Building your dream physique may feel like a mountain of work, and finding the steps to build gym motivation can seem just as challenging. Many people compare their current physique with the one they would like to have and feel disheartened. The truth is that motivation doesn’t last forever. It is simply a temporary pump that gets you excited. Nobody gets fueled for his workout always from motivation, so don’t expect yourself to always be in this hyperexcited state.
What pushes people through their training is actually discipline.
Motivation is just the tool that gets you started. Once you start, it will slowly fade away and then come back at random moments in your journey. You can, however, build a mental model with an endless source of motivation that you can use just by blinking your eyes. Is that possible, and If yes how?
1. Be Competitive
The first step for you to build gym motivation is to learn to be competitive. Many people would tell you to find the person with the physique you want and create a mental model in which you are in constant competition with him. This tactic has some logical fouls. For starters, that person is probably training for a longer period. You don’t know for certain if you are gifted with the same genetics as him and you don’t know if he is a natural athlete. Competing against someone who plays the game with different rules will only lead to you losing most of the time.
The person you actually need to compete against is a version of yourself. Build a person in your mind. Even name him if you like. That person looks like you and sounds like you. You have the same beginning and you share the same memories. You have the same genetic gifts and the same problems in your life. However, that person always makes the right choice.
Your day doesn’t consist of 24 hours. It consists of millions of small choices. You should really imagine the choices that he would make. You wake up at 7:00 am, and he wakes up at 6:30. He has chicken and rice with a salad as lunch, and you would like to have a burger.
Break down all the choices he makes throughout the day and try to implement them yourself. That’s who you are fighting against. And the funny part is that person exists. It’s You. It has always been you, you just lacked the courage to set him free.
2. Remember your origin
You were not born yesterday. There have been some challenging moments in your life that required your power of will. You have a name, you have a country and probably you have a god. Learn to honor them. Understand that the struggles you go through are not necessarily for you but for the idea you represent.
You’ve been through struggles before, but you overcame them. You’ve been challenged before but still, you came up top. There is a list of accomplishments in your resume that others could have had but they don’t. Others didn’t show the courage you showed. That should tell you something about you. That should push you forward. As you are proud of your past self, force your future self to be proud of you. Through action!
3. Choose Your Friends Wisely
Friends are not just for drinks and parties. Choose friends with whom you share the same interests and goals. Train together and challenge each other to surpass the limits that you’ve previously set. Keep each other accountable and boost each other up. Not all days are the same. Some days we feel happy, sometimes we feel sad, sometimes angry, sometimes lost. That’s what friends are for; to fix your mood when you are not feeling yourself.
4. Be stoic
Stoicism is a philosophy that emphasizes rationality, self-control, and emotional resilience. A stoic person strives to remain calm and composed, regardless of external circumstances. They focus on what they can control and accept what they cannot.
Being stoic means that your feelings play no role in whether you execute your plan or not. Think about it. Who cares? The world doesn’t care, business doesn’t care, the opposite gender doesn’t care.
Nobody cares. Why should you?
Do what needs to be done regardless of how you feel, because you have a responsibility towards your word. You said you were gonna do it, so it must be done. Feelings play no role in execution. If you only train when you feel like training you will never be able to compete with people who train regardless of how they feel.
5. Visualise Your Deepest Desires
Chances are you didn’t start working out for nothing. You have a goal in your mind. There is probably something that you don’t currently have but you wish you had. Lock your mind on this idea. Don’t let it pass. You want it and you should get it. Whether it’s a better appearance, boosting your self-esteem, gaining respect from your peers or even impressing your crush.
Imagine how it would feel to have that. See it, smell it, touch it. It is in your mind, but that doesn’t mean it’s not real. There is just a path that needs to be followed. And you know that path. All you have to do is execute.
