B17: The day we understand How to be motivated?

 

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover. -- Mark Twain

Source: Seek

The day we understand How to be motivated?

Motivation is a reason for actions, willingness, and goals. Motivation is derived from the word motive or a need that requires satisfaction. It is the process that initiates, guides and maintains goal-oriented behaviors. It is what causes you to act. 

 A lot of people ask me how to be motivated? What motivates you to study, write, work out, etc? We think there are many things that are done without motivation, things or activities we do not even think about but still do it. For eg, Eat food, play with our friends, watch our favorite shows, etc, etc. But there’s still some motivation hidden behind all these activities, we just do it effortlessly because we love doing it. Hunger and cravings are motivation to eat, enjoyment and fun are motivation to play, and entertainment is motivation to watch films/series.

Interest in something

If all these motivations are gone unnoticed and the works related to them are done effortlessly then why do few works or activities need real motivation generation or constant push to be completed? I think the answer is OUR INTEREST. If we are interested in doing something, if we really like something then maybe it doesn’t need much motivation generation or motivation speeches to get it done.

So, How to be motivated can be linked with How to create interest in something?

Let me give you real-life examples...... now, if you ask me how are you motivated to study? Then I would answer, “Well, who doesn’t want to be rich? Who doesn’t want money? I do, I want money as well as independent life. Now how do I earn money? I have two options; legal and illegal. I want a smooth life with no crime involved so yeah cross the illegal option. I have no specific strong talent which can earn me fortunes but if I work hard for some degree, I might earn good. So, what should I study? Probably something of my INTEREST! Management studies sound interesting, I am a people person, and I like to lead and manage people as well as tasks, so yeah that’ll be fun to learn in a systematic manner. In this way, as the subject selected is of my interest I’ll give my best to it. Now that I want to earn a fortune, I need to get into good company in a good position, so, how do I do that? By scoring good grades! ”

Results are the real boosters

Once you work hard with proper planning you will surely see results, consistency, and persistence is similarly important to see good results. When results are good you get appreciation, and once you start getting that you will never stop. This is what happened to me when I was losing weight; the compliments I received kept me motivated to keep up the work. What happens when you don’t see the desired result? Well, remember this you won’t stop until you get what you are working so hard for!

Source: SOCO Sales Training 

De-motivation is the real motivation

A number of times people will de-motivate you. I have heard things like, “You can’t do this. You are lame and no better than other average kids. I don’t expect anything from you. You are no good. You just can’t do”... and well it got uglier. So what did I do in return? Being a human being I did get upset and disheartened, felt sad, and yes de-motivated. How did I deal with all of this? Nothing much, I just kept hustling on, I did not look back and kept this thing in mind that I had to change, from “You can’t do it” to “Oh My God! You f’ing did it!”. Make that person so shocked as to never repeat those words or doubt my capabilities by just looking at my achievements. And trust me this did happen.

Keep your goals clear

We all know that real motivators are the goals and some perks which come along with it, so one should be clear about it. Have big but realistic goals. When I was trying to lose weight, I used to give myself small targets, in the beginning, it was only 1kg per week but then I saw I am losing 2kgs in a week and that just motivated me to not stop working out or to eat anything out of my diet. It made me more consistent; I lost all the distractions and cravings because my mind and heart were all motivated. Have proper planning to reach that goal and once you do, no one can stop you.

Fear of failure

Ironically, even fear motivates us. Fear of failure, fear of being laughed at, fear of being judged, and what not. I feared losing the title of being a topper, I feared being joked about, I feared the feeling of being a failure..... and I don’t feel shame in saying that out loud because it’s natural and it’s common and it’s fine. In the end, all these fears helped me be motivated and keep hustling, as I said. I used to keep myself motivated by saying, “Do you want diseases or any health-related issues because of your obese body?”, “Do you want to be fit to walk and run around or stay lazy and sick in bed all the time?”, “Do you not want to get that score/job/title/position?”. Well because I wanted all of them I was always motivated.

I am no philosopher or anything but this is what I do and I believe this was worth sharing. Just remember that in the end HAPPINESS, WILLINGNESS, INTEREST AND YOU can motivate yourself to achieve something.

While struggling on the steps to success,
I looked up to see, ‘How much more?’,
There are still millions of steps to cross,
But when I look at, ‘How much I have already climbed?’,
That’s enough for me to keep going,
That’s enough for me to keep struggling,
That’s enough for me to be motivated. 

 

Source: Light Enterprises Ltd.

By,

Humaira Kazi