Gym Musing: Me, Myself & I

One way I motivate myself is by thinking of myself as three people. There is your past self, your future self, and of course your present.

Your look at your future self as your goal. The person you want to become. That's pretty straightforward.

Your past self is the most important for your motivation. You must look at all you've been through. Picture him or her. All the hard work and accomplishments, all the strenuous workouts, and also all the downfalls. The blood sweat and tears. Picture him or her looking back at you. Really put yourself in his or her shoes. See the dreams he or she was seeing. Absorb that emotional blackmail. Look in the mirror and ask your present self, don't you owe your past to continue at full throttle?

Step into the gym and fulfill those dreams. You owe it to yourself not to give up on you now.

There are many speeches and quotes that if you listen to them again with this new perspective, they will give you some new-found insight and renewed motivation.

And example is Al Pacino's famous speech in the movie 'Any Given Sunday'. Watch it with the above approach in mind. (Picture Al Pacino as your future self (who has failed his goals, but is more knowledgeable now because of it) looking back at the past and giving this speech to you. The team receiving this speech is made up of your past, present, and future selves who must rely on one another to accomplish the common goal.)