Adhering To Motivation

Motivation (as defined by the ACE Personal Trainer Manual) - the psychological drive that gives purpose and direction to behavior

Adherence - the extent to which people stick...  (fade to black) 

Again!

Adherence (as defined by the ACE Personal Trainer Manual) - the extent to which people stick to their plans or treatment recommendations.

Earlier today I noticed that I had stopped writing my definitions smack dab in the middle of the definition for "adherence".  The definitions are done after the completed reading of any chapter in my book for personal training.  Right before doing the review questions for said chapter.  This has been the way of it throughout this second book.  Which is kind of funny (as my subconscious screams) since the last time I just plain ol' stopped was right before the section on motivation.  Took a while before I picked it back up. 

Both motivation and adherence have often been a problem for me.  Not in every area all the time - but specifically in the schooling area.  Lately I have found myself sighing about the personal training certification and yesterday I hit a pothole in my Spanish class.  For the first time, however, I am not going to flight... I am going to fight.  I want to quit studying for the certification... and I want to quit Spanish 102. 

Neither of these reactions are reasonable nor do I want to bow down to my every want; just to get rid of the discomfort of a) boredom or b) struggling like I did in high school.  Sometimes when you ask for a second chance... you really do get it.

This is not a problem confined to me only.  Many, many, many (if not all) people have problems with both motivation and/or adherence.  Not all of them have it with school.  Some have it with exercise, some have it with eating patterns, some have it with drinking/drugs, some have it within their own personalities - some have it in their relationships, some have it within their work environment, some have it with medication, some people have it in several different areas at once... some people have it only in one.  No one's perfect after all.  None of us can keep all of the balls in the air at all times.

None of us should expect ourselves to do so either.

Here's the thing though... while all of the balls will not stay up each and every single day, it is important to remember that when the balls fall to the ground mid-flight... you can always pick them back up when you are ready.  You can always take a rest before grabbing them again.  Sometimes a rest is all that is needed.  I took last night off from even touching Spanish.  I needed the night off.  Simply put.  I take a couple days off here and there from personal training when life calls for it.  What I will not do, however, regardless of my feelings, is never pick either of them up again - not this time around.  And from what it looks like, in some ways - I never have.