Why is it that you can feel highly motivated on Monday, and be stuck by Thursday?

Motivation feels powerful when it’s there. You wake up energised, determined to act and make a change. But then a few days later, that feeling may have disappeared again. You find yourself in the same situation, still with the same intentions, but no movement.

Motivation fluctuates because it is reactive. It responds to mood, energy, environment, sleep. Some days it shows up. Many days it doesn’t.

Motivation is fragile too. One unconstructive comment from someone important can break your motivation almost instantly.

If you really want to get things done, relying on motivation isn’t enough.

Determination works differently. It doesn’t depend on mood, energy or other factors. It’s based on being clear where you are going and why. Being determined means doing something not because you feel strongly about it; but because it aligns with what you find important.

More than once, I’ve had a client come dissatisfied with their progress. Convinced they’re lacking motivation, wanting to be more disciplined, driven, or accountability. The typical remedy of choice is to create routines, set reminders.

That may work for a while, but often not for long. It may even become a repeating pattern. Effort goes up for a while, then drops again.

When you’ve figured out why you’re doing something, and what reward is waiting for you, your behaviour looks different. You stay focused and do what you said you would do. When something gets in the way, you adjust the plan, but you don’t question the direction.

Motivation starts things, but determination is what keeps you going.