If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

—possibly of many origins

Are you a strong self-starter? If so, are you strong at following through and finishing what you started?

Two questions that require different levels of motivation and discipline to say “yes” to. You can be a strong self-starter and lack the discipline to follow through. How many great ideas have you initially pursued only to get distracted with another project? Alternatively, how often have you wanted to start something, but it wasn’t until you absolutely had to, or were invited to it, that you did the damn thing; though once you started, you saw it through to the end?

These two things are not mutually exclusive. Most lie on the “getting shit done” spectrum: you can be really good at starting shit but never finishing it, really good at finishing shit but terrible at getting started, or you can lie somewhere in between.

I’m really good at starting some shit, the shit that I’m really really interested in, but suck at starting shit that I need to do but don’t want to do. But I’m really great at finishing the shit that I need to do but don’t want to do, whereas I’m terrible about finishing shit that I start because I’m really really interested in it.

Motivation and discipline. I might argue that everything may be boiled down to these two things. But that’s a conversation for another blog.

With regard to getting shit started (get moving) and getting shit done (keep moving), community is often the difference in producing the motivation for the former and developing discipline for the latter. If you’re a strong self-starter, involving others in your projects will bring accountability to following through. If you’re strong at following through, involving yourself with others will help you dive into things you normally wouldn’t start on your own.

If you’re struggling to get moving, jump into a fitness program. This may provide the jump-start you need to create a routine that will keep you moving–trainers and other participants will help you understand what to focus on and how to approach your movement. If you’re struggling to keep moving, join a group exercise or yoga class. The camaraderie that arises in these spaces can raise accountability and help you develop the discipline to continue your movement practice.

Whatever your approach, find the one that best suits your style. Working with yourself is far more effective than working against yourself. You can get moving. You can keep moving. Community will help.

Get moving.
Keep moving.
strvtmvmnt

Featured image by Miguel A Amutio on Unsplash