The Be True Vibe: Finding Your Motivation When You Feel Stuck

At Be True Counseling and Consulting, we’re passionate about fostering work cultures that are not just productive, but also inspired, engaged, and deeply honest. But what happens when we turn that lens inward? What does it look like for our own team to "Be True"?

We decided to pull back the curtain and share a recent conversation from a work meeting between me (Burgandy) and my wonderful Executive Assistant, Nicole Abellana. In our check-ins, we candidly discuss how we are truly doing, offering a look at how the principles we champion play out in our own lives. This glimpse into a recent conversation serves as a testament to the power of self-awareness and the unique paths we each forge toward well-being and mental wellness.

Burgandy: You know, I was thinking about how much of our well-being is tied to community. I had this great gym buddy, and we were so consistent. We even had our own little "gym anniversary." But then life did what life does—it got overwhelming. She stopped coming as much, and suddenly, I was on my own. It got harder and harder to show up for myself. Then, a crisis hit—a flood in my house—and my routine just completely fell apart. I became a rock, and not in a good way. The kind of rock you just feed and it doesn't move.

Nicole: I get that. I’m an emotional person, and I can get depressed. I’ve learned that when I move my body, I don’t have as much time to be in my head. So, I run, I play pickleball, I play badminton. It keeps my brain busy. I used to wake up and just scroll through social media, and honestly, it was just feeding the negativity.

Finding Support and Shifting Your 'Why'

Burgandy: Exactly! For me, I realized I couldn't pull myself out of that rut alone. I needed support. I needed accountability. So, I reached out to a CrossFit gym in my neighborhood. I took my first class just a few days later. It’s been a game-changer. There's this built-in community of people all tackling these incredibly hard things together. There’s a mirroring that’s so soothing to the mind.

Here’s the shift, and it’s important. I had to be honest with myself: I don't have to be the one who makes the plan. I can let someone else hold the space and create the structure. My job is to show up and do the work. I hit a wall and knew I couldn’t “self-made like an island” my way out of it.

A Deeper Look: This is a crucial moment of self-awareness. Burgandy recognizes that her own willpower isn't the issue; the lack of external structure and community is. By "outsourcing" the plan to a gym, she removes a major barrier to entry. She doesn't have to invent the workout, she just has to show up for it. This is a powerful strategy for anyone feeling overwhelmed: identify what you can let go of controlling so you can focus your energy where it matters most—on the action itself.

Nicole: That’s so important—knowing what you need. My motivation had to change. My goal used to be about losing weight, and the soreness after a workout would just become an excuse to stop. I’d tell myself, "It's okay if I get fat, I don't care." But when I shifted my goal to clearing my head and releasing what’s running through my mind, the motivation came back. I wasn't running from my body; I was running for my mind.

The Art of the Reframe: Changing Your Inner Narrative

A Moment of Real Talk: The strategy that matters is the one that works for you. Nicole saw that her goal—losing weight—was actually holding her back. The motivation wasn't right, so the whole thing fell apart. It’s about looking at what’s going on inside and asking, "What's the story I'm telling myself right now?"

Burgandy: That’s a powerful reframe! If that story makes you feel like garbage, you've got to pause and change the narrative. The story we tell ourselves matters so much. When I wake up sore, I could easily tell myself, "This is pain. I’m broken." And my behavior would follow—I’d stay in bed and feel sorry for myself. But if I change that story to, "This is growth. This is proof of my effort. This is my body getting stronger," then I feel proud. It makes me want to go harder. That soreness? It’s not pain, it’s “strength rising.” That’s the reframe.

Nicole: Yes! It’s about looking at things from a different side. I’ve been reading a lot about reframing, and it’s been such a big help. It’s not about ignoring the negative, but about actively helping yourself move through it.

Practicing What We Preach: The 'Be True' Ethos

Burgandy: And that’s the work, isn't it? When you decide you want to change something, you have to be willing to look at it all. You have to get honest when you just don't want to, when you're not motivated, when you just don’t care right now. You’ve got to feel those big feelings and move your way through, because avoiding it just lands you in a whole other problem. As clinicians, we can't ask our clients to do things we aren't willing to do ourselves. We have to be in it, we have to live it. Failure is part of the process. If I were perfect, how could I possibly help someone navigate their own imperfections?

This is the core of the "Be True" philosophy. It's a commitment to authenticity over perfection. A therapist's role isn't to be a flawless guide, but a fellow traveler who has the tools and training to navigate the terrain. This willingness to "be in it"—to acknowledge personal struggle and the ongoing nature of growth—is what builds the trust necessary for true healing.

Nicole: That's really true. That's why we're called Be True. It starts with us. I’ve found that asking questions is key. How will I know if someone doesn’t tell me, and how will they know if I don’t ask? It’s about creating that open space for understanding.

Burgandy: It all comes down to being our wisest selves. Life is a series of lessons, and our goal is to keep learning, keep refining. To do that, we have to be honest about where we are and what we need. For me, right now, that looks like leaning on a community at the gym.

Nicole: And for me, it’s about moving my body to clear my mind. We both have our own ways of showing up for ourselves, and that self-awareness is everything.

This conversation is more than just a chat between colleagues; it's a living reflection of the Be True ethos. The journey to well-being is deeply personal, and self-awareness is the compass that guides us. It’s about having the courage to be honest enough to know when we need support, and then being brave enough to actually seek it out.

Whether it's joining a gym like Burgandy or reframing a thought like Nicole, the first step is always the same: a commitment to being in the work. You find your starting point. You find what gets you moving. If it works for you, then high five. That's the way toward success. Actually, that is success. It’s in these small, consistent moments of vulnerability and intentional action that we find our strength.

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