Motivation Myths You Believe

I have been a student of motivation since I was two. Motivation is an after-the-fact description or explanation. I am sorry, but motivation is mostly a myth.

Motivation is tricky. Motivation is powerful, but is it entirely necessary? Inspiration makes it easier to act, but we take many actions without the presence of traditional motivation. Without motivation, it's also easy to procrastinate.

What exactly is motivation? Is it enthusiasm for an action?

Or is it just a situation where taking action has become more desirable than not acting? You might not be excited about a report for school or work, but at some point, the anxiety of not getting it done becomes worse than just doing the work.

What do you think? How do you define motivation?

Consider these motivation myths:

1. Myth: Motivation is all that matters. Could a 70-year-old woman play in the NBA? Can just anyone make a living as a pop singer? No. Motivation is excellent, but there are other things that matter, too. Intelligence, talent, skill, resources, and opportunity are just a few things that also matter.?

●????Every corpse on Mount Everest was once highly committed and highly motivated. Despite what your mother told you, there are things you can never do, no matter how motivated you are. But it's okay. She still loves you.

●????However, motivation is far from worthless. You'll have to manage yourself far less if you're motivated to do something positive that supports your goals and values. A lack of motivation is challenging, however.

?2. Myth: You can't do anything without motivation. Can't you? Are you excited to go to your job each day? Probably not. Are you thrilled to get out of bed each day? Unlikely. There are plenty of things you can do whether you're motivated. What are some things that you regularly do that you genuinely don't want to do?

?3. Myth: You shouldn't do it if you're not motivated to do it. Do you think the best athletes only train when they feel like it? Do you believe bestselling authors only write when the urge strikes them?

●????The most successful people in every field go to work and get busy every day. They do it despite how they happen to feel. They don't wait until they feel like doing it.

●????If you only do what you want, you might not do much beyond snacking on the couch and binge-watching TV.

●????Motivation is excellent when it's available, but you'll have to pick yourself up and do what needs doing all the other times.

?4. Myth: Motivation is always available. Motivation isn't always on-tap when looked at from an extrinsic point of view. There are days you feel super motivated, and some days you'd rather just quit. Everyone deals with this phenomenon. Once you discover the intrinsic source, motivation IS available on demand!?

●????It's hard to predict when you will feel motivated if you require an outside source. The best extrinsic policy is deciding to put in the work whether you feel like it.

?5. Myth: Motivation is created or caused by outside forces. Motivation as an extrinsic drive only works if the intrinsic, internal machinery resonates at that moment. The incentives many sales organizations use are all extrinsic and, for many, deflate their ability to go for it. Daniel Pink wrote 'rewards narrow our focus' suggesting expanding or softening our focus to include everything may be a better path. If you buy the outside extrinsic 'motivation,' external forces use your beliefs against you. Change your opinion or point of view, and manipulation still occurs.

Every decision has a cost. However, motivation makes it much easier to pay that cost. If you're dying to go to Paris, the plane ticket price is easier to bear than if you're not excited about the trip.

Motivation is never in short supply. You always motivate [demotivate] yourself. Imagine how great you'll feel when the task is complete. Imagine the pain of not getting it done. And sometimes, it's necessary to put your head down and do what needs doing.

You can't spend your life waiting for the perfect circumstances and the perfect attitude. That's a recipe for mediocrity.

Please take advantage of motivation when available but avoid waiting for it. You have a significant advantage if you can work while everyone else is waiting for inspiration to strike. You'll find that success in anything you want is easier to reach.

Definition: Motivation is the desire, will, or energy to engage in life in a particular way. Motivation is instant, spontaneous, and always a function of how you think. It isn't dependent on anything outside of you.

Begin now to notice your thinking, and you too can change how and what you think. Motivation is an inside phenomenon.

You can't think your way out of a problem you made up with your thinking. - Michael Neill

After my third read, it's beginning to work on me. Instant Motivation by Chantal Burns