one step forward will break the inertia. The trick is to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Motivation will eventually come AFTER those first steps. Or after those first miles. Or after you begin to see results.

But even if the motivation didn’t come? Taking action towards your goals or dreams would still be worth it.

Or at least it would be no worse than staying stuck, miserable and without change.

I listened to a great interview yesterday titled How To Build Immense Inner Strength, hosted by Andrew Huberman, a neurobiologist from Stanford University, in conversation with David Goggins. Goggins is a retired Navy Seal, athlete and author who has spend a lifetime mastering his inner dialogue in order to overcome life challenges. It was recommended to me by my friend Emma (thanks Emma!). You can also find this interview as a podcast on Spotify. It’s a bit sweary and at times hard-core, but I found the conversation enlightening and really useful for managing my own emotions and situation.

As a bit of a science nerd I loved when Huberman talked about a part of our brain called the anterior mid-cingulate cortex. We all have this structure, and it’s important because this part of our brain grows in response to us doing things WE DON’T WANT TO DO AND DON’T ENJOY. The more we challenge ourselves by doing things we don’t enjoy (such as getting out of a warm bed on a cold day to exercise), or where we resist temptation with something we know is bad for us or that won’t help us reach a goal, (such as staying in that warm bed, or eating donuts for breakfast), the more this part of our brain develops, literally giving us more willpower over time. It helps us to do hard things, and to grow from the discomfort and friction in our lives. This in turn develops our emotional resiliency, mental toughness and coping skills.

How do we do that?
One small uncomfortable task at a time.

Research has shown that one of the best ways to activate your anterior mid-cingulate cortex is to move your body when you don’t want to. So go for that walk, do those stretches, run it out, get out of bed and get going DESPITE the fact that you don’t want to do it. Build that part of your brain that can support you better in life by strengthening the willpower that comes BEFORE motivation. Then you need never rely on nor wait for motivation ever again.

This is such a powerful year for you to create success through your own actions, so consider me your one-woman cheer squad. I believe in you, and I am cheering you on. You can do hard things. You can do this thing that will bring you closer to being, doing, creating or having this thing that you want.

Don’t wait until you feel motivated. Start anyway.

You can do it!

Love, pom-poms, encouraging interpretive dance and faith in you, Nicole xx

PS – If you need tools to support you for the year ahead, look no further than my 2024 Journeymaker’s Planner. It’s discounted right now as part of my fabulous Sail Away Sale, which features between 25% to 50% off everything in my  Etsy store  (45% off for my Planner at Etsy) and 35% off my Planner at Amazon Australia and Amazon USA  between now and January 18, 2024. Please check it out if you’re looking for spiritual tools, my gorgeous 2024 Journeymaker’s Planner, or to stock up on gifts for yourself or to put by for others.