I don’t disagree about the importance of motivation, but I wouldn’t go as far as saying motivation isn’t “real.” It’s a deep field of study that spans from neuroscience to education and learning. Motivation might not lead to behaviors such as tracking diet, but it’s a piece of a complicated puzzle of behavioral change, habit formation, reward, and consistency. I do believe that people think motivation will come first and action will follow, whereas it’s more likely that action is the first step and motivation can then increase. Appreciate you sharing your thoughts!

Love this, Tom! Big proponent of writing out your goals. Keep it up!