One of the tenets of behavioral psychology that I feel is vital for both coaches and clients to learn is the definition of motivation. It’s simply what drives us into action. It is ALWAYS present if the there are any thoughts behaviors or emotions involved. Amotivation exists but within that context you wouldn’t even be thinking about that topic, be it exercise or food or work related.
Think about an actor walking across a room. They say to themselves “what’s my motivation?” For every action or thought or behavior there is a reason. So just thinking about exercise means you have motivation. It’s just contradicted by your ambivalence.
This is the intersection of Self Determination Theory and Transtheoretical Model of Change. How can we work towards action while internalizing motivation?
Much of this will be highly individualized but a good starting point is to identify your values and make sure your goals are aligned. Find small actions that can help you move in the direction of value oriented goals. Small, baby steps.
At first you will likely need to lean on that external motivator like a coach or a song or a favorite quote. Over time, with consistent action, you will start to internalize these actions and behaviors and they will just be a part of who you are.
You might never love exercise or working on emotional regulation but if it helps you to see your values and goals through, you’ll value it on its merit.
