Where I Get Motivation
Motivation is a tricky thing. When you need it most, it is hard to come by, but when you have no need, it abounds. Over the years I’ve learned that I find motivation in momentus spurts of energy and end up wasting it all at once. However, I’ve also figured out how to prolong the experience without actually having to prolong the motivation itself.
Have you ever felt those moments where you felt like you could conquer the world? Well I seem to have them more often than is good for me. What I used to do was use the motivation like rocket fuel and use it till it was all burnt up. This wasn’t very effective and often times I ended up stuck in the middle of a project or goal without the desire to continue.
To fix this, I started using the motivation to set “realistic” (and I’ll use that term loosely) goals for myself. Rather than use the motivation for exertion, I used it for goal and lifestyle planning, which is how I ended up here.
One of these goals I set for myself was not just to compete in a triathlon, but to become a pro triathlete. Sure, it might seem like a cocky move and I might be in over my head, but that’s where the motivation comes in.
Since I already labeled myself as a pro, I then had to force myself to either live up to that claim by training like a pro…or I had to recognize that I’d never make it at all, and I’m not one to give up.
So this is where my motivation comes from. I create an image of myself beforehand and then force myself to live up to it. Sure, this makes me open to criticism, but if you can’t handle it now, how will you handle it when everyone puts a bullseye on your back?
Kure Beach Added
For those of you that don’t know, my time in Afghanistan is coming to a close. I’ve got a little over a month left and I’ll be on a plane to North Carolina. In the meantime, now that I know a bit more about my future, I went ahead and added the first sprint to this year’s calendar.
This one is actually a Formula 1 style sprint and looks to be a blast. I’ve never done a dual sprint like this before, but I’m sure it will be a nice test. Looking over the times from last year’s results, it seems very competitive. Although my training has waned in the past few months due to an increased workload, I’m going to do my best to give an all-star performance.
It will be 3 weeks after the REV3 Triathlon, on June 28. The Kure Beach Double Sprint looks to be a great time…I hope I see you there!
