
Hi everyone,
I want to talk about motivation today. I had a few conversations lately about how we can motivate ourselves and maybe also others. It is an important topic, right?
I think I am not shy to make changes in my life. I actually enjoy it very much and too much stability in one place kind of scares me. I think the way I motivate myself has a big role to play in this. When I have a decision to make about whether to do something, I think of a future time and ask myself ‘Will I think I should have tried it?’. The answer is overwhelmingly yes. To help this, I also ask myself ‘Will I keep thinking about this?’. The answer is often yes. So, in light of this, I almost always end up doing the thing. This applies to big as well as small things.
For example, let’s say I am thinking of a career change and I think it will be good for me. But I am hesitant because change is scary. Then, I ask myself: ‘How will I feel in 5 years?’ and I imagine myself in that state. This can apply to small things too, Let’s say I want to eat some pizza today and I haven’t had it in some time. I again ask myself ‘Will I be happy two hours after it? If I don’t eat it, will I keep thinking about it?’ (I am not endorsing eating excessive unhealthy food here but you get the point).
Another motivating factor for me is to ask: ‘Will people benefit from it?’. These people can be all humans or a friend of mine. If it will be, I go ahead and do it unless it will overwhelm me too much. This thinking has helped me take some important steps in life.
What is your motivating factor? How do you motivate yourself? Let’s discuss motivation.
Reblogged this on To Write or not to Write and What to Write.
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Betul, another really good post and I agree with your reasoning. I like to add that when you don’t get things done, sometimes getting MORE busy helps. It is counter-intutive, I know, but I have throughout my life observed that busy people get things done. Too much time on your hand makes you do…nothing.
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I had the same observation too! Once the brain gets into the working mood, it works more. Once it gets to the lazy mode, it gets even lazier.
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Really useful for me, I’m the kind of person who is scared of changes, and only in the last months I’ve started asking myself the same question as you: “Do I think I should have tried it?”. And the answer was yes most of the time, so probably my motivation comes from the willingness to do everything I’ve always postponed 🙂
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Make that a habit! You will enjoy it a lot! Once you finish everything you postponed, then you can start asking that question from the beginning.
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I will!
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My motivation varies with my energy so I try to work with that. For example I felt lethargic today so I read and researched my next project rather than pushing myself “not to waste time”. If I just got on with it I would have probs made mistakes and the result holds no passionate, both of which demotivate me in erms of future plans.
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Maybe there is a middle ground somewhere?
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Thinking “through” it helps. Most of us avoid that, and feel stuck afterwards. Great post!
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Yes it does! Thanks for reading and commenting!
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I still rely too often on negative motivation. I’m working on that but it’s hard to give up habits that work. And they do work, even if the side effects are dire. One thing I try to remind friends and family when we’re talking about change, when they’re dithering, is that time passes. You mentioned this too. In five years, it will be five years later. What will you wish you did?
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Very good points here! Time passes and we may have regrets. Can you give an example of a negative motivation that you use?
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Well, the eating disorder voice is pretty constant with those still, but I suppose things like when I wanted to get started re-upholstering the dining room chairs. I do everything in stages and days, but when the day came to finally start the recovering, I wanted to balk. But instead of being kind, my inside voice was hard: “Do you want people to think you can’t do anything? Other people do far more: prove you have value by doing at least one thing!”
That kind of stuff.
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A challenge is something that motivates me, knowing that I will emerge on the other side having gained something.
The wellbeing of my family and son is also motivating for me and trying to do my best for their wellbeing.
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These are very good motivating factors! Keep using them!
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I love the advice you gave about thinking from the perspective of 5 years me! It seems like we can dream beyond our comfort zones when we develop that perspective. 🙂 What personally motivates me is doing what’s aligned and authentic to me. I also love synchronicities from the universe!
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Oh, I love those moments too! That is a good motivating factor too
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Great post
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Thank you!
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Yes, thinking of the future is always a great thing. It works with alcohol for me. I just think: Will I like feeling like crap later? What about tomorrow’s hangover? And that’s helped me overcome the cravings. Thanks for this post!
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Yes, that is a great way to apply it! I am glad it works for you!
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It’s interesting that you wrote about this at a time when I needed this a lot! I’m usually the person who is terrified of change but recently I’ve been regretting some lack of action in the past on my part. And so I decided to try some things that otherwise I was too scared to go for! The timing is not the best, but I also know I don’t want to wait to find out any more, and whatever the results are, whether positive or negative, hopefully at least I can tell my future self that I can’t regret not trying! Thank you for this post, it encouraged me a lot more. 🙂 🙂
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I am glad it related to you! I was also not a change-lover, but I had to start from somewhere. It is kind of scary initially, but you will en up loving it, I am sure! It makes life a lot more exciting.
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Yes and also fills you with less regret in life!!! 🙂 🙂 I am glad to hear you started loving the idea of change which resulted in you motivating us for it as well! 🙂
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Let’s all do it!
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My motivation comes from time each morning in my sanctuary where I read the Bible, study devotionals, and pray. I ask God to help me plan my day. My prayer ends with “Help me be what you made me to be. Show me what you want me to do as I walk in Your Will.” Mapping out a plan for the day with God’s help keeps me motivated to fulfill those plans. Thank you for your post… it gave me food for thought because there are days when all the best laid plans do not get accomplished. But, I know God forgives me!
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This is a good point too! I like your prayer! It is very meaningful. And yes, we should also acknowledge that we cannot always accomplish all plans.
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Trying is a scary word indeed… but I think it’s mostly only applicable when we’re about to do something uncertain or we don’t like
I only have one goal for this year: get a full time job. As much as I enjoy freelancing, I could use some actual working environment as well. Meeting new people too
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These are good plans! I think too much uncertainty is not good, neither is too much stability. We should try to achieve a safe balance between them.
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Nice post.
Motivating post on Motivation…
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Thank you!
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I am similar in the way I motivate myself- I try to imagine life down the road if I had picked each pathway. I analyze them a bit and am glad that I can see both ways before choosing one that better fits me. Great post 🙂
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I am glad it works for you too! It is a good strategy! Thanks for visiting:)
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My motivation comes from wanting to build a legacy
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That is a good one! What will your legacy be about?
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A book, turned into a series…something like goosebumps for adults
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I am sure you will do it!
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Interesting post. Thanks.
It’s true that when you view something from the future, you give it a perspective. You can easily see how important it is or not.
When I have to do something I know is important, I just start it, at least, and stop listening to the voice that tries to pull me back and whispers “What’s the use?”
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I try to do that too, because when you listen to that voice, its stories never end.
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It comes from one’s dating to ‘sail’, otherwise it will be status quo- no change 😐
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Yes!
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It comes from one’s daring to ‘sail’, otherwise it will be status quo- no change 😐
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The only thing that makes me motivated is that how I badly wanted it. :))
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That is a good one! Simple yet effective.
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Coincidently, I’ve just written a piece on motivation as well. At this critical time, apart from family and friends support, self-motivation is more important than ever. Simply because, we can hear all advices we want, ultimately the one who will make anything happen is us. Listen to our inner voice, find that courage to do something for ourselves.
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I see the best way of motivation is self motivation, the motivation that is intrinsically influenced. I love your work Betul
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I agree! Thanks for the nice compliment!
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https://goodlivewhatyoulove.wordpress.com/2021/01/14/best-hall-decor-ideas-with-minimum-budget/
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Thanks for sharing!
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Pls see my blog post
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You thought is so appropriate but sometimes we have to think a lot about our family before Taking any decision.. There r a lot of people out there who actually puts their family first n then their ownselves Or their dreams!! It’s a bit demotivating isn’t it? It would be great to hear from you on this topic too… There are a lot of things which actually makes us happy.. But the thought of others interrupts it!! What to do at that time??
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Yes, that is a very important topic and a tough situation. I did not focus on that part because I do not have a whole lot of experience in that and I did not want to talk about something that I did not first-hand experience. But I will give it some thought. Maybe
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Well it basically depends on family type!! Like if they’re way too conservative then there’s a need think over it!! Anyways supportive family n friends always help to get out of this situation or even they don’t take us to this kinda situation… Everything seems so smooth!!
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Yeah, I agree with you. Thanks for the suggestions and ideas. Good food for thought.
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Hmm!
Nice
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Thanks!
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A very well written piece. I agree with the thoughts you displayed.. Thanks for sharing. Have a nice day
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Thank you for visiting and commenting!
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I have enjoyed reading your piece, I was motivated to start doing my onw blogs has well, always loved to write but never found the courage to do so, thinking that what I wrote might not be perfect enough for someone to read, I have gathered that courage though, sometimes last week after I came upon your post. Thank you
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That is so nice to hear! I am glad my post resonated with you and helped you to do something! If you have a talent like writing, I think you should display it. The world deserves to see it!
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Thank you so much, I will do just that.
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I am glad!
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I’ve learnt over the years that less is more. Less is more when it comes to goals. Otherwise you flip flop through your working life looking for the next motivator. Well that’s my experience.
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I think that is my experience too. Less goals bring more focus and motivation.
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