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The truth is, staying motivated on a constant basis is probably difficult for any individual to achieve.
We’ll experience a range of emotions throughout our existence, and this is probably why “How do I stay motivated?” is such a popular question on search engines and discussion platforms.
Simply put, the underlying factor behind this question is what we mistakenly believe to be the case. That staying motivated, will help us stay consistent.
The above, actually work in the opposite order.
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If you stay disciplined and consistent, these traits can indirectly help keep you motivated although they don’t guarantee you’ll have that ignited enthusiasm by the time you’ve completed the task at hand.
As someone who’s experienced countless episodes of motivational emptiness, I’ve found things to work very differently from what I grew up believing.
When you stay consistent, you build discipline. Discipline is another word for ‘trained’ and when you’re trained to do something, you slowly transition from a novice to an eventual expert (once you’ve done it long enough).
The more you stay consistent, the better you become, the more you boost your confidence.
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Building your confidence directly feeds your motivation, discipline, and consistency because the growing confidence motivates you to want to achieve more.
This is why it’s imperative that even on days when you do not ‘feel’ motivated, you continue regardless.
Doing so, helps increase your level of improvement for the future irrespective of how you may feel in that present moment.
You’ll attain a certain level of achievement in what you’re doing and when you look back, you’ll find it wasn’t just motivation that got you there.
It was your ability to commit.
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The best way to keep up what I like to refer to as ‘momentum’, is to remember why you’re doing what you’re doing in the first place, rather than relying on emotions to carry you through.
When you began, you will have felt amped and had in mind all the great things you wanted to achieve by going down this path.
You MUST always refer back to this initial thought process not only on the days you’re excelling, but more importantly, on days you struggle.
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Pondering over your ‘Why’ is what will have you getting up and to the gym even if you don’t feel like it. Your Why will have you writing another chapter of your book when you experience writer’s block and you’re questioning if you should continue.
Your Why will see you rewriting your business plan for which investors previously turned you down and for which you became disheartened and unmotivated.
Your Why, will push you beyond your own limitations.
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To preserve your motivation as much as humanly possible, it’s expedient to keep momentum in the actions you’re taking. And to do that, you must never to quit.
Take a break, have a rest period even – but don’t quit.
I’ve shared a YouTube video (22 minutes in length) speaking about my experience throughout the year. The rollercoaster of ups and downs I experienced, what I learnt, and what I do to stay on form.
(I encourage you to scroll back and watch it once you’ve finished this post – it’ll be relatable for many but most importantly, it’ll encourage you to push on).
As you persist on and on and again, your motivation levels will fluctuate constantly but the one thing that should never alter, is YOU.
Feel the emotions, the discouragement, the fatigue, the lack of finance, the lack of support but You, must remain constant.
There’ll be many scenarios that take place in life beyond our capacity to control them but how we react, is the one thing in life we can control.
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Many people struggle to see beyond or positively react to the negative emotions they experience from unpleasant situations.
The founders of some of the household names we’ve come to know today, make up a minority of people who could.
Being relentless in their efforts despite all the setbacks they experienced in the process, saw them eventually achieve their big break.
Successful people remain committed to their goals regardless of how they may feel, or despite how their surroundings might look.
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When I’ve heard successful entrepreneurs give advice, the resounding message amongst them all is – consistency.
When we’re consistent, we consistently get better.
We’ll make mistakes, but we’ll learn. We’ll move from being the novice to becoming an expert. Our hard work will gain our respect, and that of others.
If you stay committed even on days when it’s most difficult, although I can’t guarantee that you’ll suddenly feel motivated, I can guarantee that your level of improvement will continue on an incline despite the negative emotions you’re experiencing in the moment.
When you’re doing it, remember you’re part of a minority and the discipline you repeatedly implement will set you apart from the majority.
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Being good is the first stage, becoming great is the next, but ultimately your continuity will see you become exceptional and that is where the difference becomes irrefutable.
Feed your motivation, by sustaining momentum. Endeavour to remain committed, no matter what.
Motivation is like the sun – it comes, and it goes. Sometimes it shines bright, other times it appears dim due to passing clouds.
Our motivation levels behave in a similar way, increasing and decreasing based on life’s movement and activities.
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Remember, and lock in on your Why – press forward continuously because eventually if you faint not, you’ll excel in what you’ve set out to do.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4: 17-18.
