Have you ever tried to motivate yourself to start a task? Did you conjure up all sorts of means, but after all the conjuring, nothing changed? You were still stuck. Except, you were also feeling guilty about having wasted more time without getting any closer to the accomplishment you were after.
If you can relate to the experience, you're not alone. Everyone has been in that situation at some time in their life... perhaps many times. And like others, you, too, discovered that waiting for the wave of motivation to wash over you and get you moving was futile.
So, what is the secret to creating real, meaningful, and lasting motivation? The secret is...
Well, there is no secret. Motivation is not some external force that can be switched on or off at will. It's not some magical feeling that comes over you, energizes you, and propels you into action. And, it doesn't come in pill form with a "take as needed" prescription.
So, what is motivation and where does it come from?
Motivation comes from the goals you truly desire to accomplish AND your commitment to do whatever is necessary to accomplish the goals.
The goals don't have to be glamorous or earthshaking; they can be little goals. They can reach into the future, or they can take you to tomorrow or next week. They can come from need... or from desire. It doesn't matter. What matters is that they are YOUR goals. Goals that hold real meaning for you.
How does it work?
If you have a set of worthwhile goals, you'll also need a plan of action - a sequence of specific measurable steps - to accomplish the goals. Then, you can set your plan into action at any time - day or night - simply by taking the first step... which, upon completion, will provide the motivation to take the next step and then the next.
So, maybe there is a secret to motivation after all. If so, here it is: actions generate the feeling.
Develop meaningful goals and a plan for their accomplishment. Then, make a commitment to act... to take the first step of the plan. The motivation you've been waiting for has been there all along. It's just been waiting for you to do something.
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