The Meaning of Motivation
/ˌmōdəˈvāSH(ə)n/
-
the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way.
Nowhere in the definition of motivation does it say magical spark that light a fire under your ass to get you off the couch to do the things you need to do to conquer your fears and achieve your dreams.
Motivation is just another pretty word for WHY you’re doing something. When you say, “I don’t have the motivation,” what you’re really saying is that you don’t have a reason to succeed. Last time I checked, I have a million reasons why I want to succeed and why I want to get this business off the ground.
Here are a few things I’ve started doing to make sure my motivation (or my why) stays top of mind and a constant reminder to get shit fucking done.
1. Create Motivational Moments Around the House
This is something really easy to do. Write down some of your favorite motivational quotes and stick them up around the house. I have some on my bathroom mirror, one above the kitchen sink, in my office and even one stuck to the garage door inside and out.
This is something I started doing in college when I was trying to get accepted into my undergraduate program. My parents left them stuck to the mirror in my bathroom. It’s a reminder of how much determination I had back then to succeed in this life and has become a point of motivation now to not let that 18-year-old girl down. She worked her ass off to get here, gotta keep going.
2. Flood Your Body with Endorphins
This is such a huge thing. Endorphins are peptides produced within your brain in the central nervous system and the pituitary gland. They play on your opiate receptors to reduce pain, enhance mood, and overall good feelings. Basically that means endorphins are your body’s natural happy motivation pill.
Most people think that you can only get endorphins from working out. While working out, in my opinion, is the best way to flood your system, if you’re not able to get your hands on some weights, there are a few other ways to amp up your body’s endorphin count.
- Smell Lavender or Vanilla
- Get a Massage
- Listen to Music You Love
- Laughter
- Have Sex
3. Start/Join an Accountability Group
This used to sound so corny to me. I can do everything myself, I don’t need anyone… bullshit. I wish I would have done this sooner with my tribe. When you have an accountability group that is on the same path as you, maybe not the same industry or the same career but huge aspirations of success you create an atmosphere of support, more ideas, and of course accountability. If your group is nailing their goals and you’re just there for the wine, you might need to do some more personal work before you even start trying to execute your idea.
4. Take a Break
Are you sure your lack of motivation isn’t coming from a place of burnout? Take a moment to walk away from the computer, from your chores, and anything else that is just sitting on your shoulders. In my post a few weeks ago, I talked about how I was working 80 hour weeks at my day job while also still trying to keep up with my gold projects. I was not sleeping, putting shitty food in my body, and I just didn’t want to get out of bed. There are signs to burnout and if you’re experiencing them, take a break and when your mind and body are replenished, your motivation will return.
5. Stop Squirreling
Oh. My. Gawd. This is literally my kryptonite. Anytime procrastination kicks in I go full Squirrel Mode. I want to do anything and everything except what I am supposed to be doing. For example, I cleaned out all the cabinets in my kitchen this weekend instead of making social media posts that I need to actually make. Those cabinets don’t need to be reorganized.
Wrap It Up
There you have it. Those are my five things. They seem easy, but trust me when you are face deep in stress, anxiety, and fear sometimes you can lose a bit of common sense. This is why it’s important to breathe and take a step back.
What are some things that you are doing to remember your why and keep that motivation going?
