The Secret to Motivation: How to Get it When You Don’t Feel It

Do you ever wish you had more motivation to accomplish things personally, relationally, or professionally, but lack the motivation to get it done?

Maybe you find yourself waiting for a burst of motivation and are not sure how to get it. Meanwhile, time is passing, and it isn’t happening.

If any of this is relatable in any area of your life, I’m confident that the following will be helpful. This simple understanding, mindset shift and practice can be a game-changer for you in finding motivation you never knew you had.

The reality is that waiting for motivation to hit us before we start doing something is not an effective plan. It's often only when we get moving and start doing things (we may not even feel like doing) that we really feel fueled by motivation.

Think of motivation not as something that magically appears from external sources, but more like a fire that we must start within ourselves by taking action. This is a critical perspective shift for most.

At first, getting going can be tough for all of us. It's like trying to push a car that's not moving—it takes a lot of effort to get it rolling. But once we start, it gets easier to keep going.

This is because taking the action, even if we just start messy and scared, gets rid of that sticky feeling of not wanting to start, and before we know it, we feel good about what we're doing, and the motivation begins to flow.

When we start doing things, we get this snowball effect. Every little thing we do makes us feel a bit better and more like doing even more. It's kind of like cleaning up a small part of a room, and suddenly we're in the mood to clean the whole thing.

Also, diving in and starting helps us see things more clearly. It's easier to figure out how to do something once we've started. We learn what works, what doesn't, and how to make things better the next time around.

So, the big idea is this: don't sit around waiting for motivation to show up. Get moving, and you'll find that motivation comes along for the ride.

Starting is the hardest part, but once you get past that, everything else gets easier. 

Here are three quick tips for getting started:

• Break it Down: Divide your task into smaller, more manageable steps. Start by just tackling the first small piece to build momentum. Remember, progress not perfection.
  

• Set a Timer: Commit to just 5 or 10 minutes to begin with. Often, just starting is the hardest part, and you might continue beyond the timer.
  
• Reward Yourself: Plan a small reward for after you've started or completed a task. This creates positive associations and will help you to start. 

I hope this helps. Ready, set, let’s go!

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Was this helpful? Have a suggestion for future content? I’d love to hear from you. Will you please consider reaching out by way of email, or even better, one of my favorite messaging platforms… Facebook Messenger or Instagram Messenger, letting me know how this may have impacted you and sharing any suggestions you may have for future topics that you’d like me to share on?

With Much Appreciation, Allan