Is Motivation Enough?
Motivation is the spark, but it isn’t the fire. We’ve all felt it—maybe after watching Pumping Iron, maybe because it’s January and the gyms are packed, or the doc came back with some not-so-good news from your bloodwork. I know it firsthand. There have been times in my life where I was pedal to floor, unshakeable, and fully committed… only to lose my way later. That wax and wane of motivation happens to the best of us. Research backs it up—motivation is fleeting, while discipline and habit are what sustain change (Schunk & DiBenedetto, 2020).
That doesn’t mean motivation is worthless. You still have to want to change. If you don’t care about your health, fitness, or purpose, nothing will move. For the capable man, that’s garbage thinking. It’s a direct dereliction of your duty as a man to work and to keep. Your family, your brothers, your community—they need you at your best. That is motivation enough (Ryan & Deci, 2000).
But once you’ve lit that fire, it has to be tended. That’s where a minimum viable product (MVP) action plan comes in. The big question men ask is, “Where do I start?” It doesn’t need to be a six-day bodybuilding split or some restrictive, bone broth only carbs are the devil diet. Complete overhauls almost never work. It might mean:
Hitting the gym 2x a week for 20 minutes.
Taking a 15-minute walk each morning.
Hitting your protein target each day.
Simple, consistent, repeatable. Studies show it takes about 66–70 days on average to build a habit that sticks (Lally et al., 2010). Stack those habits. One brick at a time, the wall is built.
Identity is forged in the fire of consistency. At some point, you’re no longer dabbling. You’re a father, a husband, a brother—and those roles require a strong body, a clear mind, and a steady presence. If you want to be fit, strong, and healthy, you must do what fit, strong, and healthy men do.
Forget the fake macho noise—getting up at 3:30am, choking down raw eggs, or whatever stunt the internet is selling this week. The manliest men aren’t the loudest. They’re the ones who keep showing up. When the world is chaotic, the Heroic Man stands firm, steady, and consistent.
Motivation matters. But discipline and consistency forge the man you’re called to be.
If you’re ready to surround yourself with like-minded men who push each other to be better—join The Brotherhood HERE. Iron sharpens iron, and no man becomes heroic alone.
References
Schunk DH, DiBenedetto MK. Motivation and social-emotional learning: Theory, research, and practice. Contemp Educ Psychol. 2020;60:101830.
Ryan RM, Deci EL. Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. Am Psychol. 2000;55(1):68–78.
Lally P, van Jaarsveld CH, Potts HW, Wardle J. How are habits formed: Modeling habit formation in the real world. Eur J Soc Psychol. 2010;40(6):998–1009.
