Finding Motivation

Motivation is the reason behind our actions and behaviors.  We do certain things because we are motivated to do them.  Motivation comes from the reward we get out of it. That reward can be tangible or internal. Let’s use a job as an example. Some people may be motivated to get up and go to work every day because at the end of the day, they receive payment for their work.  People are motivated by money either out of necessity or want.  It is about what that money can do for them whether it is to pay bills, to live an extravagant lifestyle, or to give back to others.  The tangible money in your pocket is what motivates you to keep going. Someone else may get up and go to work each day because of the intrinsic way it makes them feel.  Their motivation is based on a feeling.  It could be that their work makes them feel good about themselves, it makes them feel like they are making a difference, or it is just something they are passionate about.  The reason behind your motivation doesn’t necessarily matter as much as the fact that there is motivation there at all.  It is really hard to accomplish a task without some form of motivation, big or small. 

What happens when there is no motivation? Sometimes we get in a funk and there just isn’t any motivation. A lack of motivation can be caused by a number of things.  Some people will loose motivation really quickly if the task at hand is something that they are being told to do.  When someone else dictates your actions, it is often hard to find the motivation needed.  No one likes being told what to do.  Sometimes people have a lack of motivation because they are overwhelmed. The task is too daunting and they are unable to see how to break it down into manageable parts or where to even start. Sometimes a lack of motivation is due to depression.  A serious lack of motivation is one of the indicators that you might be suffering from depression and is something that we should all look out for.  Other people loose motivation because they don’t believe in themselves.  They don’t believe that they are capable, and they lack confidence.  Pure exhaustion is even another reason that people loose motivation.  There is so much going on in your life that you are both mentally and physically exhausted.  You just can’t gather the energy to keep moving forward with whatever the task is.  The list of reasons could go on and on.  The point is that whatever the reason is behind your lack of motivation matters. Knowing why you are unmotivated is important because it is the key to regaining your motivation.  Without motivation, things will be difficult.  Tasks won’t get completed. Life will become miserable, and you can begin to feel useless.  

A lack of motivation is something I am struggling with right now.  I suddenly have no motivation to do anything at all.  I think most of my lack of motivation is due to pure exhaustion. When you are utterly exhausted, it is hard to find the motivation to keep pushing.  I just don’t have the energy.  The last few months have been completely draining on me.  I have been drained emotionally, physically, and mentally for various reasons lately.  Physical exhaustion is one thing.  You can easily get over that by taking the time to rest and get good sleep. It is the emotional and mental exhaustion that is harder to overcome.  How do you rest your heart and mind?  I wish there was some magical potion. It takes a conscious effort and hard work.  It takes motivation to overcome emotional and mental exhaustion.  I know you are asking how you can have motivation to overcome exhaustion when you already have no motivation at all. The motivation to overcome has to come from within.  You have to want it, and you have to work for it.  I am pretty sure that my heart will heal over time, but I am not sure my brain will ever get the rest it needs.  There is always something else to add, more things to do, more worries that will take up space in there, and more stress that will take over.  I don’t know how to stop it.  I do know that feeding my heart and mind with positivity will help.  I know that I need to take time to myself to work on fueling my body, heart, and mind. It is so hard to do that, though.  It is hard to take time for yourself when so many others are relying on you.  It has to be something that you focus on daily.  You have to build it into your daily routine.   It could be as simple as reading a good book for 20 minutes a day that you can loose yourself in, or sitting on the porch in the early morning hours before the rest of your house wakes with a cup of coffee, or spending time in a daily devotional and praying.  Whatever it is that gives your whole body a break and allows you to clear your mind, is what you need to do.  The key is doing it every single day, though.  Every now and then isn’t enough to recharge you to 100%.  Doing it sporadically is enough to give you a short burst of energy like eating a piece of chocolate, but it won’t sustain you. You will crash.  You have to build it into your daily routine.  This is what has gotten away from me.  I let other things get in the way of the “me time” that I had built into my routine.  I let other things push it to the side and take priority.  I was not practicing what I preach.  I admit it. It took me writing this post to figure it out.  I need to fuel myself with good, positive things and take the time to refuel daily.  That will give me the energy to increase my motivation.  I have to commit.  I will commit. 

I encourage all of you that are feeling a lack of motivation to figure out the reason behind it.  That is the only way that you are going to fix it. Ask yourself the tough questions. Once you have figured out why you are feeling this way, actively work to fix it.  Make it part of your daily routine.  Whether it is because you are depressed, overwhelmed, too stressed, exhausted, bored, or whatever other reason, you can fix it.  You have to believe in yourself and figure out a strategy.  I have faith in you! 


Published by

Leave a Reply
