Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.
Jim Ryun
MEANING OF THIS QUOTE
How often have we embarked on an endeavor full of motivation and resolve, only for everything to fizzle out over time? So often, we start working on a new project with so much enthusiasm, only for our day-to-day lives blunt our resolve. Most of us erroneously believe that just motivation can get us wherever we want, when, in fact, it is just the starting point. After the initial zeal subsides, it all boils down to whether we can build new habits and maintain them in the long run or not.
THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSISTENCY
Whether it is losing weight, learning a new language, or starting your dream business, consistency is key to success. Most of us struggle to stick to our goals as soon as the initial euphoria dies down and the harsh realities of life kick in. Time management, stress, lack of funds-you name it. Our minds come up with a million reasons why putting it off until tomorrow is a great idea. And more often than not, we give in to the temptation. Soon enough, several months have passed and we are no closer to losing weight than we were on New Year’s Eve.
Unfortunately, many people do not seem to realize the importance of small changes. We often believe it is pointless to “waste” time on a 15-minute workout or reading a couple of pages today, promising ourselves to do things “properly” from tomorrow or next week. Needless to say, these plans seldom materialize and we end up losing sight of our goals altogether before long. On the other hand, people who invest a few minutes of their time every day into these small habits reap the big benefits in the long run, for this daily progress really adds up over time.
CONCLUSION
Motivation only gets you started; it is long-term habits that keep you going to the very end. It is, therefore, important to work on building lasting habits to achieve our goals.
James Ronald Ryun, popularly known as Jim Ryun, is a former Republican politician and Olympian. Ryun was a silver medalist at the 1968 Summer Olympic in Mexico City. Ryun is also an ardent believer in the role habits play in being successful. One of his best-known success quotes go as follows: “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”