"Are We There Yet?"

I recently had a client step away from coaching. He didn’t leave because the program wasn’t working, or because he didn’t believe in the process. He left because life had become a storm he couldn’t manage. Divorce. Work stress. Child custody battles. Past addictions. In the middle of all this, the coaching program—a structure designed to support him—felt like “one more thing” on a plate that was already overflowing.

At first, I was disappointed. I wanted him to stick it out because I knew the transformation he was capable of, but then I realized this isn’t about him or the program failing. This is about a universal human experience: the tension between inspiration, motivation, and commitment.

Inspiration: The Spark That Isn't Enough

Inspiration is what gets us started. It’s the excitement when we read a story, watch a performance, or see someone achieve something that makes us say, “I want that too.” It’s immediate, emotional, and intoxicating. Inspiration alone rarely leads to lasting change. It’s a spark, not a fire. My client was inspired- he wanted to take control of his health, regain strength, and find stability, but inspiration doesn’t come with a blueprint for managing the chaos that life inevitably throws at us. Inspiration is the initial catalyst for action, but relying solely on inspiration is insufficient for sustained progress. Inspiration needs to be paired with intention and a clear plan to be effective.

Motivation: The Fuel That Flickers

Motivation is what carries us past the initial spark. It’s the internal or external drive to act toward a goal. Motivation is critical, but it’s also volatile. Motivation is influenced by energy, stress, sleep, emotional state and life circumstances. When my client was juggling legal battles, career pressures, and personal challenges, the motivation that had initially fueled him started to flicker. Motivation isn’t a constant- it’s reactive. It comes and goes and if we rely on it alone, we'll burn out. Motivation is goal-driven desire to do something. He highlights that motivation can stem from both positive aspirations and the desire to move away from negative situations. However, he notes that this negative reinforcement tends to lose its potency the further one distances oneself from the aversive situation they're aiming to avoid. Therefore, it's essential to cultivate positive sources of motivation to maintain long-term commitment.

Commitment: The Framework That Holds

This is where coaching, planning, and systems matter most. Commitment is the decision to show up even when inspiration wanes and motivation falters. Commitment is about building a foundation that life’s storms can’t easily wash away. Yet, commitment requires the right perspective. For some, a program like mine is seen as structure, clarity, and support. For others, it can feel like just another obligation, another “to-do” in an already overfilled life. How we frame commitment determines whether it’s a lifeline or a weight. Commitment should be based on clear, specific and rewarding goals. We need plans to achieve these goals and put some emotional investment into following through.

The Disconnect: Seeing Support as Burden

The challenge my client faced wasn’t lack of desire or intelligence-it was context. In his overwhelmed state, the very program designed to provide stability became a perceived obligation. This is where most people get stuck: life isn’t always neat, and even the best intentions can feel impossible to prioritize. So, are we there yet? The question isn’t just about physical or professional milestones. It’s about understanding where we are in our mental and emotional journey, and whether our frameworks for growth fit the reality we’re living.

Bridging the Gap

Here’s what I’ve learned from clients like him:

1. Redefine “progress”: Progress isn’t always linear or monumental. Sometimes it’s simply showing up for 10 minutes, getting out of bed, or completing one micro-goal.

2. Contextualize your commitments: A framework or program isn’t “one more thing” if it’s integrated into your life in a way that reduces stress, not adds to it. Adapt systems to your current capacity.

3. Separate inspiration from execution: Inspiration is emotional, execution is deliberate. Having both aligned is ideal, but learning to act when inspiration fades is what separates short-term effort from lasting transformation.

4. Build resilience intentionally: Life will always throw curveballs. Emotional and mental resilience are as critical as physical training. Coaching, accountability, and structures are tools to build this resilience, but they must meet you where you are.

5. Revisit the “why” constantly: Motivation ebbs. Commitment requires clarity on why you started in the first place. When the “why” is clear and compelling, it transforms obligations into choices that matter.

The Takeaway

We’re never truly “there” in the sense that life becomes easy or perfectly balanced. The question isn’t whether we’ll arrive- it’s how we navigate the journey when life feels messy, heavy and unmanageable. Inspiration lights the path, motivation gives us fuel, but commitment is the bridge that keeps us moving forward, even in the storm. For my client, stepping away wasn’t failure. It was a pause. A recognition that the foundation needed to be rebuilt before another structure could be added. Life will always challenge us, but the ability to return, rebuild, and recommit—that’s where transformation truly happens.

So, are we there yet? Maybe not, but that’s not the point. The point is that we keep moving, keep learning and keep showing up, no matter what life throws at us.