Motivation After Action: Why Waiting for Motivation Is Holding You Back

There’s a common belief that we must feel motivated before we can take action. “I’ll start tomorrow, once I’m in the right headspace,” we say. But what if motivation actually comes after we take the first step?

Motivation almost always follows action, not the other way around. Here’s why waiting for motivation can keep you stuck, and how you can break free.

Motivation Doesn’t Start the Process - Action Does

We tend to believe motivation is the ignition key. That once we feel the spark, we’ll be off and running. But in reality, motivation is more like the wind. It shows up after you’ve started rowing.

When you act, even in a small way, something changes. You get feedback. You build momentum. You create evidence that you’re moving in the right direction. And suddenly, the energy you were waiting for shows up, not because you sat around hoping for it, but because you created it.

Why the “I Should Feel Motivated” Belief Keeps You Stuck

“I just don’t feel motivated like I should.”

I hear this constantly from professionals, athletes, parents, and students. These people genuinely care about their goals, but feel stuck because they aren’t feeling it.

It’s said with guilt, as if lacking motivation is a moral failing. As if you’re broken for not waking up every day excited to tackle your workout, prep meals, build the habit, or change your life.

But here’s the thing: waiting for motivation is one of the fastest ways to stay stuck. It’s not a prerequisite. It’s not even the first step. Motivation is influenced by dozens of variables outside your control: sleep, stress, hormones, environment, mental load, weather, and energy levels. You cannot build your habits on something so unstable.

Small Actions Lead to Big Change

One of the biggest mindset shifts is this:

Small, consistent effort adds up. Even if it’s 30%, or 10%, or just enough to say, “I did something today.”

We often think that if we can’t give 100%, it’s not worth it. But it’s the people who consistently show up, even when they can only give a fraction of their energy, who see the biggest changes over time.

• It’s not the perfect meal plan. It’s making one better choice each day.

• It’s not the 90-minute workout. It’s the 15-minute walk you took, even when you didn’t want to.

• It’s not the productivity sprint. It’s showing up, checking in, and chipping away.

The win is in the consistency, not the intensity.

The Power of Consistency: What’s Holding You Back?

You don’t need to wait for the perfect conditions to get started. Sometimes, you just need to take the first step, no matter how small it feels. You may not feel motivated in the beginning, but once you start taking action, you’ll find that motivation follows.

This is where the magic happens. The more consistent you are, the more momentum builds. Small steps, done repeatedly, create lasting change. And it’s this momentum that fuels your motivation, helping you push through obstacles and stay on course.

Consistency Isn’t Glamorous, But It Works

What works isn’t fancy. It’s consistent. Small actions, repeated often, change your baseline. They reshape your habits. They help you think differently about what you’re capable of.

• You don’t need to crush it every day. You need to keep showing up.

• You don’t need to feel like doing it. You need to keep choosing effort over excuses.

• You don’t need a full tank of gas. You need to press the gas you’ve got.

Action Leads to Momentum

If you're waiting for motivation, I want you to consider this:

What if the feeling you’re waiting for is on the other side of taking action?

What if motivation isn’t something you find, but something you create by proving to yourself that you’re in motion?

Try this:

• Choose one small action that takes less than 10 minutes.

• Do it, especially if you don’t feel like it.

• Notice how your mindset shifts after taking that step, and write it down. (All my clients know I am a big fan of journaling around taking action.)

• Repeat tomorrow.

This is how it starts. This is how it builds.

What’s Next???

If you’re ready to stop waiting for motivation and start building momentum, let’s work together. I’ll support you in creating lasting change with consistent, actionable steps that lead to the results you want. No more waiting. Let’s take that first step together.