Motivation vs Dedication vs Discipline

When it comes to showing up for your wellness goals (whether it’s nourishing your body, practicing self-care, or moving your body), it’s not just about wanting to do it. Real change only happens when motivation, dedication, and discipline come together.

You might be wondering: what’s the difference between these three? And how can we use each one to support our journey?🧐

Let’s break it down and add some quick tips that you can use to get started…and KEEP GOING!

(These tips can be tweaked to use for all kinds of goals…not just self care and wellness, but that’s what I’m focusing on in this post.)

💥 Motivation – The Spark That Starts the Fire

Motivation is that exciting spark that starts the fire. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always stick around, and that spark fizzles out rather quickly. So maybe you work toward your goal for a day (or a week), but you aren’t really seeing or feeling any results yet…so just like that: the spark is gone and you quit.

Here are 5 tips to MOTIVATE you and reignite that spark when your energy is low:

1. Listen to uplifting music or podcasts: I don’t know about you, but I have a special playlist for walking workouts and another playlist for my weight workouts. I make sure the music is upbeat, fast, and fuels my fire. A motivational podcast can shift your mindset fast. There are many good ones out there, but you have to find the ones that speak to YOU.

2. Break big goals into small wins: I preach this ALL THE TIME! Celebrating the “small” wins encourages you to keep working towards the BIG ones! Instant gratification from a small step fuels more action. Here’s a little example: Do you love scrolling social media and sending reels to your bestie? (Oh wait, that might just be me!😁) Set a small goal with a small reward…if I walk for 10 minutes, I can scroll for 5 minutes. This isn’t an exact science…tailor this tip to fit YOU!

3. Surround yourself with positive energy: Spend time with people who inspire you. And avoid those that drag you down.

4. Take supplements that help with your self care/mental wellness: I take several supplements. But the ones that are most important are my daily Rise nootropics and Source trace minerals. These are key to my energy levels and MOTIVATION to get done what I need to do! They are also necessary for brain/gut health.

5. Set yourself up for success: Research the tools you’ll need to help accomplish your goal. For me, I’m working on building strenth through small weight workouts. I made a little space in my (ugly) basement to keep my weights and do my workouts without being disturbed. I love these light adjustable weights, and I just got a new set of heavier adjustable weights.

💛 Dedication – The Commitment to Keep Showing Up

Dedication is about being emotionally connected to your goals. It’s what helps you keep going, even when motivation fades.

1. Connect your goals to your values: Remind yourself why this matters to you. If it’s a weight goal, remember that it’s NOT about the numbers on the scale, it’s about creating a HEALTHIER YOU! Those numbers will flucuate. (Ask me how I know.🙄) Don’t get hung up on them!

2. Build rituals, not just routines: Turn your wellness habits into meaningful moments.

3. Track your consistency: A habit tracker or journal reinforces your commitment visually. I created a tracker for myself. I have different ones for M/W/F and Tu/Th. It not only helps keep me accountable, but it’s super satisfying to check things off as I finish them!

4. Revisit your ‘why’ regularly: Why do you have a certain goal? What’s the end result of achieving that goal? Write it on a sticky note and put it on your mirror or laptop…somewhere you see it everyday. If you don’t feel like doing whatever it is you need to do…read that note and remember WHY you’re doing it.

5. Surround yourself with accountability – Share your intentions with a friend or family member. But choose wisely. Share it with those people who will cheer for you as work towards your goal.

💪 Discipline – The Muscle That Gets Stronger with Use

Discipline is what keeps you going when motivation is gone and dedication feels low. It’s about making a plan and sticking to it. It’s about resisting the distractions. It’s the muscle that pushes you forward.

1. Set non-negotiables: Treat wellness habits like brushing your teeth: not optional. This is so important! Why do we treat our goals as if they can be pushed aside??? We wouldn’t push off something from a job! So treat your wellness like it’s your J-O-B!!!

2. Remove temptations and distractions: Make the right choice the easy one. Don’t keep junk food in the house. Don’t hang around with people that put temptation in your way. One example for myself: When I’m done with my weights, I reset everything into place. So when it’s time to do it again, I don’t have get it all set up to start. How can you apply this to YOUR OWN goals?

3. Use time blocks: Schedule your wellness tasks like appointments. Take your supplements at the same time every day. But also, don’t just give up if something comes up. There WILL be times that you can’t do something in the time you allotted. Does that mean it’s ok to just skip it? Well, not really! Try your best to get done at another time during the day. At the very least, make sure you start again tomorrow. DO NOT QUIT!

4. Commit to just 5 minutes: If the thought of walking 2 miles is overwhelming, promise yourself to walk 5 minutes. That 5 minutes will build to 10 minutes and eventually you’ll be walking that 2 miles and more! It’s the same for almost everything!

5. Be your own coach, not critic: Talk to yourself like someone you believe in. Why do we talk to ourselves with such negativity??? If your bestie was working towards a goal, you would be soooo encouraging! Treat yourself like you would treat your bestie!

💬Final Thoughts

Wellness isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being present, being kind to yourself, and showing up in small ways each day. Motivation may get you started, but it’s dedication and discipline that will carry you through.

Which one do you need a little more of today? Let me know in the comments or share this post with someone who could use a boost! May is Mental Health Awareness Month.💚 It’s a great time to get started on your wellness goals! Phyical wellness and mental wellness go hand in hand.

If you would like to try a 5 Day Experience of some of my supplements, you can get those HERE!

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