I want to be motivated. I need to be more motivated. If only I were motivated!
Health, work, fitness, chores, school, sex, taxes- I bet there isn't a single one of us who hasn't yearned for motivation at some point. And yet, there seems to be a mystery around the concept of motivation. Where do I find it? How do I get it? Why can't I keep it? Motivation can feel like a wet balloon, slipping through your fingers with every grasp. But I'm motivated here, why not there?
Consider that motivation is the destination, not the vehicle. Imagine trying to drive the store to get to your car. Ridiculous? That is what you are doing when you are seeking motivation to reach your goals. This may be frustrating to hear--- just about as frustrating as not being motivated, right? OK, now let's take a look. Examine an area of life where you ARE motivated. Do you spend time being motivated? Do you sit around and consider just how motivated you are? Of course not. You just do it! And then AFTER you started, you look back and you say, "I did it because I was motivated".
For myself, it's cleaning. I don't need my space to be clean, I'm not bothered by mess, and frankly, motivation isn't showing up when my bedroom turns into what resembles a yard sale. Even as a kid, you couldn't see the floor, and I would gladly hop across the floor on the empty spots, until I reached my bed. As a 32 year old woman, I decided it's time to have a functional, efficient living and working space. You think motivation was going to take me there? HA! I could give you 35 other things in a day I could justify as being more "important" and then I'll tell you why I like being messy anyway! Motivation was just not there. But I decided to do it anyway. I started small. I cleaned the top drawer of my desk so that it has only 1-2 of everything I use on a daily basis- nothing more nothing less. Then I cleared out my closet of all the clothes that I'm waiting to wear again. At one point I actually pretended to care about having a sparkling clean desk, and then the impossible happened- I liked it.
What's one of your examples? NOTICE, you experience this concept called motivation AFTER you begin taking the actions! This is exciting news because it takes the mystery right out of it. ACTION is the only vehicle. The faster you take the action, the more you will tell yourself you were motivated. You might even throw out the term motivation all together and just enjoy what you created. Let's be honest, the true destinations are your dreams and goals being lived!
This still leaves you with a conundrum: What do I do when I don't feel like it? First thing's first. Stop waiting for motivation. Remember that's as ridiculous as driving the store to your car. Then take an honest look-if motivation ain't showing up then I guess I better get in the car, or in the very least, put one foot in front of the other.
Believe me, this is really good news.
Michelle Bacso is a Psychotherapist and Reiki Master, located in Toronto and Mississauga, ON. http://www.holisticcounsellingtoronto.com/
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