If you are feeling unmotivated about a task, think about the outcomes of it. If the
outcome inspires you in some way (hopefully it does, otherwise why are you doing
it?), then visualise that outcome using all your senses. Run this movie through your
head often to help with your motivation levels.
Truth 4: Start the work, motivation will follow
So true! I experienced this over and over again while writing this book. Often I didn’t
feel like sitting down and writing. So I’d say to myself, “I don’t feel like this, and I’ll
write anyway.” If I felt really bad, I’d promise myself that if, after 20 minutes, I still
didn’t feel like it, I could stop. That never happened. Once I got going, my motivation
levels rose, and then I didn’t want to stop. So get going, even if you don’t feel like it –
motivation will sneak in while you’re working.
Truth 5: Motivation is a habit
So true! Humans often develop habitual ways of being in the world. If you’ve
developed an attitude where you see hard work as negative and unpleasant, you’ll
mostly feel unmotivated. If you focus on the hard work instead of the outcome of
the hard work, you’ll mostly feel unmotivated. If you say to yourself how awful it is
and how much you hate it, you’re unlikely to feel motivated. Fortunately, the
opposite is also true. If you focus on the outcomes of any project and your attitude
to work is healthy, you’re likely to feel motivated about most things in your life.
Attitude is a habit. What you focus on is a habit. Motivation is a habit.
Journal work
Explore your habitual way of being in the world. What are your
common thoughts? In what areas do you display a healthy attitude
and where in your life does your attitude not add value? Describe
your enthusiasm levels for different aspects of your life. Where do
you need to make changes?