Awareness Is the Pause. Effort Is the Choice.
- Richard Hutton
- 8 hours ago
- 4 min read
Motivation Isn’t the Problem. It’s the Fuel.
People love to say motivation doesn’t matter.
That’s not true.
Motivation matters.
It just doesn’t last.
Motivation is the spark.
Effort is what keeps the fire going.
If watching a video fires you up—watch it.
If a song gets you moving—play it every morning.
If hearing David Goggins in your head yelling, “Who’s gonna carry the boats?” gets you through the hard part—say it every time.
Who cares.
Motivate the hell out of yourself.
Follow people who inspire you.
Watch something that reminds you who you’re trying to be.
Take three minutes to get your head right.
That’s not weakness.
That’s ownership.
But here’s the truth most people miss:
Motivation gets you started.
Effort is what turns it into results.
And effort has to show up every day.
Even when motivation fades.
Even when you don’t feel it.
And when motivation fails—that’s when your effort goes into getting motivated again.
What You Can’t Control Will Wear You Out
What You Can Control Will Set You Free
Most frustration comes from trying to control the wrong things.
The weather.
Other people’s moods.
How the day should go.
We let the weather dictate our habits like it’s personal.
Cold?
Bad day.
Rain?
Everything’s ruined.
Even though none of it is a surprise.
Same thing with people.
We worry about what they think.
We react to their tone.
We adjust ourselves to keep the peace.
Here’s the quiet truth:
You can’t control any of that.
And the longer you try, the more exhausted you get.
There’s only one thing you ever truly control:
How you show up.
The effort you give.
That’s it.
Your Thoughts Are Yours
But They Are Not You
This is the turning point.
Your thoughts are not you.
They are collected.
Collected from:
• childhood
• parents
• past experiences
• old pain
• old habits
Same with your body.
It’s collected too.
From food.
From movement—or lack of it.
From stress.From care.
Because they are collected, we can agree on something powerful:
They are yours.
But they are not you.
And the moment someone really understands that, everything changes.
You stop identifying as the thought.
You start noticing that thought.
“That reaction feels familiar.”
“That anger came from somewhere.”
“That’s an old pattern showing up again.”
That little bit of separation creates space.
And in that space, effort becomes a choice—not a reaction.
Why This Matters in the Gym
And Everywhere Else
This is why fitness works when it’s done right.
Not because it burns calories.
Not because it changes how you look.
Because it teaches effort under pressure.
At CrossFit Fiend here in Oklahoma City, that’s the real lesson.
You show up tired—and move anyway.
You’re uncomfortable—and stay present.
You don’t quit because the workout didn’t meet your expectations.
You practice choosing effort.
And that skill doesn’t stay in the gym.
It follows you into work.
Into relationships.
Into hard conversations.
Into stressful days.
You stop letting emotions drive the wheel.
Energy Is Contagious — Coaching Proves It
You ever been a sourpuss and killed the whole vibe?
Or watched one person do it?
One negative, tight, reactive person can change a room fast.
But coaching taught me something important:
The best way to handle that person is not to let them bring you down.
You stay positive.
You keep the energy up.
You keep showing up as who you choose to be.
People gravitate toward that.
And eventually—if you don’t give up—they do.
I see it every day in classes.
People walk in stressed.
Annoyed.
Closed off.
And the coach’s job isn’t to fix them.
It’s to keep the room fun.
Keep people moving.
Keep the effort light and honest.
Before long, that person is
Laughing.
Joining in.
Trying.
That’s CrossFit.
That’s the beauty of it.
You seldom leave upset if you stop resisting it—Because you’re surrounded by people who showed up to get better.
That energy wins.
This Is the Real Work
It’s not about never getting angry.
It’s not about being positive all the time.
That’s not real.
Anger is part of you.
It’s been collected.
It’s not going anywhere.
The work is learning to come back quicker.
At first, you notice it late.
Then sooner.
Then, right as it starts.
That’s where awareness meets effort.
You feel the chest tighten.
The breath is shortened.
The reaction tries to take the wheel.
You notice it.
“This is showing up.”
“This isn’t who I’m choosing to be.”
A couple of breaths.
A pause.
A response instead of a reaction.
You redirect the energy.
Not by fighting it.But by dancing with it.
And over time—it barely runs the show anymore.
You don’t let sourpusses control the room.
You don’t let moods dictate behavior.
You become the steady one.
Final Thought
Motivation will get you started.
Effort keeps you moving.
When motivation fades, effort goes to finding it again.
When emotions spike, effort brings you back quicker.
That’s the skill.
That’s the work.
Show up.
Choose effort.
Come back faster.
Build a life you respect.
Stay rad.
Coach Richard
PS. Awareness Is the Pause. Effort Is the Choice.
Comments