Motivation: Hiding in Plain Sight?
I wanted to write about something that’s been on my mind lately – well, it’s often on my mind. And that something is motivation.
What is motivation?
What comes to mind for me is the energy, drive, and physical steps to completing a task or achieving a goal. That’s a fairly wide definition, and leaves a lot of opportunity for feeling unmotivated.
We all seem to want, and also need, motivation. Without it we can feel stuck, frustrated, unproductive, and overall upset. But what about the times and the ways that we do have it? Does it not take motivation to get up in the morning, send that email you’ve been dreading, get in the car, or bus, and make your way to all the places you go during the day? These can be overlooked as things we have to do, or somehow manage to do, but often we don’t give credit to motivation in these circumstances.
So what’s the deal with motivation? It can seem reserved for higher aspirations, the things that we’d love to do in an ideal world, and yet find little energy or push to actually do. I think it’s unfair for us to sum it all up by a lack of motivation, and instead we could look into what else is going on that may be stopping us or slowing us down when it comes to reaching our goals.
I think when we say motivation in this context, we may mean a lack of excitement, or hope that an idea will pan out, confidence, or commitment. I think we may have much more motivation than we think, but that it doesn’t quite reach the threshold of what we expect or want motivation to do for us…which is allow us to accomplish our goals.
Perhaps this narrative sounds familiar – 1. I have a great/cool/exciting idea 2. I need to break this into steps…oh wow there are a lot of steps, I’m not actually sure where to begin or how to start…3. Feeling overwhelmed, maybe even fearful, nervous, hesitant…4. I have no motivation to put this idea into action.
So even if we understand that there may be more going on prior to us feeling unmotivated, how do we get around it?
Take a second look at motivation.
Feeling unmotivated can be one of the most frustrating experiences, and can often lead to avoidance, feeling overwhelmed, or like giving up. Next time you notice a lack of motivation, take a pause, and consider what it may be trying to tell you. Is it that you don’t have an interest in doing something, that you lack the tools, knowledge, or confidence to start, that you can’t bring yourself to turn your interest into action? Clarifying what it means to not have motivation can help illuminate what steps you can take to work through it. Our feelings are full of useful information, and it can be helpful to take notice, ask yourself some exploratory questions, and use the answers to create next steps.
Look for motivation where it is, as opposed to where it isn’t.
As a society, we have trouble finding the positives, or even the neutral, and instead end up focusing on what’s lacking, what isn’t, what’s negative. This doesn’t only lead us to feeling down or frustrated, but it also isn’t the whole picture. It’s a pretty overwhelming catch-all to say we do or do not have something. Life is grey, and more than likely, you both do and don’t have motivation. Try paying purposeful attention to times you do feel motivated, where you do accomplish something you wanted to do, and notice what happened to get you there and how it feels. This may not fix the times that you feel lacking in motivation, but it will help you appraise yourself and your life through a more balanced, realistic lens.
Recognize your power (with or without motivation).
Wanting more motivation is a great thing – it’s what keeps us driven, looking toward the future, focused. That being said, feeling so unmotivated can ironically get in the way of developing the drive or want to do something, which can lead to a frustrating cycle. Take time to notice the impact that thinking, feeling, and saying you don’t have motivation, is actually having on you. Instead of encouraging us, and propelling us forward, this idea often keeps us stuck, brings us down, and generally impedes any motivation that might be trying to blossom. Instead of giving the motivation all of the power, and also a lot of the credit, take time to realize that you can choose to take steps and action toward your goals, even without the bubbling energy of a motivating force.
Perhaps there is a theme emerging in these blog posts – first procrastination, now motivation – the two being inextricably linked.
Useful info. Lucky me I discovered your site unintentionally,
and I am surprised why this accident didn’t happened in advance!
I bookmarked it.
It’s an remarkable piece of writing in favor of all the web users; they will take benefit from it I am sure.|
Howdy! This article couldn’t be written much better! Going through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He always kept talking about this. I will send this post to him. Fairly certain he’ll have a good read. Thank you for sharing!|
I have fun with, result in I discovered just what I was looking for. You’ve ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye|
Hi! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say
I genuinely enjoy reading through your articles.
Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that cover the same topics?
Thank you so much!
obviously like your web-site but you have to check the spelling on several of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very troublesome to tell the reality nevertheless I will definitely come again again.
Hiya! Quick question that’s totally off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly?My blog looks weird when viewing from my iphone 4. I’m trying to find a theme or plugin thatmight be able to fix this issue. If you have any recommendations, please share.Cheers!
I really like it whenever people come together and
share ideas. Great site, continue the good work!
Thanks for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do some research about this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I am very glad to see such excellent information being shared freely out there.
Hiya very nice site!! Guy .. Excellent .. Superb .. I will bookmark your website and take the feeds additionally…I am satisfied to find numerous useful information here in the post, we’d like work out more strategies on this regard, thanks for sharing.
It is not my first time to pay a visit this web page,
i am visiting this website dailly and get pleasant facts from
here all the time.
It’s awesome to pay a visit this web page and reading the views of all mates about this post, while I am also keen of getting knowledge.
I do agree with all the concepts you’ve offered to your post. They are really convincing and can certainly work. Still, the posts are too quick for novices. Could you please lengthen them a little from next time? Thank you for the post.
Normally I do not learn post on blogs, however I wish to say that this write-up very forced me to check out and do so! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thank you, quite nice article.
Hi there! This is my first comment here so I just wanted
to give a quick shout out and tell you I genuinely enjoy reading through your posts.
Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that go
over the same subjects? Appreciate it!
I really like your writing style, superb info , thanks for putting up : D.
Hi there! This is my first visit to your blog!
We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same
niche. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have done
a extraordinary job!
Hello, you used to write wonderful, but the last few posts have been kinda boring… I miss your super writings. Past several posts are just a little out of track! come on!
Rattling nice style and design and great subject material , very little else we require : D.
I’ve recently started a website, the information you offer on this website has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work. “The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.” by Vince Lombardi.
It’s really very difficult in this busy life to listen news on TV, so I only use internet for that reason, and
get the hottest information.
What’s up, just wanted to mention, I loved this article.
It was inspiring. Keep on posting!
I am no longer certain the place you are getting your information, but good topic.
I must spend a while studying more or working out
more. Thank you for great information I used to be on the lookout for
this information for my mission.
Thank you for sharing superb informations. Your web site is so cool. I am impressed by the details that you have on this web site. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for more articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found simply the information I already searched everywhere and just could not come across. What a great website.
I have not checked in here for a while since I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are great quality so I guess I’ll add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
Thanks, I’ve just been looking for info about this topic for a while and yours is the best I have found out so far. However, what about the bottom line? Are you certain concerning the supply?
Yes! Finally someone writes about website.
Hey very cool web site!! Man .. Excellent .. Wonderful .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds additionally…I am glad to seek out so many helpful info here within the submit, we’d like work out extra techniques on this regard, thank you for sharing.
There is definately a lot to find out about this subject.
I like all of the points you made.
Excellent site. Plenty of helpful info here. I’m sending it to a few friends ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks to your sweat!
http://www.mariaozawa.net/2008/07/12/maria-ozawa-gallery-hot-pink-green/p11/
http://www.madamanu.bluepink.ro/?p=46
http://iluvmyheart128.com/?p=11
http://www.cactuspro.com/forum/read.php?1,248237,248263,quote=1
http://www.vickyliebtdich.at/produkttest-rutschtier-marienkafer-von-meinlilalu/cimg6730-kopie/
http://www.pocarles.com/2010/12/rencontre-avec-les-blacks/
http://joomla.batjo.nl/news/22-shoutbox-pro-13-released.html
https://prob-1.com/tems-features-on-drakes-album-certified-lover-boy/
http://muovitimangiacammina.net/stretching-e-flessibilita-cosa-ce-da-sapere/
http://www.schmars-world.de/index.php/coding-talks-neueralter-partner-2008-10-06/
http://blog.aube-nature.com/ciel-d-orage/
http://kidgreen31.glogeffect.com/2011/09/18/another-dolls-and-doll-things/
http://projectxconstruction.ca/fencing-1/dsc00363/
https://www.infopress.rs/oglasi/caffe-zoc-zaposljava-radnike/
http://www.omaxonline.com/Sweethearts.html
http://flexmotors.com/?p=15#comment-188
http://monstapoetry.wordpress.com/2012/03/03/eagles-new-kid-in-town/
http://www.lambingantv.com/amaya-october-20-2011-replay/
https://entroli.com/a-extensive-list-of-job-search-websites/
http://leesuter.global2.vic.edu.au/2010/08/03/week-2/
http://www.rutgerlemm.com/2010/08/wunderkammer-de-geheime-berlijnse-hippietuin/
http://telugufuntime.com/four-die-in-wall-collapse-in-nizamabad/
http://ourhome2.co/why-online-medication-is-a-better-first-option-than-lawyer/
http://seemything.com/young-man-in-the-city/
I absolutely love your blog and find a lot of your post’s to be what precisely I’m looking for. can you offer guest writers to write content available for you? I wouldn’t mind producing a post or elaborating on some of the subjects you write regarding here. Again, awesome blog!
http://www.florbalzhor.4fan.cz/2009/06/07/slava-nazdar-vyletu-report-uz-je-tu/