Lost Your Motivation?
Content
Author
Where did it go?
It didn't go anywhere, but we tend to think of motivation that way and this is one of the problems.
Allow me to challenge the way you think of motivation as you read this.
How do you normally deal with lack of motivation? Do you say affirmations? Watch motivational YouTube videos? There actually some really inspiring ones out there. Do you listen to music to motivate you?
Does any of this actually work?
If you're reading this probably not. Maybe it works temporarily. It gives you a short boost but it doesn't create lasting motivation.
What does?
Motivation happens when you're are connected to one or more of your values via a realistic and actionable strategy, a clear pathway in other words to get what you want.
Imagine you know the value you want to fulfill like joy and you see a step by step plan to lead you there. When that happens you're instantly motivated. You probably don't even think of motivation at that point. You just go!
Chances are if you're lacking motivation it's because you're lacking that connection to your values.
You can use will power and discipline. These will work to pull you out of a stuck situation, but without connecting with your values and having a good strategy, these will fade.
Let's say you're lacking a good strategy and you're disconnected from your values and you don't know what to do. What then?
Take action.
Sounds simple and it is, but it's not always easy.
Action is powerful though, much more powerful than going back and forth between your thoughts trying to figure out what to do.
When you're lacking motivation you typical will loop through your thoughts repeatedly trying to negotiate with your ideas about how to get motivated. This will drain you and lower your motivation.
Action uses all three of the major modalities; visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. It will break you out of the thought loop and deliver something much more powerful than thoughts, experience.
Ever watch those motivational YouTube videos with someone from the military special forces promising that if you just make your bed in the morning you'll have a successful day?
While I think this is a bit overstated, there is something to it. It works because you're starting your day with action. You're completing a task early in your day, which makes it that much easier to keep taking more action throughout your day.
Action frees up energy and mental space for more action.
So what holds you back from taking action? Why is it so hard to do something as simple as taking an action like making your bed?
Fear and resistance.
Fearing that you will fail or disappoint yourself is a big reason. Not wanting to get out of your comfort zone, which I call resistance, is another big reason.
But these are away from strategies and away from strategies rarely if ever give you what you want.
Look beyond the fear and resistance. Ask yourself what would it be like if you already took action and got what you want?
This will help you to tap into a resource state that will motivate you to take action.
Before you take action, however, it's important that you address the fear and resistance. We call this ecology or congruence check.
Sometimes fear and resistance has an important message, something we need to consider if we are to get what we want.
Will getting what you want have some sort of severe negative effect on your life or relationships? If so, deal with that before you act.
If not, go!
Damon Cart
NLP Coach and Trainer
Santa Cruz, CA
Damon Cart
Author
Damon Cart is considered to be a natural talent by some of the best NLP trainers in the world. His approach to guiding and teaching students brings to their awareness that they've been doing NLP all of their lives without realizing it and he empowers them with skills and resources to thrive and reach their full potential. With the understanding of how Neuro Linguistic Programs create oneβs experience a person can then take charge of those programs and create the experience and the life they want. By taking this approach into his own rigorous, daily NLP practice Damon has been able to rapidly accelerate his progress in learning, coaching clients and teaching workshops.
