3 Reasons Why “Getting Motivated” isn’t the Only Answer
On a scale of one to 10, how much do you resonate with this statement: we are always grasping to get motivated; why is it that we can’t stay motivated? We can all relate to telling ourselves, “Once I’m motivated I can [blank].” Or, “I just need to stay motivated, then I’ll be successful, be focused, make progress…” fill in the blank.
Most anyone, at any stage of life, can relate to the topic of motivation, but it is a raging hot topic specifically for students in high school or college. Many students, in what could be argued as the most critical, formative years of life, are trying to navigate their way from a constructive education system to a real-world professional workspace. Motivation in achieving, excelling, performing well, and setting oneself up for success post-grad all takes an immense amount of time, thought, action, and motivation.
So why is it that we are constantly needing to get motivated rather than just stay motivated? Why does motivation and ‘burnout’ seem to fit together in the same sentence?
Motivation is a treacherous road to walk. It’s a necessary one, and we believe in the power of motivation, but to understand it, use it for its good, and not result in burnout, we first need to understand how motivation breaks down. We’ll outline 3 reasons why there is more to motivation than meets the eye.
Motivation isn’t the only keyword.
Motivation isn’t the end, it’s a result of two actions coming together. We often think of “motivation” as the final piece of the puzzle but the hardest to come by, as if it’s this one thing that if we just...get....motivated we’ll solve all our problems, but it isn’t a final destination. If we shift our perspective and look at it as a result or a solution of an equation, then we can foster the expressions within the equation and flourish from it. Shifting our focus to what makes up motivation will lead to less burnout and more productivity.
So how do we “get motivated” ?
Motivation is an equation.
Feeling purpose-filled is usually heightened when we feel motivated. But what happens when we don’t feel motivated? Motivation is made up of two factors: Clarity and Alignment.
Clarity + Alignment = Motivation
If we focus on gaining clarity on what we want and develop an alignment within that purpose, we instill almost subconsciously a sense of motivation which formulates into driving us toward our goals. When we turn on autopilot and grind it out to get motivated it feels empty, forced, and tiring. If we focus on what makes us feel motivated, we can perform longer, harder, and better, which bleeds into living out our purpose-filled life.
Action leads to Motivation
What do you relate to more: your motivation stems from emotions and inspiration, or your motivation stems from results and productivity. Maybe your motivation sequence is a mix of both. Motivation is an action-driven feeling. Why is it so difficult for us to get up off the couch and make the first move toward something we know is beneficial for us, but the moment we do take action and do make progress or productivity we suddenly feel inspired to do more? Regardless of whether you feel inspired or want results, we take action first and that compounds on feeling motivated. It’s a chain reaction. Action leads to motivation. Motivation doesn’t lead to action. We get this confused every single day and what is our result? Exhaustion.
So what now?
Motivation is one of the most sought after actions or feelings. If you can relate to all three reasons, or even just one of them, we understand. Motivation is a key factor in setting ourselves up for living the life we want, and building out our purpose and success according to our own personal meter. Understanding how motivation works in your life is a good first step to harnessing it for its power and using it for its good. This is your cue to take action and reflect.
