How to Find a Source of Motivation That Is Effective for You

If you want to become motivated you are going to have to find a source of

motivation from which to draw from. Think of this motivation source like a

bucket of water. Whenever you need a boost, you can dip your cup into this

bucket and come up with some extra motivation. But that means that

whatever is in the bucket is going to have to be some powerful stuff.

Earlier, we talked about the three sources of motivation and how these

sources can fuel your motivation. But the problem with these sources is

that they are already present. For example: you have a need to sleep at

night, so you probably are motivated to work hard at your job and keep

getting a paycheck so you can pay your rent. If you have an arousal need

that promotes sexual desire, you might be more motivated to lose weight or

get in shape.

Since these sources of motivation are already present, whether you want

them or not, using them as your source is obviously not going to be

effective, otherwise you would have already achieved your goals. So, we

have to find a new source of motivation that you can draw from.

The next chapter will give you some tips for staying motivated, like posting

a picture of something you’re working for on your wall, but this isn’t what

we’re talking about here. This is a deeper sort of thing, something that

helps you get the motivation in the first place and get started. The way to

best do this is by knowing yourself and what you want. Here are some

exercises to help you.

Meditation: Many people laugh at the idea of meditation as a way to know

yourself, but let’s put all of your preconceived notions aside. At its core,

meditation is simply a period of time in which you are very still and very

quiet. To ask the deeper questions about what you want in life requires

quiet, because otherwise you aren’t going to hear the answers. Try it and

look deep into yourself and find out what you want, way down deep at the

core.

Write a Biography: Suppose that you were going to die tomorrow and you

had 1000 words to tell the world who you were and what you had wanted

out of life. Take your time and really think about it. Sometimes, the act of

writing about ourselves as if we were biographing someone else is not only

cathartic, it can open us up to truths that we weren’t aware of before – at

least consciously.

Study Religions: You don’t have to be a religious person to study religion.

In fact, extremely religious people often have trouble studying other

religions and especially looking at them objectively. But religions have been

asking the question who we are and what we want out of life for much

longer than you and I have been alive, and while you have to take most

things with a very large grain of salt, you might find some truths in some

religions – particularly Buddhism – that can help you figure out what you

want from life.

What’s Unique? Decide what it is that is unique about you. This might help

you see what it is you truly and deeply want. One of the side effects of

discovering what is unique about us is that we can see what we can offer

the world and what the world can give us in return.

Love List: Make a list of the things in life that you absolutely love. Things

that make you excited and happy, that get you feeling like you are truly

alive. It doesn’t matter what those things are. You have the freedom to

write whatever you want including cooking, playing sports, teaching,

learning, whatever. Hidden in this love list, you will find some deeper truths

about what you want out of life.

A Billionaire: Consider this: what would you do if you had a billion dollars

in the bank? You would never have to worry about working again, and your

bills would all be paid, plus you would have enough money to do whatever

you wanted to, finance whatever you wanted, from starting a business of

some kind to making a big budget movie. So, what would you do, where

would you go and what would you care about if you had a billion dollars?

Your Admiration: Who are the five people in the world you most admire?

Write them down on a list and then decide what qualities each one of them

have that makes you admire them so much. Then, look at those qualities

as if they were something that you yourself were working towards (and

perhaps they are). These qualities may give you some great clues as to

what you want out of life, deep down.

You’re Limitless: Imagine that you had no limits whatsoever on your life.

Whatever those limits are, remove them. If you have always wanted to be a

rock-and-roll singer, but you have no vocal talent, remove that limitation! If

you have always wanted to run marathons but you are stuck in a

wheelchair, remove that limitation too. Now, once you have removed your

limits and written down what it is you truly want, can you tell where your

deep down motivation comes from?

Judgment Free: If you knew that absolutely no one would judge you, what

would you stand for? What causes would you announce to the world that

you believe in? Remember, no one will judge you, no matter what it is that

you stand up for. Write down a list of several things that you absolutely

believe in and would be vocal about if you weren’t fearful of being judged.

My Accomplishments: Make a list of your greatest accomplishments. In

the things that you have already done, you can find motivation for doing

more things in the future. Write down everything that was a particular

challenge for you to achieve, not necessarily something that is usually

difficult for everyone. Anytime you have succeeded, particularly against all

odds, put it on paper. Then evaluate and see if you can see deeper

meaning and motivation from those accomplishments.