The following is the Purposeful Strength newsletter from today. This is my third ever ‘edition’ and it by far received the most feedback out of anything I have ever written for this website. I thought it would be worthwhile to share it with everyone who may be a reader, but isn’t subscribed to the newsletter

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Tonight I had a tough conversation. 

In my day to day of fitness and nutrition, tough-ish conversations are the norm.

I say ‘tough-ish’ because when it boils down to the nitty gritty, the person I’m working with realizes they need (and hopefully want) to make a change and are put in a position to lead the charge. 

The really tough ones come when someone in the conversation thinks that I’m the Captain motivating the team. Like I’m Mel Gibson in Braveheart about to fire up the troops for battle. Like I’m the QB in the huddle telling my teammates to leave it on the field. 

You get the picture I’m trying to paint here. 

Those are the tough conversations. 

This particular conversation was with a Father whose family had just moved to Vermont in the past months and his son was trying out our youth program at the gym. 

“Hey Casey, can I talk to you for a minute?” says the Dad as he motions for me to walk with him into the hallway. 

“I need you guys to make my son like this. Can you go tell the guy working with him to really fire him up?” 

**insert start of the tough conversation** 

To those reading this and thinking “what’s so tough? Go fire that kid up Casey”.

To put it simply. It’s not my job to motivate someone. It’s no one's job except for that individual. 

You have to motivate yourself.

Let me explain. 

When you think of a new goal you want to accomplish, that outcome is unique to you and you alone. From that goal, you create the path that will help you achieve it. Whether you actually bring that goal to fruition is irrelevant in this case, but the rationale for creating that goal in the first place is the important piece to hang on to. That initial rationale was spawned from your own personal motivation.

Lets translate this into fitness. 

You buy a gym membership. What you hope to get from that membership is unique to you. 

Maybe it’s to lose 10 pounds.

Maybe it’s to increase a specific lift. 

Maybe it’s to get stronger and be more confident. 

Maybe you want to get out of the house and see some friends. 

Who knows- well- you know. Because it’s your goal. 

In the case of this kid, his Dad is creating his goal.

Now do you see why this conversation is tough? 

I can already hear you asking “So Casey, what did you say?”

I had a tough conversation. I already told you that. 

But it boils down to this, and this is the lesson I want to leave this week. 

If you’re waiting for something, some place, or someone to motivate you. 

To motivate you at work. 

To motivate your fitness.

To motivate whatever the hell you need motivation for. 

That something, some place, or someone isn’t coming. You may think you found it. But that my friend, is false hope. Temporary motivation that comes and goes. Only you can motivate yourself to take the first step towards achievement. 

You and no one else.