Take Ownership of Your Health: Why Motivation Isn’t the Answer

The lesson that changed how I coach and how I show up for my own health.

TL;DR

• Motivation comes and goes. Ownership lasts.

• You already hold most of the information needed to improve your health.

• Better results come from better self-awareness and better questions.

• Coaches and practitioners can guide you, but they can’t replace your clarity.

• Long-term change starts with honesty, not hype.

I want to start this one honestly.

There are periods where I feel flat. Unmotivated. Still doing the work, still showing up for my clients, but not exactly fired up myself. And trying to be “motivational” during those times feels fake.

That’s partly why this lesson landed so hard for me.

While recording my year-in-review podcast episode, one idea kept coming back up, something a guest said months ago that I haven’t stopped thinking about since. It completely reframed how I think about motivation, goal-setting, and coaching.

The idea is simple, but uncomfortable:

You already hold most of the answers to your own health.

Not your coach. Not your trainer. Not your doctor.
You.

And once you understand that, everything changes, how you train, how you ask for help, and how sustainable your progress actually is.

This post is about that shift.

Lesson 1: Take Ownership of Your Health (and Ask Better Questions)

What It Is

Taking ownership of your health means recognising that no one else can fully understand your body, habits, history, or motivations the way you can.

A coach or practitioner can guide you, but they’re working with the information you give them. The clearer you are, the better the help becomes.

Why It Matters

A lot of people wait for motivation to show up before they act.

The problem is, motivation is just an emotion. It comes and goes like happiness, frustration, or excitement. If you wait for it, you’ll be waiting a long time.

What actually drives progress is clarity:

• knowing what you want

• understanding why you want it

• recognising what keeps getting in the way

When someone asks, “How can I help you?” and the answer is “I just want to get fit and strong,” that’s vague. There’s nothing to work with.

But when you understand what’s behind that, confidence, energy, pain-free movement, showing up better for family or work, that’s where change starts.

How To Apply It

Here’s how to start taking ownership without overcomplicating it:

1. Stop waiting for motivation
   Assume it won’t show up. Build systems and habits that don’t rely on how you feel that day.

2. Get honest about what you actually want
   “Fit and strong” is surface-level. Ask yourself:
   What would change in my life if this worked?

3. Notice patterns, not perfection
   When do things fall apart? Late nights? Stressful weeks? Social events? That’s useful information, not failure.

4. Write before you speak
   Before asking for help, jot down what you’re struggling with and what you think might be contributing. Even messy notes help.

5. Communicate clearly, even if it feels uncomfortable
   Being vague protects your ego. Being honest gets results.

6. Accept that this part is hard
   Looking inward requires vulnerability. Sharing it with someone else is even harder. That’s normal.

Pro Tip

If you don’t understand your own goals, no program or coach will magically fix that for you.

Try This Today

Take five minutes and finish this sentence on paper:

“If this actually worked, my life would be different because…”

Don’t overthink it. Just write.

Why This Changed How I Coach

This lesson didn’t just change how I train, it changed how I help others.

I don’t want people to need me forever. I want them to understand themselves well enough to make good decisions without me.

That only happens when you do the inner work:

• reflecting

• noticing

• being honest

• and taking responsibility for your part in the process

When that happens, coaching becomes collaboration, not dependency.

Quick Wins Checklist (Do These Today)

• Train even if motivation is low, consistency beats hype.

• Write down one health goal and the real reason behind it.

• Notice one recurring pattern that trips you up.

• Prepare one clear question before your next check-in or session.

• Share one honest insight with someone supporting you.

Closing Insight

Motivation is unreliable. Ownership isn’t.

When you stop outsourcing responsibility for your health and start understanding yourself better, everything becomes simpler, not easier, but clearer.

And clarity is what leads to long-term change.

If this lesson resonates, I unpack it further in the first solo episode of the year, where I reflect on the conversations that actually changed how I live and coach.