Stay Motivated By Uncovering Your True Inspiration

By Claire Lam

There is certainly nothing extraordinary about me. I am just a regular girl who took a hard look at her life, while fully in motion, and decided the self-doubt and turmoil had to change. I make this sound unremarkable, yet I know deep down it took a whole-hearted approach, a great deal of courage, and some serious tenacity. Yes, I quarreled with myself (as one most likely would,) but in the end, I knew I had to STOP the tug-of-war and commit to overcoming. I had to learn how to let go if I wanted a fresh start. If I could do this, believe me, so can YOU!

Let me give you a quick story (because you know how much I love to tell a story) - I was invited to lunch recently. Outside of a mutual connection through a family member, we didn’t know each other. Now that I’ve put my life “on the line,” my body transformation images specifically peaked her interest. My lunch date hoped to uncover insight and tips that might stimulate and propel her own health and wellbeing journey. Transformation stories are powerful tools.

What motivated you to start, and how do you stay motivated now?

We had a great dialogue surrounding this question, shared ideas, and related to each other in solidarity. Let’s face it, building self-esteem and channeling positive thoughts in the midst of struggle is plain hard. When you allow yourself to be vulnerable, talking about how you feel will do wonders for your emotional health at any stage of your journey. It’s extremely cathartic.

However, I'll be honest with you, my mind and body kept feeling that there was a lack of clarity in my answers and explanations concerning “motivation.” This bothered me. The reason finally occurred to me a few nights later. My lunch date wasn’t really asking about my motivation; rather, she hoped to learn about my inspiration. How are we finally able to live our truth in order to experience a healthy mind and a healthy body? How do you become an advocate for yourself?

The life-long fuel for your motivation is your unique inspiration.

What motivates my commitment to healthy habits is clear cut and common: I am motivated to harmonize my internal health and my external appearance. In layman’s terms, I want to feel good naturally and look good (by my own standards) at the same time in my mind, body, and soul.

Maybe you too share the same motivational desire for good health, but you’re hitting road blocks or not seeing forward motion. I’ve been down that (very) bumpy road of low self-esteem, and it’s an exhausting drive for sure. But I also know the flat-land (or the plateaus) can be equally as frustrating to the self-improvement process. You are not alone in these feelings.

I want to share a “Fresh Start Roadmap,” of sorts, that helped me uncover my true inspiration.  I still practice these every day because that’s what it takes to live your truth, my friend. Practice and effort. Bear in mind this hard truth as you read on: these mindsets are complex and challenging, but they will manifest in authentic inspiration. Let’s put the power of habit to work for us, not against us!

  1. Divorce things that do not provide positive stimulation for your personal growth.
  2. Stop consciously or subconsciously comparing yourself to others to build self-esteem.
  3. Embrace that there is no finish line in this process, only accountability check points.
#1 Divorce the Negative

By definition, “divorce” means to separate or disassociate something from something else. Most of us automatically associate this term with marriage. However, I’m really referring to the severing of ties and disconnection of unhealthy relationships - people, places, things, ideas, feelings - that do not, cannot, and will not contribute positively to your quest for authentic inspiration. We all carry around shit that we know good and well needs to go. We must learn how to let go.

Take comfort in the fact that there is a vast difference between giving up and knowing when enough is enough. However, do not make irresponsible or reckless decisions without a plan, especially if it involves a major life change (i.e., don’t quit your job tomorrow or tell your spouse you want a divorce without ample consideration first.)

The thing is, you have to trust your gut and intuition. Keep it real with yourself and believe in yourself. Confront the things that don’t positively impact you, and if it needs to go, then, girl. Make the conscious decision to completely let go of certain things and allow yourself to grow and move towards what inspires you. Immerse yourself in an environment and daily routine of positive thinking, feeling, and being. When shit appears, you’re ready to overcome it.

#2 Stop Comparing

Have you ever looked at someone and thought, “I’m nothing like that…?” Do you realize what you just did there? You just compared yourself to the other person. And what real purpose did that serve?

Consciously or subconsciously, when you compare you’re attempting to either: 1) lift yourself up above the other person or 2) bring yourself down below the person. Comparisons to our friends, to perfect strangers, and anyone fitting in between are insidious. They are linked to self-doubt, and we don’t have time for that. Do we?

Comparison is the thief of all joy.
- Theodore Roosevelt 

Along your health and self-awareness journey, you have to remember that you are your own pace car. You are also the only car in the non-existent race towards abundant life. That means you’re only up against yourself, friend. The process of your journey is not comparable to another's. What inspires your motivation may be completely different from the next, and that’s ok! It’s time to STOP comparing yourself to anyone else and to live YOUR life!

#3 There’s No End, So Settle In

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, if you want to uncover your true inspiration, you must understand that there is no finish line to cross. Remember, this is not a race, but there are accountability checks on every corner that will test you. If you have in mind that there is a definite “start” and “stop,” then you’ll likely find yourself stuck in a revolving door situation, never feeling a satisfying gain. This is not a beautiful mess. It’s just a mess, and you’ll constantly feel trapped by constant overcoming from the beginning.

Quick, temporary fixes won’t do the trick either. You are what you eat, drink, and think. It’s a new-found, life-long course you’re about to embark upon, so settle into your new lifestyle. You are a work in progress every day. So, embrace the long haul because you only have one life to live, my friend. Get cozy with it and start getting comfortable with being uncomfortable as you live and learn your truth. Finding your inspiration is worth it!

So, how about it. Are you ready to make a real difference in your own life by finding inspiration that is truly yours? I believe you are. Do you?



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