mo·ti·va·tion (mōdəˈvāSH(ə)n) noun the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way.”Perhaps you need some motivation to do what you should”
Motivation A Myth
Imagine your house is on fire right now and you’re outside while your suitcase containing all your life savings is in the same house, would you go in for the money? How about going in for the furniture, the clothes, or the expensive electronics you’ve worked hard for all your life?
You probably won’t give the risk a second thought right?
How about this, imagine the same house on fire again with one of your loved ones inside (maybe your wife, kids or best-friend) desperately crying for help. You could hear their plea’s for help and could see the flame’s rising higher and higher with no help coming anytime soon. Would you take the risk and go in to help them?
Most people would do it not giving the risk second thought.
What makes the first scenario different from the second one, I mean aside from the money and loved ones? Both you’re taking an equal risk to your life and you could lose it. Was it because human life is more precious to you than a suitcase filled with your life savings or because something else pushed you to take that risk?
Of course, human life is more valuable than any amount of money but people have killed for less. It’s not just the life of the human burning in that building that pushes you to risk your life, its love that motivated you. Not many of us will risk the same for a stranger.
Motivation, that feeling which pushes us to take a certain action is and will never be a myth. It is as real as our survival instincts. Usually, motivation is the thought behind the thought that makes us want to do the unpleasant and tiring task. It is the reason why we wake up each morning and head out to work, work our asses off and return after 14 or 16 hour days only for us to rinse and repeat the process the very next day.
Most people have made a list of goals and failing to achieve these goals using various motivation techniques feels that motivation is a myth created by self-help gurus to take their hard earned money. Interestingly, motivation can only be created on your own volition and is more of an instinct which you can decide to fire up or allow to gradually dim out and forever be defeated in life.
What is motivation really?
Motivation is not that spark that comes to you suddenly and helps you do the impossible. That’s a motivation myth. Motivation is not a visualization technique that helps you live the kind of life you’ve always dreamed of. That’s another motivation myth. There are over a thousand and one myths about motivation which would be very hard to cover in a single post.
Motivation is the end result. It is that pleasant ending that makes you begin your journey in the first place. Think about this: when you want to give up a habit, is it divine inspiration, a sudden spark or feeling that makes you want to do it? Probably not. For most, it is what their lives will be like and how happy they and their family will be like after giving up the habit that keeps them on track. That is motivation. Motivation is that end result that keeps you pushing on and on. Its that gold medal, the standing ovation or fame that keeps the broke musician pushing for that big breakout album.
So is motivation a myth?
Here are some myths you should be aware of
Visualizing yourself as a success
Self-Help gurus often tell you that visualizing yourself as a successful person or living the kind of life you’ve always dreamed of will motivate you to climb greater heights.
Researches, however, have shown that this technique can have a destructive effect on your motivation to go out and actually work to achieve success. A better strategy is to visualize yourself taking the necessary steps to achieve success. See yourself setting small goals and overcoming the various obstacles, temptations and urges and you’ll be more likely to climb those greater heights you’ve been imagining. After all, you’ve already won the battle in your head.
Fear inspires motivation
The sheer number of smokers shows that fear is a poor motivator. On packs of cigarettes in different countries around the world is a warning label that smokers are liable to die young or develop a lung-related disease. In other words “hey dumbass you keep smoking you’re likely to die at a younger age.” This, however, has not in any way affected the growing number of smokers.
Most addicts/alcoholics are aware of the threats of various substances/alcohol on their health but very few will ever consider giving up their addictions because of that. Fear of punishment is never a very good motivator in life.
Trying Your Best Is Enough
“Try your best” is a poor motivational tool and for the most part leads to average or poor performance. Most times it is best to set high specific goals and aim with the thought of achieving each and every one of them rather than going in to “try your best”.
Simple Tips To Staying Motivated At All Times
What makes you tick? You might want to start making a list of what is most important to you in life and then taking the necessary steps to achieve them. Most times the things that make us tick is the thought behind our thought. This may even be something we may be embarrassed about admitting to others.
For instance, some people give gifts at charity events for the recognition it might bring them but no one will ever admit that openly, rather everyone pretends its for the love they have for humanity.
To feel motivated at all times, you’ll need to find the end results which a difficult action may bring you. It’s by understanding how this end result, will make an impact on you positively and that’s what will keep you going long enough to pursue it to the end.
Once you’ve identified how a task at hand can benefit you, that in most cases will provide the needed fuel to keep you burning until your goal is achieved. This most often is the technique used to help addicts in overcoming their addictions. By helping them realize what they really want in life and how their addiction is preventing them from reaching their goals, addicts are motivated to cut quit their addictions and really seek to better their lives.
Motivation in its most natural state is not a myth. It is a real survival instinct which has continually grown from mere biological hunger which pushes early men out into the open to hunt for food to various forms such as the need to protect our loved ones, become rich, famous or recognized and many other forms as society has evolved.
Jason
If you or a loved one is struggling w/addiction and would like more information please contact 1-888-633-3239
Very interesting perspective about motivation Jason, I enjoyed reading it!
It’s really about your “why”
If you really want that end result and know “why” you really want it then motivation becomes easier, don’t you think?
I know the survival instinct will really motivate us and that is certainly no myth!
When the stakes are high enough, nothing will stop us!
Excellent article!
Thanks 🙂
John
Thank you, John, and yes It definitely is about your WHY in life. What drives you makes you.
I always wonder what I need to do to be motivated. Your article gives me a new light on how to approach motivation. You said that I should focus on the end results if I need to be motivated at all times. My main focus was visualizing myself as a successful person and thought that what I neede to do. I now know that that is a motivation myth.
I have worked hard for all these years with the wrong approach to life. Is it possible for me to start all over again? I follow a few motivational speakers like Jim Rohn and Anthony Robbins. Should I continue along their philosophy? I thank you for open my eyes to something that is so meaningful to my future and success. I applaud you.
Bishop, it is always possible to start over no matter the age or stage of life you may be in. Jom Rohn and Tony Robbins offer so much more once you find your own motivation they tell you how to use it properly yes continue following their philosophies. Continue working hard but smart and you will see the end results come sooner than later.
I do like your post “Is Motivation a myth?”
You are so right in your assessment. As I assessed motivation it could be more of a downer than an upper.
Outside motivation only sets us up for a greater fall.
True motivation comes from within ourselves. Our destination, if it is clearly defined within ourselves, we will push on enjoying the journey. There will be hills and valleys but that is part of the journey and only adds to our contentment and peace as we travel, knowing that the end will come eventually.
Like you said “It is the pleasant ending that makes you began your journey in the first place.” is my take away.
An excellent post.
Thank you very much, and yes it has to come from within, outside sources we have no control of and well things change all the time.
Great explanation of the key term “Motivation” and its related myths… Hopefully everyone out there should go through this precise and helpful content about motivation. Keep up sir! And post more inspirational articles. As you mentioned, sometimes you fall into dilemma and can hardly decide so it is motivation that gives you the right path.
Thank you for the comment and will be posting more inspiration soon.
I believe motivation is not a myth but most of the things you have said in the area are very new to me and I really think its a way of learning but what struck me is your first cause of motivation where house is on fire and everything that you hold dear is inside that got me thinking what would I do in such a scenario could that be motivation enough to go inside and grab them out that got me thinking.
Glad it got you thinking, that’s what the goal is. How do you find your motivation?
This was a very interesting read, Jason. I think each person’s motivation is different. And what motivates one may not motivate another. It isn’t something someone can give to another. You can encourage someone but unless they are ready to change they won’t. Each person must find their own motivation. Reminds me of the saying, you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make them drink.
LOL, my sponsor says that all the time, when I challenge him on things he suggests to me. Thank you.
A very well written article on motivation.
I certainly agree, knowing the end result is what keeps one motivated at all times. For instance, why would one work their butts off in starting a business of their own if not for the hope of not having to work for somebody else ever again. Knowing that having your own business will give you time freedom and financial freedom, you will be motivated to work even harder.
For any one to overcome addiction there must be a very strong motivational drive to propel you to stop and rethink. When one is an addict is usually uneasy to focus right. The person could be surrounded by limitations due to his or her life of an addict. Unless the addict discovers how their addiction has limited their potentias and goals, they wouldn’t want to stop. Therefore for any addict to quit, there must be a very strong motivational drive that will suite their case.
Addicts have the drive to do anything just like anyone else, you are right it’s changing the thinking their mindset. My next article. Thanks for giving me some inspiration.
It is never easy to stay motivated all the time. I think it is more than a guru telling you that for you to achieve your dreams you need to stay motivated. It is a lot more than that. Setting smaller goals that you know you can achieve on a regular basis can really go a long way in helping you achieve your ultimate goal.
What makes us tick differs in different personality so the words or advice that motivates me might not be what would motivate you.I think one of the best ways to stay motivated is to find out what makes us tick.
Yes, that is true and for some, it can be some of those myths I talked about. Thank you for pointing that out, I’ll be more mindful in the future.
Nice article Jason, you really did a great work posting this nice work on here. I think motivation is very essential in out everyday life because it really inspire us to do that which is encouraging. In trying times we should look for what can keep us motivated. Thank you.
Wonderful article, thanks for sharing this! I liked the section “Visualizing yourself as a success” in particular. Setting small goals and achieve them one by one makes perfect sense to me. The feeling of successful accomplishment is unbeatable as a motivation factor, but hard to reach if the goal is essentially unrealistic.
Hi Jason,
Thanks for the simplified version of what motivation really means, I got amazed by the tips and facts your provided in this highly relevant and informative post. Especially the moment you made mention that, “Motivation is the end result. It is that pleasant ending that makes you begin your journey in the first place.” It was really inspiring.
Thanks
Glad you got to enjoy this.
That’s very cool article, it is really interesting, i like your thought, i think the article like yours will help some of the people! so i will share to my friends!
Thank for your article!
I hope it can help others as well and thank you for the comment and sharing.
This is actually very powerful if used properly. We are all aware of those short lived motivations but like you said, once we identify what really moves us on a much deeper level, we can use that motivation to keep us going for a much more longer time consistently.
Consistency is what is needed to keep everyone going. We also need to be careful on that consistency as we do not want to become dormant and not continue to grow.
Great article! Admitting you have a problem and wanting help is a good start but not the end all. Having friends and family willing to support you is great but not what it takes to quit. Having passion, drive and an end result determination is the key for sure! I can attest to this as a former addict of both cigarettes and opioid pain pills who one day stopped my pity party and decided my addictions would not allow me to be the person or have the life I wanted. I can honestly say, I haven’t had an urge in years.
Thanks again for your article. I hope it helps others overcome their addictions.
Thanks, Sherry it’s difficult, but as you said the pity party needs to stop and decisions need to be made by the addict and the addict only!
Excellent article regarding motivation. Something I preach to all my writer friends is to wake up each day with a plan of action and set a list of tasks to do regarding your long-term goals throughout the day. Like you mentioned, think about how each task will benefit your writing goal. Too many of us see what we want to be and are so focused on it the short-term, which is far more important, becomes irrelevant, which is sad.
I used to work as (and am on my way going back to) a personal trainer and I saw this all the time in January. So and so wants to lose fifty pounds by next January. Okay, fantastic. You need to be in the gym performing a blend of weight training and cardio four days a week while logging each meal as you seek to change your lifestyle.
It’s why many fall off after January. They’re stuck on visualizing that long-term success, but when the hard work comes in the short-term, it’s tough for them to go a single week without cheating on their diet, or when things get stressful, tough for them to make time for the gym.
Once upon a time, I didn’t understand this. These days, especially after reading your post, I understand it better.
Thanks for that other visualization especially with weight loss, the work is what’s hard and people just lose the focus. Small tasks one day at a time is what works.
Wow, what a powerful article. I never thought of motivation this way and your example at the beginning really hit home. It will be one of those thoughts I come back to on why I want to do something while trying to find the motivation.
I agree that the try your best motivation practice is not a good one. We need to accomplish smaller goals that lead to the big ones. It is much easier to gain that feeling of accomplishment and moving forward by winning small goals. Rather than trying to climb a mountain and looking at the top, we set a goal for the first hill or a distance ahead and eventually the ultimate goal is achieved.
Motivation and what drives us is a tough thing to understand and I think this article explains it wonderfully.
Thank you, for your comment and understanding what for what I was trying to accomplish here.
After reading this content I am well motivated now, thanks for sharing this piece of thought and keep it up.
Thank you!
Hi Jason, nice article here.
Motivation is fantastic and useful when it “arrives”, but it’s too fleeting to rely on. Discipline, and like you said, keeping your end goals in mind are what can get you through tough times.
In terms of constant motivation, what you speak of here reminds me of the concept of “drive”. Something I still need to work on myself!
Thanks for the cool post! Your dog looks like the one my family has. 🙂
Ben
What keeps the “drive” you have going? Yes, motivation is fleeting and it is up to that individual to keep his or her “drive” going. Keep a constant reminder of what drives you around or near you at all times to remind you of WHY you are doing the things you want to do.
Very interested in your tips for motivation. I’ve heard many of the myths you mentioned and wondered how to keep it up. This will help – thank you!
I hope they work for you, good luck in keeping it!