Staying  Motivated  By  Erik  Ledin  November  11,  2013    What   is   motivation?   How   do  you  keep  it  up?  Take  a  second  to   think   about   this.   What  motivates   you?  Why   are   you  doing  this?  The  strict  dieting,  the   constant   saying   no   to   off  plan   meals,   the   rough  workouts   (Bulgarian   Squats,  anyone?)…    Obviously,  you  must  be  doing  all   of   this   for   a   reason,   that  reason  being  that  you  want  to  get   in  better  shape,   look  better,   feel  better,  etc.  This  reason  never  changes,  so  why  does  motivation  occasionally  diminish?  Is  it  due  to  lack  of  progress?  In  some  cases  sure,  but  look  back  to  when  you  started  this  journey.  I’m  sure  you  look  and  feel  quite  different  now,  and  I’m  sure  you  a  lot  stronger  as  well.  So  it  can’t  really  be  due  to  a  lack  of  progress  now  can  it?    When   it   comes   down   to   it,   motivation   can   actually   be   a   relatively   easy   thing   to  maintain.   All   you   have   to   do   is   grab   a   hold   onto  WHY   you’re   doing   what   you’re  doing.  And  by  hold  onto,  I  mean  keep  it  at  the  front  of  your  brain.  Let  it  drive  you.  Constantly  remind  yourself  how  important  your  goal   is   to  you,   the  more  often   the  better.    Here’s  a  quote  that  helps  me  stay  motivated  when  I’m  trying  to  achieve  my  goals:    “Your   level  of   motivation   is   basically   the   habit   of   positivity   and   that   habit,  like   all  others  is  created  by  repetition,  in  this  case,  repetition  of  thought.”    Determination  isn’t  something  you’re  born  with.  It  doesn’t  matter  how  successful  or  unsuccessful   you’ve   been   in   the   past,   how  much   you’ve   stuck   to   or   strayed   from  your  previous  goals.  Determination  is  a  habit  that  anyone  and  everyone  can  develop.  It  takes  practice  and  it  takes  repetition.  Push  yourself  to  think  every  day,  and  I  mean  think  deeply,  about  how  you  used  to  look  and  feel,  how  you  look  and  feel  now,  and  how  you  want   to   look  and   feel   in   the   future.  Do   this,   and   there   isn’t   anything  you  can’t  achieve.