The Motivation Equation
If there’s one thing I know about motivation, it’s that it comes and goes. It’s temporary. You only need to take a look around (or perhaps within) to appreciate that we humans tend to be cyclical when it comes to our peaks and troughs of motivation. And boy, do we have peaks and troughs. From a creating-our-best-life point of view, one of the biggest challenges will always be to remain productive, proactive, focused and committed when we find ourselves in those innevitable motivational troughs.
That is, to keep doing (moving, creating, taking action) even when we don’t feel like it.
What is Motivation?
When I use the term ‘motivation’ (in the context of this discussion), I’m referring to the emotional states of excitement, enthusiasm, joy and anticipation that we often find ourselves in when we start something new. Like a diet. Or an exercise program. Or any change process, for that matter.
For many of us, it’s the unpredictability and uncertainty of motivation that proves to be one of our biggest hurdles (when it comes to creating lasting change in our world). When we rely solely on the emotional state of motivation to get us to our destination – wherever that might be – we’re inviting frustration, stagnation, disappointment and failure because, on its own, motivation is not enough to get the job done. It needs some transformational allies.
Getting the Job Done
Successful people (no matter what the endeavour) find a way to stay focused, committed, proactive and productive - even when those feelings of excitement, enthusiasm, joy and anticipation elude them. People who need or expect the transformation journey to be an ongoing rollercoaster of fun, excitement, enthusiasm and joy, should perhaps consider operating from a different paradigm. A more practical and realistic one.
Sometimes, the change process sucks. And that’s okay. Sometimes, it’s messy, uncomfortable and painful. Sometimes, it’s a fun-fest and sometimes, it’s mildly terrifying. That’s okay too. Life is not a workshop, a book, a theory, a rehab session or a shoulder rub. It’s a crazy, messy, unpredictable, dynamic multi-sensory experience. And, in the middle of all that mayhem, misery and joy, we seekers, searchers and explorers must find a way to do what most won’t – persevere.
Keep taking ground. Finish the job.
A Commitment Speaker?
People are often surprised to hear a Motivational Speaker say that motivation is not the key to transformation. Sure, I could call myself a Commitment Speaker or a get-the-job-done-no-matter-what speaker but I probably wouldn’t get much work. 
I’m not sure how many companies do a search on the term ‘Commitment Speaker’ but I’m guessing, not many.
When my commitment to transformation, growth, improvement and learning is total and non-negotiable, then my day-to-day level of motivation becomes irrelevant. Of course, it’s nice to ‘feel’ motivated, excited, pumped and focused (and I mostly do) but in its absence, I’ll keep those wheels turning.
I hope you do too.
* Don’t forget my new kid’s book (The Angry Ant) is out now! Love this article? Sign up for my FREE Email Newsletter today to receive more articles like this, and get my FREE Ebook!
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This just happens to be the most perfect blog for my Wednesday Morning. So so true and so timely. Thanks Craig!
Hi Craig,
Yep totally agree with the commitment angle. When my clients tell me they just ‘dont have the motivation that i do’ and therefore cannot possibly ‘do what i do’ in terms of healthy lifestyle habits…..i put it back to them that i am not a superhuman species with special powers. They are often shocked to hear that personal trainers or other fitness professional types do not have these special powers. That we also struggle with ‘motivation’ sometimes and find it hard to ‘feel’ like exercising sometimes after a long arduous day at work. They think that we have some different way of existing….some sort of sub-human genetical makeup (sometimes i think this could be true for some weird types i have met!!)….but……..when i tell them that the ‘secret’ to my ‘superhuman powers’ is COMMITMENT and that they just have to DO IT…………whatever it is that is causing difficulty for them and where they cant find this ‘motivation’ thing and so use that as an excuse not to do IT…………just forget looking for the reasons why you CANT do it and just get up and actually DO IT. Its just that simple.
No super powers required….no special level of motivation needed….just a commitment to yourself that you want to be the best you can with what you have at the time. AND JUST DO IT.
Thanks Craig. As always your timing is perfect!
I have a job I love, but lately have been feeling bored and unmotivated and couldn’t seem to get over it.
I’ve just realised, after reading your post, that the troughs are always there, but I think with society’s focus on instant gratification, we tend to see the low points as a sign that we should be doing something more fulfilling and exciting, instead of just riding it out.
From now on, I’m going to do my work ‘as if’ it is really interesting until the next surge of motivation kicks in!
My paradigm is a bit odd at the moment and I am trying to adjust.
Craig:
Cheers. I notice yo use the term ‘peaks and troughs’. I’ve always said, ‘peaks and valleys’. I like ‘troughs’ better; more impact, more impact. Henceforth, ‘troughs’ it is. Thank you very much.
Keep on keeping on and all my best.
Craig it seems I am the opposite of you I have moments of motivation and the rest seems to be resistance and I am not sure why. I know one of my favorite sayings is do it anyways but boy it sure takes a lot to get just a little done, do you have any suggestions on how I can get my motivation up? help!!!!
The direct line and video link you have to my mind is a little scary. Thanks. Again.
Kaz
When people learn (or realise) that they can actually do things they are not motivated to do and life is easier this way, it’s amazing what they can achieve. Just get on with it and stop waiting for “the moment”.
I have a question though. My partner doesn’t do everything he wants to. His response is “I’m lazy” which is pretty accurate but as far as I’m concerned, it’s not actually a good excuse. Obviously it’s more important to him to stuff around on the weekend than it is to learn a language or go for a bike ride and this is fine. He can do what he wants with his time. But he moans about not getting stuff done because of the curse of laziness.
So this morning when he said “Yeah, but I’m lazy” in response to something I was talking about I said “You are selectively lazy, you find the energy to do the fun and easy stuff”. This didn’t go down badly but it kind of killed the conversation.
My question is, how to coax someone into “just getting on with it” instead of not trying because they have decided they are lazy. For the sake of domestic harmony I’m not going to give him a sharp shock and tell him that he is getting exactly what he is choosing to get.
Is there something I can say or do that can help my fella realise that being lazy is not a life-sentence and he actually can be different if he wants to. Can I help him choose the alternative?
Craig, thanks for this.
As I have posted before, I nearly died last year and though partly out of my control..my weight and lack of exercise was definitely a contributing factor. I have joined a well know weight loss program, its all good healthy food, exercise etc. and I have lost just over 26 kilos since. Right now Im definitely in a trough. I have no intention of giving up as I have 30 kilos to go to get to a healthy BMI and basically if anything happens to me again, its not going to be because I have personally contributed to it!
Ditto about the direct line into our thinking, as stated above.
I hope its not too long until you have a weekend seminar in Victoria again. I might just get up the courage to book a place!
I have discovered in recent months, well OK nearly twelve months that motivation needs to be fed. It thrives on achievement and perseverance but it is a shy beast. If you think about it too much it hides. Plodding along with the doing of that which must be done brings often unexpected rewards. Your efforts will eventually get noticed often by complete strangers who will start to tell you that you motivate them
Been on a bit of a discovery journey lately which has been very exciting. Having had another anniversary of my very first discovery day (a birthday
) I was feeling great and then got a whack with the reality stick in the form of food poisoning.
Nothing like a good dose of the runs to bring you back to reality. (sorry about the poo reference but Craig started it)…
Anyway I was feeling particularly drained as you do (didn’t have a cork handy) but had not 1 or 2 but 4 presentations to prepare for…. I put it off for a couple of hours and in the end I just thought stuff it – the world is not going to wait for poor sick and tired Wombat….the show must go on!!! So I started about 11am and finished at about 2:30am, hadn’t eaten for about 30 odd hours by now so little energy to draw on….but I knew if I just got on with it I would feel better the next day and hey presto…I did !! Now all preso’s done and feeling alive again.
Moral of the story..
1. You can really do a lot even when you think you can not
2. Listen to the commitment guy…he knows what he is talking about. But you already knew that
3. “messy, uncomfortable, and painful” just about sums up my experience this week….must keep corks handy for next time.
W.
i am nearly at the 40kg loss milestone for this last 12 months… the thing thats keeps me goen is just to get up every day and do what i have been doen no matter how i feel. also learning that now i’m close to my goals with fitness and fatness, i need to start setting new goals so i dont become complacent and stagnate. self esteem maintainence is high on the list along with further education and finances. tnx for the input craig.
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