Motivation is a powerful emotion on the human spectrum. It can be a song or key phrase that lights you on fire, making you feel like you could tear the world around you down.
Go online and look up “motivational video” and get hundreds and thousands of results of former Navy seals or world class bodybuilding coaches giving you a speech about never giving up, cut to guys eating pounds of chicken, or deadlifting or just staring intensely at themselves in the mirror. They talk about finding your extra gear and killing everything that stands in between you and your objective.
It is also a momentary experience and one that leads to burn out fast. Being motivated means that you experience periods of being unmotivated, feeling flat, and incapable of maintaining the sprints.
Living in sprints and scrums can be incredibly draining and leave you feeling unaccomplished when you’re not doing absolutely everything you can to move the ball forward.
In those periods of sprints, you find that you can do anything you set your mind to. Your ego is defined by your accomplishments. There is never a good “enough” as you set the bar higher and higher as you meet or exceed your expectations.
Inevitably comes the scrum. Whether it’s failing a lift, a bad argument with your significant other, work deadlines breathing down your neck, an impending election or whatever it is, you pop a tire.
Suddenly, you start missing your personal goals, even small ones. It feels like a thousand razor cuts because you begin to fail consistently. Your ego crumbles, you begin to question your motives and you never really find a way to mentally get out of bed.
That’s why dedication is a learned skill. That’s why we admire pro athletes who have committed their entire mind, body, and spirit to the sport they compete in. It’s an intangible commodity, work ethic. The ability to get out of your own head, regardless of where you are and focus on the road ahead.
Dedication is comprehensive. It takes into account all the factors of each day. Constantly adjusting to new stimuli in order maintain a consistent output that allows you to meet your goals. Understanding that it’s not always all going to be there, as long as it culminates to the ultimate goal.
Dedication is the secret to success. A formula comprised of one part showing up, one part staying there, one part finding room for the rest of your life and one part making it happen day over day, month over month and year after year.
Dedication isn’t afraid of failure.
Dedication is methodically consistent.
Dedication understands that there is more to life than plates and bars.
Dedication starts where motivation fails.
Dedication emphasizes the best of you but supports your shortcomings.
Dedication is an unwavering march forward, through rain, thunder, sleet, and snow.
So, are you dedicated? Or are you motivated?
