Hands up if you think that "getting motivated" is as simple as clicking your fingers or tapping your shoes together? It's not that hard at all is it? You just listen to a motivational speech or read a motivation quote (or read an article like this one!) and you realize that life is short and you need to get out there and have an amazing life! You start taking massive action. You're getting things done. You're working towards your life ambition. You're motivated! But then a week goes by and you realize that life is long and painful and everyone and everything seems to be on a mission to suck the motivation out of you. Sound about right?
Real motivation (as in, you wake up every single day and you feel energized to take massive action towards what you want to achieve) occurs when you have a great desire to achieve something, you fully understand your ultimate destination and you're willing to do whatever it takes to get there. How many of you feel that way every day?
Let's break this down into smaller parts so it's easier to understand. If you believe that completing a certain task will be useful and beneficial to you, you will naturally place a higher value on completing that task wouldn't you? For example, if you want to learn how to speak Italian then taking an Italian class is very relevant and you would have a great interest in participating.
On the other hand, if you feel the task does not benefit you, it is very difficult to see how or why you would want to complete it. You will have no motivation to complete the task. You are also likely to rebel against any tasks that you perceive have no benefit to you. For example, if I want to learn to speak Chinese but I'm put in Spanish class, my motivation to complete the tasks required to pass the class will be very low. Why? Because there is no perceived benefit. I don't want to learn Spanish, I want to learn Chinese!
So what are we left with? Clearly, when what you are doing isn't consistent with what you are trying to achieve in life you will feel no motivation. As such, it is clear that what really matters is understanding why completing each task helps to get you closer to what you want to achieve. When you understand why you should do something and how it will help you, your motivation won't be an issue.
If you want to feel motivated then whatever you are being asked to complete should take you one step closer to your ultimate ambition. It's never about the task itself - it's about the overall outcome. Isn't it? Sure you can say things to yourself such as, "I want to get good grades" but the real driving force is what the good grades will result in. Getting into a great college or a great university, getting a job you really enjoy, or learning how to one day build your own business are all reasons to power your way through mundane subjects or tasks because if you are being truly honest what you are really trying to do is give yourself the best chance to live the life you want to live - aren't you?
Now is the time to think about your final destination. What do you really want to achieve in your life? If you had to imagine your perfect life, what would it be like? Do you imagine a big house, a big bank balance or a big family? Would you like to travel the world? Would you like to create art all day? Would you like to live in the forest? In doesn't matter what you want because there will still be steps required to get there. So what is your ultimate ambition?
If you have to complete your Maths homework in order to get a good grade, in order to pass the subject, in order to pass the year, in order to get into College, then just do your Maths homework! Remember, it's not about the task; it's all about your grand ambition. Start by creating an ambition that is meaningful to you and then do what you have to do to achieve it. Now is the time to ask yourself, what is your grand ambition and what are you willing to do to get it?
Real motivation (as in, you wake up every single day and you feel energized to take massive action towards what you want to achieve) occurs when you have a great desire to achieve something, you fully understand your ultimate destination and you're willing to do whatever it takes to get there. How many of you feel that way every day?
Let's break this down into smaller parts so it's easier to understand. If you believe that completing a certain task will be useful and beneficial to you, you will naturally place a higher value on completing that task wouldn't you? For example, if you want to learn how to speak Italian then taking an Italian class is very relevant and you would have a great interest in participating.
On the other hand, if you feel the task does not benefit you, it is very difficult to see how or why you would want to complete it. You will have no motivation to complete the task. You are also likely to rebel against any tasks that you perceive have no benefit to you. For example, if I want to learn to speak Chinese but I'm put in Spanish class, my motivation to complete the tasks required to pass the class will be very low. Why? Because there is no perceived benefit. I don't want to learn Spanish, I want to learn Chinese!
So what are we left with? Clearly, when what you are doing isn't consistent with what you are trying to achieve in life you will feel no motivation. As such, it is clear that what really matters is understanding why completing each task helps to get you closer to what you want to achieve. When you understand why you should do something and how it will help you, your motivation won't be an issue.
If you want to feel motivated then whatever you are being asked to complete should take you one step closer to your ultimate ambition. It's never about the task itself - it's about the overall outcome. Isn't it? Sure you can say things to yourself such as, "I want to get good grades" but the real driving force is what the good grades will result in. Getting into a great college or a great university, getting a job you really enjoy, or learning how to one day build your own business are all reasons to power your way through mundane subjects or tasks because if you are being truly honest what you are really trying to do is give yourself the best chance to live the life you want to live - aren't you?
Now is the time to think about your final destination. What do you really want to achieve in your life? If you had to imagine your perfect life, what would it be like? Do you imagine a big house, a big bank balance or a big family? Would you like to travel the world? Would you like to create art all day? Would you like to live in the forest? In doesn't matter what you want because there will still be steps required to get there. So what is your ultimate ambition?
If you have to complete your Maths homework in order to get a good grade, in order to pass the subject, in order to pass the year, in order to get into College, then just do your Maths homework! Remember, it's not about the task; it's all about your grand ambition. Start by creating an ambition that is meaningful to you and then do what you have to do to achieve it. Now is the time to ask yourself, what is your grand ambition and what are you willing to do to get it?
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