THE TRUTH ABOUT SUCCESS
WE’VE ALL SEEN THE MEMES, BUT MOTIVATION IS OVERRATED — HERE’S WHY RELYING ON HOW YOU FEEL COULD BE STOPPING YOU FROM TAKING ACTION
We all know how it feels to get fired up for something – a new project, perhaps, or a new workout plan – only for it to fall by the wayside at the first obstacle. What happened?
What about all of those hours we sat watching motivational videos on YouTube or reading motivational books by our favourite influencers?
The only problem, we are told, is not with our good intentions, but with motivation itself. It just doesn’t really work. And in many cases it can make us feel worse about ourselves.
UNDERSTANDING MOTIVATION
Motivation is split into two parts. Extrinsic motivation is the type of motivation that comes from the outside world.
We feel extrinsic motivation when we compare ourselves with others or see something that we want. It drives us into unfamiliar and uncomfortable situations in order to acquire it. Because it is based on outside factors, it is extremely changeable.
Intrinsic motivation, on the other hand, stems from our own willpower, values, and drive to achieve things.
WHY MOTIVATION IS OVERRATED
The problem with motivation, and the motivation industry in particular, is that it is dependent on how we feel. Our feelings are turbulent at best.
We rarely feel the same way for many consecutive days.
One day we may be bursting with motivation, ready to change the world, but the next day those feelings are gone and we are left wondering what we were thinking.
Being dependent on your feelings is kind of like being drunk all the time.
You will feel bold one moment and then utterly exhausted the next, and because of this you accomplish nothing meaningful.
Motivational material can be great for a shortterm kickstart but when we depend on it to take action we are setting ourselves up to fail.
IT’S TIME TO TAKE ACTION
It’s a hard fact to swallow, but here it is: everything we want is on the other side of fear, and motivation can never prepare us for that fear.
It can never prepare us for the discomfort or difficulties we must face to achieve our dreams.
Like a puff of smoke, motivation will blow away at the first sign of an obstacle or challenge.
A better approach to achieve your goals is to simply take action, regardless of how you feel.
Feeling too tired for the gym today? Good. See you there in five.
Feeling like you can’t write another word of your novel? Good. Write two pages.
By forgetting all about motivation and simply doing, we gain all of the confidence we will ever need. We know that we can count on ourselves when times get tough. We can do what needs to be done, no matter how we are feeling in the moment.
JUST DO IT
Write down the things that you want to achieve. Commit to them. Treasure them in your mind. Then start taking action on each one.
Feeling sick? That’s OK, keep going. Feeling tired? That’s OK, keep going.
Do you see how quickly your achievements will pile up with this mentality?
There is a great saying: the world is only harsh if we fail to assert ourselves.
It is your time to do that now.