How to Find a Source of Motivation That Is Effective for You
THE GREATEST SOURCE OF MOTIVATION
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.
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