“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”
— Jim Rohn
My last post ended with the intention of describing the healthy habits and routines that help me stay on the safe path of sobriety. Lately, though, I’ve found myself a bit unfocused — my mind jumping between too many thoughts at once: routine, rigidity, self-trust, fear, uncertainty, anxiety, mindfulness. All important, but overwhelming when they crowd in together. I know I need to slow down.
I confided in a friend that I was feeling low and unsure of my direction. She gently suggested that I return to the purpose of this project — to reconnect with the light and let the heavier reflections wait. Hearing that helped. It was the external reminder I needed.
Before moving forward, I needed to revisit the difference between intention and motivation. Intention is my direction — chosen, deliberate, steady. Motivation is the energy that carries me toward that intention, and unlike intention, motivation isn’t constant. It rises and falls. Some days it feels natural and effortless; other days it barely shows up. That fluctuation isn’t failure — it’s human.
Motivation also comes in different forms. Intrinsic motivation — purpose, meaning, curiosity — comes from within. Extrinsic motivation — support, accountability, encouragement — comes from outside. Both matter. Both shift. Intention stays constant. Motivation moves around it.
Here’s where I stand today — my what and my whys:
Intention: To achieve and maintain joyful sobriety from alcohol.
Motivations:
• Awareness that I’ve lived too long without direction — and a desire for a meaningful, fulfilled life.
• Excitement and commitment to this Recovery52 project.
• The mental and physical benefits of healthy living.
• Devotion to family, loved ones, and friends — wanting to be reliable and present.
• The determination to end the physical, mental, and emotional pain caused by drinking.
Reviewing this lifts some of the fog. I feel clearer, steadier — no slip, no backslide, just an honest check-in and a renewed commitment to sobriety.
Related Riffs: Self-Awareness, Resilience, Gratitude