When Motivation Fades, Discipline Must Lead
A brutally honest look at falling off track, showing up anyway, and learning to listen without quitting
Dear Duniyawaalo (People of the World),
Back in January, I stood in front of a mirror and barely recognized myself.
Winter had done its thing. I was heavier. Slower. Unmotivated.
I had gained weight. I had lost rhythm. I was spiraling. Not dramatically, but slowly. Quietly.
The kind of spiral that creeps in when no one’s watching and you stop caring.
So when I signed up for the 2025 Chicago Marathon, it was not just about the race. It was a line in the sand.
A decision to reclaim my discipline, my health, my fire.
Now I am four weeks into training. And I need to be brutally honest. Because anything less would be cheating the very reason I started this.
Weeks 3 and 4 were hard. Not physically, but mentally.
I slacked. I skipped several mid-week runs.
Not because I was injured. Not because I was too busy.
I just… did not feel like it.
No poetic reason. Just mental drift.
It was as if boredom snuck into the driver’s seat and told me I needed rest, and for some reason, I listened.
And here is the strange part. I almost didn’t write this update either.
That same voice whispered, “You didn’t do enough. You don’t deserve to share”.
But that is exactly why I am sharing.
Because I want to model what it looks like to show up even when you’re not proud of your performance. I want to normalize inconsistency, not to justify it, but to learn from it.
What went well?
Despite the slip-ups, I completed both my long runs: a 10-miler and a 12-miler.
If you know anything about marathon training, you know these long runs are sacred. They are not just about endurance, they are about proving to yourself that your goal is still alive.
I also stuck with my strength training. In fact, one of those sessions was shared with my elder son. That meant the world to me.
And perhaps the biggest win
I lost 7 pounds in the first 4 weeks.
No crazy diets. Just consistency with healthier eating.
Ironically, it happened while I was skipping runs. But I know better than to draw the wrong conclusions.
Life happened too.
During this time, we welcomed Bella, one of the sweetest pets we have ever had the joy to care for. We were pet-sitting for a friend, and she filled our home with laughter and warmth.
I also had the honor of performing at First Person Live at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights, sharing the stage with incredible storytellers from all over Chicagoland.
It reminded me how powerful it is to speak your truth in front of a live audience.
And yes, there was a karaoke night with our neighbors. I sang some Bollywood classics and laughed like I hadn’t in weeks.
But then… a scare.
On my 10-mile run, my Garmin mistakenly detected an emergency incident and texted my wife, who was listed as my emergency contact.
She panicked. Rightfully so. Told me to stop everything and come home.
I assured her I was okay and promised to check in every few miles. We both realized how seriously we are taking this journey, and how fragile it can feel at times.
So what do I take from all this?
Here is what I have learned these past two weeks:
Discipline is doing it anyway. Even when you are not in the mood. Even when no one will notice.
You do not have to be perfect to stay in the game. You just have to refuse to quit.
Rest is not the enemy. But when rest is chosen by boredom or emotional fatigue instead of intention, it becomes a form of sabotage.
Life is happening alongside the training. Sometimes that is where the deepest fuel comes from.
I am writing this for anyone who has started something, only to find their energy dip, their excitement fade, and their momentum stall.
That does not mean you are broken. It just means you are human.
Get back on track.
Share your story even when it is messy.
Let others see you stumble and still choose to move forward.
That is where the real inspiration lives. Not in the flawless highlight reel, but in the quiet decision to try again.
❤️Rajneesh