Staying Motivated?
In WA we talk a lot about motivation, self-discipline, and focus. This article seemed to put these attributes into a better context than I have previously seen. I thought it worth sharing.
Happy Saturday,
Steve
From Quora Digest
Why does motivation not last more than 2-3 days? How can I make it permanent?
Ramon Carroll, Husband, Father, Web Developer, Free Thinker and Homosapien
The problem is that people tend to rely solely on feeding their imaginations to stay motivated (movies, books, motivational speeches, youtube videos, encouraging words from loved ones such as parents, etc.), but when you step back out of your imagination, you still have to deal with reality, which has yet to change. This can have a strong negative impact on your motivation, causing you to have to rush to the next motivational video, speech, or self-help book to get a "refill." Moreover, so on.
When it comes to maintaining your motivation, all of the above-mentioned things are meant to be no more than supplements, not the main course. Your imagination cannot be the only thing holding you up. Your primary source for motivation should be evidence. Real evidence of your capabilities. Simply put: You need to experience accomplishments on a regular basis. You do this by setting very simple and manageable daily tasks that gradually take you in the direction that you want to go. These tasks need to be at YOUR level of competence, yet slightly challenge you enough to get you to expand and grow with each accomplishment. If you can take your high and lofty goal, chop it up into daily goals that are easy to understand and process, and complete one or more before going to bed each night, you will often have a steady flow of motivation. This applies to virtually anything that you want to accomplish.
Finally, you need to SLEEP. SLEEEEEEEEEEP! Ignore any self-help "expert" who tries to motivate you to sacrifice hours and hours of sleep on a regular basis (this should only be done in rare and special occasions). That is a very unhealthy lifestyle, and should be avoided. Excessively sleepy individuals rarely have enough motivation to complete anything relatively challenging.
Again, inspirational content is meant to be nothing more than supplemental, not the main source of motivation. The real fuel comes from achieving small daily goals on a regular basis.
Recent Comments
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Jean - Absolutely. Even if they are small steps !
Thanks for you comments.
Have a great weekend.
Steve
Thanks, Kevin. There will be a learning curve on the State Department Job. My "other" JOB with the FBI which came in yesterday will be an easy one since I have worked for them before. Thanks for asking.
Stay well my friend,
Steve
Great article, full of very sensible information. I had never thought of the motivational information in that light before. Gives me a shift in perspective.
I hope you are finding time to sleep.
Have a great weekend
Thank you again
Linda
Thanks for taking the time to read Linda and glad you found it helpful.
I am sleep typing now, not too dangerous, the most damage I can do is to my keyboard.
Hope you have a great weekend also.
Steve
What a fantastic article Steve, thank you for sharing it! I have a problem with sleeping good amounts of hours. I'm used to sleep at 1-3 every night and then I have to wake up early to take my sister to school and then head for my classes. But hopefully this semester I'll make my sleeping pattern better.
Basem, I understand the challenges and share them with you. We can only do our best and that must be enough!
Stay well my friend!
Steve
Great article Steve. Front loading s applied in industry for efficiency Here you need to apply it to forward leaning, paying ahead, constantly investing I n new friendships and ideas. You will never run out of motivation as things are reciprocated.
I totally agree about the EVIDENCE piece (and the sleep as well, sure). The thing is that people don't LOOK. Like Galileo told the pope to look through the telescope, but he didn't because he "knew already".
I am following Dutchsinse on Youtube, he predicts earthquakes and the official scientists don't acknowledge the evidence he shows - until just yesterday, when Stanford University comes up with their "new" research which says exactly the thing the Youtube guy says for 6-7 years. So evidence, at the end, cannot be ignored - and can be stolen from who has shown it....
Well, and our inner life: we just don't rely on evidence but prefer to stay in magical thinking, at least many of us. It needs a certain level of personal growth to be able to face the evidence about ourselves. We fear we are not good enough (or what not), but it could also be the other way round.
SUPER comments Heidi. I agree we need to shed the "I am not good enough mantra" and get on with life. Thank you for taking the time to add some very important points!
Have a good weekend!
Steve
I am inspired by topics like this one - and MOTIVATED to write about them.
Have a great weekend with some relax and joy and +++++
Heidi
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I see why you recommended this Steve. It's pretty powerful and realistic. I like the analogy of supplements; they will never replace the main course but as you know, in the frenetic world of speed and impatience, sometimes people skip food and rely on supplement.
Love this article. Thank you - it's a bit grounding :)
Thanks, Chuka - I love the way you described it as "grounding" that is spot on !
Thanks again for taking the time.
Have an enjoyable weekend my friend.
Steve