SidSavara.com - Latest Comments in Motivation is Like Love: Coping When Your Passion Fades

Re: Motivation is Like Love: Coping When Your Passion Fades

swiedner — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:19:31 -0000

Dear Readers,

My name is Stephan Wiedner and I am the co-founder of noomii.com. This is a great article that demonstrates the emotional roller coaster ride of motivation and goal achievement. Way to go Ali and thank you for mentioning us.

From my experience as a life and business coach, part of the reason for the all-too-familiar dip is over-ambitious passion. People want to go from being single and sitting on the couch every night to going on extravagant dates every night. Any major life change is hard to maintain because it's unrealistic.

The best example is going to the gym. Why go from nothing to working out 6 days a week?! A) It's going to be physically painful because at first you're out of shape, B) It's time consuming, C) Not even the most dedicated fitness geeks work-out 6 days a week, D) In week 3, you feel like a failure because you've only worked out 3 times instead of 6 times. So you give up altogether. :-(

The noomii system naturally combats this tendency for over-ambitious passion (sorry for the mini-plug here but it seems pertinent to your readers). By conducting weekly coaching sessions, you get the benefit of discussing your short-term commitments for your highest priority goals. That way, if you're goal is ambitious (i.e. to lose 100 pounds), you're weekly actions will remain more realistic because you'll spend time discussing it with your coaching partner and they will hold you accountable. And a lot of little steps are better than no steps at all.

Happy goal achieving!
Stephan

Re: Motivation is Like Love: Coping When Your Passion Fades

Tobias Schelle — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:14:11 -0000

I've read a lot of stuff on motivation, but this post - and especially the comparison with love - is really good at explaning the truth. I might subscribe and see what you can bring for me in the future :-)

I am testing http://noomii.com - thx for sharing

Tobias

Re: Motivation is Like Love: Coping When Your Passion Fades

Taeran — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 08:36:55 -0000

Hi there - I'd like to agree with the tips on sticking with it - making a time frame and committing to something is really important, that way you don't have an "out" regardless of how well/poorly you are going. Regarding my first blog, I decided to stick it out for 6 months regardless of traffic, regardless of comment levels / rss subscribers etc. then reassess things after 6 months. Same thing with exercise - sticking to a regime, telling other people about it and putting a time frame down is a great motivator. Well posted.

Re: Motivation is Like Love: Coping When Your Passion Fades

Vincent — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 10:50:09 -0000

Only those that can make it through the dip with persistence can taste the fruit of success. Great article to remind us about that.

Cheers
Vincent
Personal Development Blogger

Re: Motivation is Like Love: Coping When Your Passion Fades

Ali Hale — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 05:54:17 -0000

Great point about re-evaluating, Evan, I find myself doing that a *lot* with various projects. Sometimes the project you fell in love with isn't quite the one you end up with, if you see what I mean!

Re: Motivation is Like Love: Coping When Your Passion Fades

Ali Hale — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 05:53:18 -0000

Thanks Eric! Have emailed you, so won't reply at length here, but glad you enjoyed the post. :-)

Re: Motivation is Like Love: Coping When Your Passion Fades

Ali Hale — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 05:51:31 -0000

I like the "never go to sleep without reconciliation" -- instead of heading to bed feeling worn out and a bit tired with my various projects, I'll try kissing them goodnight. Metaphorically speaking... ;-)

Re: Motivation is Like Love: Coping When Your Passion Fades

Ali Hale — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 05:49:53 -0000

Thanks, Bonnie! Sid and I spent a while working on the structure of the post, so I'm glad it did work!

Re: Motivation is Like Love: Coping When Your Passion Fades

Evan — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:34:40 -0000

All great advice.

I'd add re-evaluating. Once you've started you will know more. Some things you wanted may be unrealistic - or the way you thought of going about them may not be the best.

If you can find a simpler way or more realistic approach this will probably help motivatioin.

Re: Motivation is Like Love: Coping When Your Passion Fades

Ross — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:52:40 -0000

Sid is a funny name!

Re: Motivation is Like Love: Coping When Your Passion Fades

Eric Hamm — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:16:43 -0000

Wow, Sid, you hit this one out of the park! Really good job. I read it earlier on my iPhone as I was waiting for some files to transfer at a client's office. Loved your comparisons to relationships and love and really got a lot out of it.

Thanks for putting together this excellent post! :-) Eric.

Re: Motivation is Like Love: Coping When Your Passion Fades

Avital — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:08:23 -0000

This article is great. The analogy is spot-on. What works wonderfully for my relationship, then, should do wonders to my life goals: compatibility, good communication, allowing some time out but for no longer than one day - never go to sleep without reconciliation !!! :) Thanks.

Re: Motivation is Like Love: Coping When Your Passion Fades

Bonnie Marcus — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:27:27 -0000

I think the analogy between love and motivation really works here.