But other than that there is a reason. Deep, deep down many people who start exercising do so for basically two reasons.

One is that a Doctor has sufficiently frightened them into it.

The more common is that they want to look more attractive. Now everyone wants to look more attractive. So in itself that isn’t motivating enough. But when individual’s relationship is in trouble, when they’ve just got divorced or split up, when they think their Partner is having an affair. That is when they suddenly get motivated to act.

They look in mirror more critically. They start thinking about competing for their partner… or generally being on dating market. It bothers them. They catch themselves as they walk past shop windows. They imagine meeting new people. Being seen naked by a new lover. And then they look down at cellulite or paunch.

Now they’re motivated. They have something that hurts and so they are motivated to heal that pain.

After two or three months though, relationship has recovered. They found that their Partner isn’t having an affair. The Divorcee has met someone else. Whatever problem was… its no longer so painful. So their motivation for exercise has waned.

But going to Gym and torturing yourself for 45 minutes is still as dull as ever. “Look at all more relevant and interesting things I could be doing. Of course I’d like to be in great shape, but it’ll take so long. I could get instant pleasure by doing this other stuff – right now”. So motivation drops off with exercise routine.

The problem is never motivation… it is how you fuel your motivation. How are you fuelling your motivation?

And so you may think these things will bring you self-esteem. Yet actually what they will bring you is only a good feeling for as long as they last. And a feeling of insecurity in case they don’t last.

Why won’t they change your self-esteem?

Because self-esteem really has nothing to do with anything other than your own judgement of worthy you are. This depends on your understanding of world and how you fit into it. All stuff around you will change. So losses will happen… friendships will end… looks will fade… and successes will pass. But only thing that is constant and always with you is you.

So to really develop a belief in yourself… that doesn’t depend on everything going right… a belief that will comfort and support you whatever happens in life… you need to understand exactly where you fit in grand scheme of universe.

Its not as snappy as usual kind of three steps you usually see. It’s not as much fun as going out more. Nor is it as obvious as achieving more. But by developing a philosophy that guides you – you’ll prevent ever being back in same situation again.