The Spark of Motivation
Motivation is like the spark that gets us started. We’ve all been there: that excited feeling of starting something new, whether it’s a fitness routine, a new hobby, or a personal goal. It feels energizing, doesn’t it? Like the world is yours to conquer. But as time goes on, that excitement starts to fade, and the challenges begin to feel more like obstacles. The truth is, motivation is often short-lived—and that’s where the real work begins.
I look back and see how this played out in my life. As a kid starting school, I was eager to learn, to explore, to make friends. But when school became a routine, I started losing interest. Instead of engaging with my studies, I found myself distracted, skipping homework, and scraping by with minimal effort. I even earned an award for “Best at Pretending to Sleep While Gaming” in high school—not exactly something I’m proud of. But it was a perfect example of how easily motivation can fade when something stops feeling exciting.
The Challenge of Staying Consistent
This mindset carried into my adult life. I came to realize that the key to making meaningful change is learning to push through that dip in motivation to make those long term changes. Life is a constant series of lessons, and how you respond to them—whether you take the initiative or just react to circumstances—makes all the difference. For me, it became about being proactive in my growth, instead of waiting for motivation to magically appear. And that’s where the philosophy of Kaizen, or incremental improvement, became a game-changer.
When we set out on a new path—whether it’s hitting the gym, learning a skill, or breaking a bad habit—we start strong. Think of the gym on January 1st, packed with people eager to start their “New Year, New Me” routines. It’s easy to be excited in the beginning. But by February, the gym is back to its usual crowd, and most people have already fallen off track. The challenge isn’t starting; it’s staying consistent once the novelty wears off.
Consistency Is Key
Consistency is the true test of commitment. After that initial rush of motivation fades, daily habits can feel tedious. That’s when your reptilian brain kicks in, urging you to return to your comfort zone—the place that feels safe and familiar. New things, even when they’re good for us, are uncomfortable, and our minds and bodies will resist them. I’ve experienced this firsthand.
Take my struggle with food, for instance. I’ve always had a soft spot for sweets. As an emotional eater, I would often turn to a bag of gummy bears to cope with stress or boredom. Of course, the short-term satisfaction never lasted long, and the long-term effects were less than ideal. This time, I decided to make a change by tracking my food and water intake every day—focusing on eating whole, nutritious meals while avoiding processed foods. But some days, life happens. I get distracted, I forget, or I just don’t feel like it. Tracking my meals feels like a chore, or sweets sound extra good right about now, and it’s easy to slip back into old habits.
It’s About Progress, Not Perfection
But here’s the thing: it’s not about perfection. It’s about making the decision every day to stick with it, even when motivation dips. This is where Kaizen comes in. The philosophy of Kaizen teaches us to take small, consistent steps forward, even when the journey doesn’t feel exciting. It’s about progress, not perfection. And even on the days I don’t track my food or work out or indulge in a snack, I remind myself that one small step is better than no step at all.
This is what the real challenge is: staying consistent when you feel like quitting. And it’s the same in every area of life. Whether you’re trying to improve your health, build a new skill, or change a bad habit, the beginning is easy—but long-term consistency is what separates those who succeed from those who give up. We have to push through the discomfort, trust that the small steps we’re taking will add up, and remember why we started in the first place.
Kaizen: Small Steps, Big Changes
The idea of Kaizen—small, incremental changes—reminds me that every day is a chance to get better. Even when I don’t feel like tracking my meals or going to the gym, I remind myself that small actions are still progress. Time will keep moving forward, whether I’m working on my goals or not. The day will end whether I achieve my to-do list or not. And as time slips away, I want to be able to look back and say I made the most of it, even in those small moments.
So, when motivation fades, dig deep and find the reason you started in the first place. Remember, short-term discomfort is worth it for long-term growth. Small steps, taken consistently, can lead to big changes—and those little improvements will add up over time.
A question for you
What small step can you take today to stay on track? Let’s embrace consistency, even when it’s tough, and remind ourselves that progress, no matter how small, is still progress.