If there’s one thing I’ve learned on this personal development journey, it’s that motivation is fleeting — but consistency is what really changes things.

When we set big goals for ourselves, it’s easy to believe we need to feel fired up every single day. We read quotes, watch motivational videos, and try to pump ourselves up for that next big leap. But the truth is, the days when you feel unstoppable are rare, and they’re not what moves the needle most.

What really makes a difference? Showing up, even when you don’t feel like it.

Consistency wins when motivation fails

I’ve lost count of the days I’ve woken up and thought, What’s the point? Days when my goals felt far away or I doubted if any of this would work out. But what I’ve found is that it’s in those moments. when motivation is nowhere to be seen, that consistency becomes everything.

Sometimes that consistency looks like something tiny: writing one paragraph, preparing for one call (a blank piece of paper works best for this!), getting outside for a short walk when my mind is spiralling. Small steps don’t always feel satisfying in the moment, but they add up in ways that bursts of motivation rarely do.

I once heard a quote which I always find myself going back to in these moments: You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. I remind myself of that all the time. When the big picture feels too big, I shrink it down to the next tiny action. That’s all I ask of myself : one thing, done well enough, today.

How to stick with it when you’re not feeling it

If you’re in that place where motivation feels out of reach, here’s a few ideas that have helped me:

• Lower the bar. You don’t have to give 100% every day. Some days 20% is enough, as long as you keep moving. Those small actions will add up.
• Focus on process over results. Forget the finish line for a moment. Show up for the habit, not the outcome. (Side note: Jame Clear’s Atomic Habits was a gamechanger for me here!)
• Trust the compound effect. Tiny efforts, repeated over time, do more for you than waiting for the perfect mood to strike.

Keep going, even when it feels pointless

You’re not lazy or uncommitted if you lose motivation. You’re human. And the good news is you don’t need to be motivated all the time – you just need to keep showing up, imperfectly and honestly.

One day, you’ll look back and see how all those tiny steps you took on the uninspired days carried you further than you imagined.

Keep going. The staircase is there – just focus on that next step!