Motivation is interesting because it works in opposite directions.

If it’s something negative, the further away you get from it, the less motivated you are. But if it’s something you want, the closer you get to it, the more motivated you become.

A shark in the water next to you is pure terror. Your body floods with adrenaline, every muscle fires, you move faster than you thought possible. But a shark far away? It’s just another shadow beneath the surface that doesn’t demand action.

This is why we stop exercising once we feel good. Why we forget to be grateful once life gets comfortable. Why we take relationships for granted when they’re stable.

Distance from pain makes us lazy. Distance from reward makes us quit.

But watch what happens when the goal gets close. When the finish line is visible, when the deadline approaches, when the opportunity has an expiration date. Suddenly every step matters. Every choice counts. The motivation isn’t manufactured anymore – it’s inevitable.

The smart ones understand this mathematics. They keep the shark close enough to remember why they started swimming. They keep the prize close enough to taste.

Because motivation isn’t about wanting something badly enough. It’s about managing the distance between where you are and what you’re trying to avoid or achieve.

Most people let the distance grow too great in both directions. They forget what they’re running from. They can’t see what they’re running toward.

Then they wonder why they’ve stopped moving altogether.

Stay safe.
And don’t forget to be awesome.