Motivation Isn't the Problem. You Aren't Broken

After 10 years of doing this, I've noticed an annual pattern...

December leaves us wrung out, January shows up with a long list of things we’re “supposed” to fix about ourselves, and by the time February rolls around most of us are quietly wondering why it’s already starting to feel hard again.

Here’s what I want you to know: There is nothing wrong with you.

If motivation actually worked, we’d all be sleeping better, eating well, moving daily, and checking off our goals without effort. But real life — jobs, family, hormones, stress, weather, energy — doesn’t operate on motivational quotes.

The problem isn’t that you don’t care enough. It’s that you’ve been asked to carry too much of this on your own.

We tend to treat consistency like a personality trait. Some people “have it,” others don’t.

But the most consistent people I know aren’t tougher or more disciplined — they’re better supported. They don’t rely on feeling inspired. They build environments that make showing up the default.

That might look like:

• Getting a quick “Everything okay?” message when you miss two walks in a row — instead of just quietly falling off the radar.

• Knowing someone will notice if your week goes sideways, not to scold you, but to help you reset before a bad few days turns into a bad few months.

• Being encouraged to count the 12-minute dog walk or the five flights of stairs at work — not just the workouts that happen in gym clothes.

• Having a place to say, “I’ve been living on toast and coffee and I don’t know why I’m exhausted,” and getting support instead of shame.

• Being able to admit that you’ve been sleeping like garbage, your stress is high, and your habits are unraveling — and still feeling like you belong here.

• Being celebrated for showing up imperfectly instead of only being noticed when you’re “on track.”

  
  

If you're a ProActive member, you already do the hard part by coming to the gym. But the habits that shape how you actually feel — walking more, getting to bed on time, eating in a way that supports your energy — live in the other 23 hours of the day. And those are the ones that are hardest to maintain alone.

Over the next little while, I’ll be sharing more about something new we’re bringing in February to try with some of our existing clients. It isn’t about pressure, perfection, or more things to feel guilty about. It’s about creating a layer of support around the non-gym habits that are so easy to lose when life gets busy.

For now, just hold onto this: You don’t need more willpower. You need a system that has your back.

Remember, progress not perfection!