Beyond Self Motivation

So what is motivation really?

Definitions from dictionary.com

Motivation [moh-tuh-vey-shuh n] - the act or an instance of motivating, or providing with a reason to act in a certain way:

Motivate [moh-tuh-veyt] - to provide with a motive or motives; incite; impel.

Motive - [moh-tiv] - 1 something that causes a person to act in a certain way, do a certain thing, etc.; incentive. 2. the goal or object of a person's actions

So simply self-motivation is the act of providing ourselves a goal or a reason to do the thing we have set out to do. Shouldn't this be something we only need to do once, if at all?

Consider this, you probably brush your teeth every day. You don't need a daily affirmation. You don't have to "pump yourself up." It's just something you do. And more importantly, you just don't "feel" right if you neglect to do it.

We all have a set of internal standards that define certain actions as normal and habitual. These default actions will always be done unless it becomes physically impossible.

Once you decide a task is important you want to "raise your standards" to include that task. Whether it be morning calisthenics or writing a new blog three times a week, when the task becomes habitual, you will never need to "motivate" yourself to do it again. *Ever*.

Certainly this is not an easy thing. But the same effort spent motivating yourself to do a task "right now" Can be used to "just do it" without complaint. Tasks become habits because we do them naturally and repetitively. Don't make it a big deal. Don't congratulate yourself every time you do it. "This is just something I always do. " should be your thought (if you think about it)

The goal is not to do a great thing, but to become the person that does great things.