Why Conscious Motivation?

Why? The question that has plagued us since we were toddlers. As we became adults this was and is still the question. We renamed it motivation. When we fail to achieve something, we might say we lost our motivation. The question is then, how do we keep going?

At the age of 50 something, I discovered the marvelous sport of rowing. I officially became identified as a master’s athlete. I started training in the gym to be a better rower. I started training on the water to be a better rower. I trained and trained my body. I had never won a medal at a regatta or head race. I am hardly accomplished in that regard. This got a bit discouraging. That is until, I examined my true motivation.

When I coached kids in youth sports, we would celebrate wins. We would mourn losses with words like “winning isn’t everything” or “there’s always next time.” Competition is embedded in our psyches. We keep score cards on everything. Sometimes for athletes, both young and old, the repeated losses may cause a person to seek new activities that can grow new motivation.

Is the scorecard the motivation? Is the medal count the only goal? I mean I don’t lose race because I am not motivated to do well. I am just not faster or as skilled as the competitors in my field. It doesn’t kill my will to find joy and improve in my sport.

I don’t think that I am alone in this. I believe that there are many of us who are connected to the spirit of fitness and competition but we are not accomplished when the medal count is factored in.

We don’t give up because we have our own conscious motivation. We are connected to our bodies in a quest to find joy. As a rower for me that joy is feeling the connection to the water at the blade and the movement of the boat when the blades are out of the water. It is a rhythm that sets my soul and my mind free. Off the water, I keep that feeling with meditation and other fitness fun.

I have to admit that I sometimes feel alone in that I am often surrounded by much more accomplished athletes. I have some awesome athletes for teammates. If I lose focus on my own consciousness and look at the scorecards, then I could lose my motivation to find joy in fitness. I like the energy of competition. I like occasionally winning. I like that as I am in my 60th trip around the sun and that I can still find joy it being active. I like to see other people find joy in accomplishment. My joy is my pursuit. No scorecard required.

So here I am, starting this little project. I want to reach out to people like me and provide a place where we can share joy of movement. I will do this with rowing, meditation, and connection. Perhaps you will find nuggets here that will help you in your pursuit of joy, fitness, and consciousness.