If You Ain't Feeling It, Do It Anyway

A week ago, I completed the first stage of the Le Puy Camino across the Central Massif of France, the GR 65 from Le Puy en Velay to Conques, about 200+ km. The pilgrimage was off to a good start with the most spectacular Camino send-off at the Le Puy Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After the blessing of the pilgrims, the floor of the cathedral opened up, and all pilgrims walked down the stairs to the cathedral’s main entrance and directly onto the Camino route. But after the grand beginning, things took a turn from great to grinding. When planning a hiking trip, one always hopes for good weather (based solely on an individual's preferences.) The reality was vastly different than my optimistic wishful ideal, this long-distance walk featured heavy rain 6 days out of the 8, with a lot of mud to boot.

When I am home, I never choose to hike in the rain. As a fair-weather hiker, I guess it’s normal to feel a bit of a letdown when forced to be a wet-weather hiker. However, what I have come to realize is that weather doesn’t ruin trips. The difference between having fun and being miserable is attitude. Yes, it’s tough to navigate rocky and flooding trails and to keep dry and warm, but you won’t melt in the rain. Nature doesn’t happen only in perfect weather. While physical obstacles do slow you down, they needn’t defeat you. Joy can be found in having a sense of adventure just being out there and doing the hard thing with as much enthusiasm as usual. Hiking in the heavy rain can be a challenging yet magical experience.

You cannot see the rainbow without enduring the rain. Wet feet are indeed an “acquired taste.” But I’d like to share the lessons of my physical hike and take you on the metaphorical journey on the road to achievement, which can be full of challenges and hazards. You get where you want to go when you are willing to embrace discomfort and do hard things, especially when you aren’t feeling it. Motivation is a process. Excitement ebbs and flows. Consistency is a choice.

Here are some tips how to keep going when you are just not feeling it.

1. Get started: action leads to motivation. When you want to get somewhere, count to 3 and get moving right away.
2. Keep your “why” clear: you decided to embark on the journey for a reason. Keep focus on your compelling reason and the big picture.
3. Embrace the slippery slope: accept that the road to achievement is paved with obstacles. When things don’t go as planned, or hoped for, harness the power of consistency, one step at a time.
4. Don’t fight the obstacles: when you run into a streambed, figure out how to go through it, or around it. Remain grounded and pick your foot placement carefully.
5. Adjust performance to changing conditions: consistency requires that you do enough to drive progress. It doesn’t dictate the intensity of effort nor performing at your peak.
6. Choose the path of least resistance: recognize that you won’t be able to get through the journey if you make the hard things harder. Take the simplest course of action to keep going without getting stuck.
7. Find gratitude in the grind: see the grind as a privilege and make it enjoyable by looking for ways for the day to flow better.
8. Bring structure to the journey: It takes many steps to achieve a worthy goal. Getting your mindset and structure right are keys to success.
9. Master your motivation: one size does not fit all when it comes to motivation. Play with different mindsets, methods, and self-messaging to build your authentic motivation system.
10. Celebrate every incredible step of the way: remember that FUN is Fundamental. So, dance in the rain, jump in puddles, and skip some stones.

Motivation and action may seem like a chicken and egg problem, but in my own experience, effort begets motivation. Whatever goal you are working towards, it’s not going to be enjoyable every day. Some days are going to be miserable. Sometimes “not feeling it” is very real, and the excuses are valid (too cold, too slippery, too hard, etc.) The difference between “attempted” and “achieved” is going out and doing the hard thing anyway, consistently. With action comes motivation. With progress comes enthusiasm. We are all motivated by different things. Motivation ebbs and flows. The lifespan of motivation is like the honeymoon period at a new job. Everything is exciting at first, but the enthusiasm typically wears off. So, forget motivation. Achievement boils down to consistent effort over time. Focus on building habits to remain consistent in taking action toward your goals.

Regardless of what you want to get motivated about, achievement will always be obtained through consistent action. When you cannot find joy in the moment, focus on one small step at a time leveraging internal drivers. Recognize that none of the misery is meaningless. The perseverance of effort when facing challenges on the path to accomplishment can be vastly rewarding. Overcoming is its own reward.