Study Skills - Find Your Motivation Fast

By Lachlan Haynes


Lack of motivation is the most common reason that things don't get done. If you've ever lacked the motivation to do something you know the feeling I'm talking about. The loss of interest, the tiredness, the boredom - it's all related to the feeling that you have "no motivation". But worse still is the feeling that you also don't know what to do about it. But there's no need to fret, it happens to everyone at some point!

If you're someone that feels they are always motivated then my hat goes off to you! You are one of the lucky ones. You've found that perfect level of inspiration, dedication and perspiration. But for most people (and most students) the feeling of low or no motivation is a really challenging issue.

When you don't have the proper motivation to complete a task, the task can quickly become a painful and cumbersome chore - rather than a fairly straightforward process. Why?

Well, when you feel 'motivated', it's easy to stay focused over a long period of time and work diligently towards your goal. However, when you are not feeling 'motivated' you will have virtually zero focus and the chances you will even start the task are minuscule. Either that or it will require someone threatening you with something before you'll get started on your work (like a parent taking away your iPad or a teacher removing you from the class). That's not a great way to get motivated!

Generally, motivation comes in the form of fear. As in, what will happen if I don't complete this task? What will happen if I don't hand in my paper on time? What will happen if I don't do what my parents say? What will happen if I don't go to school? It's the fear of negative consequences that really motivates us as a human race. It's the way we are conditioned to behave. Why? Because it creates order.

If there was no deadline and no consequence for not handing a paper in on time, would we ever even hand it in? Would we even start the stinking paper? Would anyone ever do anything they didn't want to do?

Fear as a motivational tool is actually important. It creates order and maintains the norm. It allows a society to function properly. However, that doesn't mean it should be the reason you do whatever you do on a daily basis. You see, fear of consequences also leads to great resentment and suppression. So acting only out of fear is not the way to become truly motivated.

Acting only out of fear of consequences will not lead you to a positive and happy life. It will lead to "existing" - and existing is not the level of motivation you will need to take you to where you really want to go - all the way to the top (of whatever it is you want to do)!

True motivation is when you don't act out of fear, but instead you act out of possibilities. You act out of the possibility of what doing the task may bring to your life. The possibility of wealth (there are more forms of wealth than just monetary), the possibility of health, the possibility of love, or the possibility of some form of prosperity. This is the entire foundation for positive motivation - and the real kicker is that it's more powerful than any form of negative motivation could ever be.

So the next time you are doing something (anything) ask yourself "Am I acting out of fear, or out of possibility?" You may be very surprised by the answer.




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