1235. Pushing Through: The Power of Doing Things Even When Unmotivated

We’ve all been there – the alarm goes off for an early workout and our warm bed feels like a comfy cocoon we can’t bear to leave.

We have things to do, but Facebook calls our name after a long day. We know we should meal prep for the week, but we really don’t feel like it.

It’s easy to do things when you’re motivated.

Making excuses and putting things off when we don’t feel motivated is also easy. Our couch potato self kicks into Permission-Giving-Pal mode: “You work so hard, you deserve a break!” Our internal resistance ramps up for basic tasks like washing dishes or folding laundry. Who feels like doing that stuff?

But there’s something profound that happens when we make ourselves do things even when we don’t feel like it. We build self-discipline, strengthen our willpower muscle, and prove to ourselves that we don’t have to be feeble victims of our random and momentary feelings and whims.

For example, when I really don’t want to go for a run or bang out extra miles but I lace up anyway, it’s a small victory. Yeah, the first or last few miles mile might feel heavy and my inner whiner may pipe up with “This sucks, let’s go home.” But if I persist through that resistance, I always feel so much better afterward – energized, accomplished, and proud of myself. Plus, my stubbornness habit gets a helpful lesson on who is in charge.

The little things count too. Like when we’d rather lie on the couch but instead I clean the house or when we’re tempted to snap at our partner but we take a breath and reply with patience instead.

Doing things even when we don’t feel like it builds fortitude. It’s a low-key way of telling ourselves: “I’ve got this. I’m bigger than my feelings and impulses. I make the choices, not them.”

Each time we push through and do the thing, we get better at …doing the thing. We prove our willpower. We up our game. Slowly but surely, we become a little bit better of a human – more reliable, disciplined, and proud of our ability to deal with life’s demands.

So don’t believe your couch potato self. Don’t buy the excuses. When you feel that resistance, expect it – then do the hard thing anyway. It’s part of life and how we grow.