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Motivation is a fleeting force that drives us towards a task that we wish to complete. This force is the source of many discussions. How do we keep motivation alive? How do you find motivation? What can we do to find the ability to push forward with the lack of motivation?

I recently found myself in the middle of an arena crying. Why? It was lightly raining on me, I was trying to fight off pneumonia, the IRS was looming around my mind like a ghost, and my health insurance said they would not cover my last hospital visit. So, I stood in the middle of an arena crying while ground working all of the horses. Where did the motivation come from? If I was so upset…sick…miserable, why did I not just call it a day? Why keep pushing?

Did the motivation come from a need or desire to make money? The short answer is no. The reason money driven goals do not hold steady is because they do not serve a greater purpose. Let’s be real for a second…we need money. Money is the road to our needs and desires. Money can be used for self, for others, and for our animals. Why is it that money is not a sustainable driving force? The answer is, because money in a means and not a destination. Money is in constant flow, it is a means of which to accomplish. The goal may be to own a yacht. To own a yacht, that person will have to make…. say 1.2 million a year. The money is the means to own a yacht where that person can relax, where his family can relax and make memories, and where he can entertain friends. He works hard for the yacht and the memories made there…not the money. For me, money pays for feed, a truck, a trailer, well-fitting tack, footing, show fees, fuel, and everything else needed to make me and those around more successful in work and training. Money is a tool to get where we need, but not a reason for working hard. Money is a byproduct of hard work.

Did the motivation come from obligation to my clients? Yes, in a way it did. Was this the full motivation, no. Obligation to others is a big part of motivation. A community is a great place to push one another. Of course, I did not want to let my clients down. I wanted them to know that they could count on me, but that does not explain why I worked my own horses that day. Why not push the horses that belong to me aside? What other force beside community had to be at work here?

Did I have something to prove? Yes, to myself and my students and clients. I had to prove that I could perform. I had to prove to myself that when my main goal of competing for the USA rolled around that I could do it no matter the circumstances. I had to prove to my body that while I will take care of it, that there were things to be done and I had to be able to heal while getting SOMETHING done (note: I was not on a horse, but ground working instead, this is compromise…we all know I didn’t need another hospital bill). I had to prove to myself that I could work under physical and mental distress. That I am stronger than distress. I also wanted to live by example. I wanted to show others around me that goals are not a fair-weather activity. Goals are still there through the rough times and the easy times. Goals are the light at the end of the tunnel that keep us moving forward and should shine brighter during the tough times. Many times, we see people give up when it gets though. I know it has crossed my mind so many times during the tough times. Mindset it the key. Making a conscious effort to change the mindset from “it is too hard” to “this is all apart of my conditioning and training” is the key to motivation during hard times. Prove to yourself and others that you have what it takes to train hard, to push through, and to deliver.

Did my personal goals play a role in my reason to keep pushing? Yes, they did. If you have read my past article you already know some of the personal motivators. My first motivator is myself. Success is an addicting feeling (you also have to have failed to know how good success feels). My other motivator is my daughter. I want her to see the fruits of hard work and dedication. I want her to have an example of what can happen if she works hard and pushes herself towards a goal. My last motivator is my family. I want to push forward and prove to my family that their sacrifices are not unnoticed. I want them to see how much I appreciate everything they have done for me and show them that I will push forward and not waste those sacrifices. I also want to honor my late mother. She had the talent to get where she wanted to go, but Huntington’s disease took her life and she never had the chance. She passed her vision and desires down to me and I want to make sure I finish what she started. I have since developed a new personal motivator since I wrote that article and that is to help those who wish to go where I have been. I have a vision of a school that caters to all aspects of equestrian training. A place that immerses those who wish to make the USA teams into a program that trains them in every aspect of this process. This vision has given me a reason to meet my goals. I now have a vision past my goals and greater good reason to reach what I have set out to do. Goals that develop based on a greater good concept give you clarity in your path. Because I want to teach the journey, it lets me enjoy the journey. Every step that I make, I am taking notes and making observations. These personal motivators are imperative to success. We all must take the time to know ourselves and understand what moves us.

Motivation takes shape in many forms. If you have the correct mindset that is geared towards growth and development, you will have the tool you need to find motivation and drive in any situation. Ensuring that you know yourself, you know your motivation triggers, and you have a clear idea of why you want what you want, then you will not run out of fuel. Does this mean that you will be happy in your work all the time? That is a big, fat no. You may find yourself crying in the middle of an arena in the rain, but you will still be in the arena making small steps towards your ultimate success. Motivation is still present in the hard times, you just have to be willing to see it. We do not have the luxury of waiting for inspiration, but we do have a mind that can decide to push forward or not. The beauty of motivational force is that it is completely up to you… you do not need anything or anyone else to push you forward except your mindset and personal drive.

Deirdre is an FEI dressage rider and coach in Belton, TX. She is the host of the TV show Equine Strides on Farm and Ranch TV and a personal fitness and life coach specializing in equestrian athletes. Interested in working with Deirdre and her team? Visit www.DDressage.com