Why Motivation is Not Real: Unveiling the Hidden Truth
Have you ever suspected that the much-touted secret to success isn’t really about motivation after all?
Conventional wisdom would have us believe that motivation is the magic bullet for achieving our goals, but what if that’s merely a myth? In fact, recent research in human behavior and psychology suggests that motivation, as we commonly understand it, might be overrated and not as sustainable as we think.
Motivation is often portrayed as the catalyst for success, but the harsh reality is that it’s not a sustainable force. It ebbs and flows, leaving us stranded mid-journey without warning. So, what’s the real engine behind achieving our aspirations?
Let’s dive deeper into this intriguing subject and expose the truth together.
The Problem With Motivation
Motivation can be tricky. Sometimes it feels like there’s nothing we want to do more than achieve our goals, but other times it’s like pulling teeth just to get started. What gives?
Well, it turns out that motivation works in cycles. There’s a point where we’re really excited about a new goal, and we feel like we can conquer the world. But then, as time goes on and things get harder, that motivation starts to fade away. We might feel discouraged or bored, and before we know it, we’ve lost our momentum.
This isn’t because we’re not trying hard enough or because we’re not cut out for the task. It’s just the way our brains work. When we’re faced with a new challenge, our brains release chemicals that make us feel good and give us a boost of energy.
But that energy doesn’t last forever. Eventually, we hit a plateau and need another burst of motivation to keep going.
So, how can we overcome this natural ebb and flow of motivation? One trick is to focus on the reasons why we wanted to achieve our goal in the first place. Instead of looking at the end result, we should think about how the process will make us feel. Will it bring us joy, pride, or a sense of accomplishment?
When we connect with those emotions, we’ll be more likely to stick with our goals even when the going gets tough.
The Pitfall of Relying on External Factors
I know firsthand how easy it is to fall into the trap of relying on external motivators. A few years ago, I was working on a big project, and I had convinced myself that I needed to listen to a certain type of music or drink a specific kind of coffee every day to stay motivated.
But one day, I forgot my usual routine and ended up feeling completely uninspired and unfocused. It was a wake-up call for me to realize that my motivation wasn’t coming from within, but rather from external factors that I had no control over.
Traditional motivation can be risky because it often depends on things outside of ourselves. For example, we might need to hear a special message or see an inspiring video before we feel motivated. But these things are temporary and can’t be counted on all the time. It’s like trying to catch a blowing leaf — it’s hard to hold onto and can easily slip away.
Relying only on these outside factors can also make us feel like we deserve to be motivated all the time. We might start to think that we need to always feel inspired to make progress. This way of thinking can trap us in a cycle of constantly searching for motivation without actually doing anything. It’s like waiting for a strong gust of wind to carry us to our destination instead of using our own legs to walk there.
By recognizing the pitfalls of relying on external motivators, we can begin to tap into our own inner source of motivation and use it to fuel our progress toward our goals.
The Power of Discipline Lasts Longer Than Motivation
It’s strange how motivation can come and go, but discipline stays strong and steady. Even when we don’t feel like it, discipline helps us keep going. It’s like having a reliable friend who sticks with us through thick and thin.
Think of athletes who train even when they don’t feel like it, or writers who keep writing even when ideas aren’t coming. They know that waiting for motivation can be risky, so they rely on discipline instead.
Discipline means doing what we say we will do, no matter how we feel. It’s like showing up to work or school every day, even if we don’t feel like it. By being disciplined, we show that our commitment to our goals is stronger than our moods.
So, let’s embrace discipline and use it to reach our goals, even when motivation fades away.
The Myth of “Feeling Like It”
We’ve been told that we need to “feel like it” before we can take action. But this idea holds us back by making us wait for the right feelings. In reality, taking action first is what leads to real progress.
When we take small actions consistently, we start to build momentum. This can actually increase our motivation over time. It’s like getting started on a task even if we don’t feel super excited about it. Once we start, we might find that our energy and interest grow.
This concept is called “behavioral activation” in psychology. It shows that doing something even when we don’t feel like it can lead to more motivation and progress.
So, let’s stop waiting for the perfect feelings and start taking action towards our goals!
Rewriting the Narrative: Embracing Consistency
Imagine a marathon runner who trains consistently, rain or shine, good mood or bad. They know that showing up daily and pushing themselves, even when they don’t feel like it, is what ultimately leads to success. It’s not the occasional surge of motivation that gets them across the finish line, but the cumulative effect of consistent effort.
In the same way, we can approach our own goals and aspirations with a similar mindset. Instead of waiting for motivation to strike, we can create habits and systems that support our progress, no matter how we’re feeling. By breaking down larger objectives into smaller, manageable tasks and establishing achievable targets, we can make consistent progress towards our dreams.
Remember, it’s the small, disciplined actions we take each day that add up to significant growth and accomplishment over time. So, let’s focus on building a foundation of consistency and self-discipline rather than relying solely on motivation.
With time and effort, we’ll be amazed at how far we can go!
Summing Up
In other words, the idea that we need to feel motivated all the time is just not true. It’s time to change our thinking and trust in the power of discipline instead. When we understand that motivation comes and goes, we can take control of our journey with determination and perseverance. And we can use discipline to guide us through the ups and downs of achieving our goals.
So, the next time you start something new, remember that motivation might fade, but discipline will always be there to help you push through and succeed.
Do support our publication by following it
