Do you wonder how some people seem to be entirely focused on their goals and have these amazing willpower and self-control when there are so many distractions and excuses? This exact topic has been on my mind a lot lately.
Of course, there are times when I feel happy with what I do. Especially when I start something new and meaningful, I'm full of inspiration and it's easy to drive myself forward. There are also days when I don't care and feel stuck in procrastination. I'm sure many of you can relate.
In its simplest terms, motivation is a general willingness to do something. If you will always wait for it to come, you'll become fully dependent on your emotions (let alone it might never). Once I realized I don't want my life to be determined by something as unreliable as my feelings and emotional state, I decided to learn moving forward despite them. There is no one right answer to how our motivation works, but I think two further points are worth making.
Understanding positive and negative motivation
There are always some unconscious reasons which underlie a need to do something. If you want to become more in control of your productivity, you need to correctly identify them, and that's how.
Chances are, most things you do every day are positively motivated. Positive motivation is quite straightforward and focuses on the benefits that will occur if you take action. In other words, to make it work, you have to decide that your goals have more value than your excuses. Try to imagine how great it will feel when your task is completed, and you're enjoying the rewards. If there is no actual reward, then make it — promise yourself a "prize" after you get the work done. Here is your source of motivation, it's that simple.
If you are a person who needs to be challenged to take action, a positive outcome may not be a driving force for you. My favorite definition of negative motivation is a Steven Pressfield quote: "At some point, the pain of not doing it becomes greater than the pain of doing it." I think what he was trying to say is that our life is the sum of our decisions, where every choice that we make has a price. Focus on the negative outcome that will happen if you give up. Imagine the worst that could happen, feel how motivating your rage (or fear) can be, and let it strengthen you. In the end, overcoming challenges more than anything else makes us winners.
Both negative and positive motivations can be very effective — for different personalities, and in different circumstances. Nobody else than you can tell which will work for you at the moment, and the only way to discover that is via trial and error.
The power of systems, habits, and rituals
Some of my friends and colleagues whom I consider as role models say they rarely feel truly motivated or inspired to meet their goals. So what if I told you that successful people don't really depend on motivation, but rather follow a consistent routine?
Try to think of your work (studies, exercises, etc.) as a habit, as something you just do. Even if you feel that it's dull and too boring, do what you have to do every day or at least several times a week, until it becomes automatic. Take small steps, developing the skill of self-discipline gradually. Do things the same way each day — it'll reduce the chance that you will skip or forget something. Do what you're doing wearing your favorite t-shirt with a cup of hot chocolate by your side, or create any other repeatable ritual that suits you the best. The routine is the key — the less you have to think about it, the better.
It's important to remember that your discomfort is temporary. Despite your resistance to building such a system, it is always worth completing. Eventually, the power of habits and rituals will provide a mindless way to initiate your behavior.
I hope you'll find this post helpful to start or continue doing what you've been avoiding. And, before I leave this here, one more thing: there's a thin line between not giving yourself the rest you need, and knowing when it's a lack of motivation and your mind just playing games. If you are overworking or getting burnt out, nothing will help you as much as giving yourself a proper break to recover.
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