True inner motivation helps you enjoy what you do every step of the way without feeling forced or restrained into doing something that you don’t want to do.
I think we all know we should be doing more, we know we spend too much time putting things off, but oftentimes, getting cracking on the tasks we need to finish, feels very daunting. And the very thought of getting to it and doing more makes us not want to do it.
While there is no real code for achieving inner motivation, I strongly believe that in order to excel at something or get better at it, you first need to understand it.
Types of motivation
There are two types of motivation – extrinsic and intrinsic.
Extrinsic motivation comes from the outside. When there’s the external pressure to complete something because your boss asks you to do it or if not doing it would not allow you to pass your exams, that is called extrinsic motivation.
Most extrinsic motivation cannot be sustained or falls away when there is no external pressure or value in doing those tasks.
As life gets busier doing things, the joy of doing the things that we need to finish diminishes and we’re left with a sense of lethargy, disappointment, and the fear of never getting it done.
We may suffer from a lack of intrinsic motivation when we postpone and procrastinate because we may not see the value in completing it or we don’t feel the joy while doing it.
On the other hand, intrinsic motivation is the joy in doing something you love, enjoy, and find fulfilling. It doesn’t need external factors to motivate you.
One of the advantages of finding intrinsic motivation is that you get more done in less time and it actually gets to be enjoyable and not like a chore.
When you are truly motivated, you are energized.
Inner motivation fires up your imagination and stimulates your mind.
One thing I noticed was that my writing became much better when I felt truly motivated because I was able to bring energy and enthusiasm into my work and be more effective.
Essentially when you’re intrinsically motivated to do something and have the desire to do more, it can make a radical difference in your life.
You may not notice the effects of it in the day-to-day but true progress is the result of the cumulative steps taken to reach your goals.
If you’ve come so far, ask yourself these questions:
Have you wished to know the secret to true inner motivation?
Have you felt like you’ve lost the drive to do something?
Have you felt like giving up?
A lack of inner motivation can look like being stuck in the head, fear of negative outcomes, unable to feel inspired, and unable to take the action that needs to be taken.
Are you looking for ways to guide inner motivation to produce the outcome you want with the least amount of effort and in the least amount of time?
Here are some of the best ways to get back to a strong sense of inner motivation if you’ve steered really far away from it:
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1. Do the things you like to do
Lean into the things that interest and excite you.
When you try to do something but your heart is set on something else, you lack the inner drive to do the task that you’re meant to do.
While we cannot always get to do only the things we like, it is important to keep aside some time every day to do the things we enjoy and that bring us joy.
If we are only focused on doing the things that seem like a chore, it is no wonder that we don’t feel motivated to do anything at all.
You may also have once felt the inner motivation to do something and then lost it as time went on. That’s when we move on to the next steps.
2. Focus on your Why
Why you do something is very important to realise and recognise.
How important is doing this for you?
If you seem to have lost interest in something, remind yourself of why you started doing it in the first place.
Many times, just remembering your purpose and coming back to the “Why” periodically will ignite the spark of motivation in you.
3. Reward the small things
Every task completed should be rewarded.
Don’t wait for big moments.
Don’t wait for everything to be completed before you reward yourself for the little things you get accomplished.
Let’s not wait until the end to celebrate our victories.
Celebrate each little moment that takes you closer to your goals.
Those small rewards every step of the way will spur you on to accomplish more.
Some people are motivated by “the stick” rather than “the carrot.” So, maybe denying yourself something if you haven’t completed a task may be the kind of motivation you need.
However, I would encourage you to stick to rewards rather than punishment. We should raise our awareness and self-esteem without putting ourselves down for not accomplishing our goals.
4. Commit to your tasks
Give yourself time to dream and brainstorm when you are working on a task.
Have an accountability partner who will support you as you navigate the sometimes long path that you have to take to accomplish what you set out to do.
When you commit to your task every day and look at it from a bird’s eye view, a lot of niggles will fall away and you will find yourself re-committed to your tasks.
5. Be in Gratitude
Say a prayer of gratitude every night for whatever you’ve accomplished throughout the day.
I can’t emphasize enough how gratitude plays a bigger role in accomplishing anything and pushing through your tasks.
By being grateful, we allow our energies to flow through to our task the next day and the next, instead of being stuck in a loop of negativity, shame, and guilt.
6. Review your plans and goals
Review your goals to understand if you still want to do what you set out to do, and why is it still important to you.
Periodically reviewing your goals will give you more clarity and purpose to raise your motivation.
7. Give yourself permission to walk away
After all the steps above, allow your motivation to be a choice rather than an obligation. Don’t be a slave to your tasks.
Acknowledge that you have the choice of not going after a task.
You don’t have to pursue it if it doesn’t feel right.
While this is easier said than done, especially if it’s a paying job, consider it as a sign to change if you’re constantly unhappy with what you’re doing.
Ask if this is the right thing for you.
While I’m not asking you to throw your job away to pursue an artist’s life, consider if you can add something that’s more meaningful to your life.
It could be something you can’t wait to get back to after you’re done with your daily paying tasks.
It could be something that can be sustained with the help of your regular job and that can be your extrinsic motivation to energise you and goad you on.
Recommit to and choose your tasks fully each day.
And if it really feels like a burden, think about what changes you can bring to your life to make your life more meaningful.
8. Acknowledge the duality within you
No one is perfect.
We are full of duality.
We are lazy as well as super achievers.
We could be organised as well as haphazard.
Stupid as well as brilliant.
You’ll always have both sides.
Accept who you are.
Accept both sides of you. You are human.
Shine both your light and dark and trust the moments of fear, anger, loss of faith that are an integral part of your humanity.
Free yourself from hiding your flaws so you don’t have to pretend.
Whatever you choose to do, is a contract between you and the task you set out to do.
Honour and love it for being in your life and dedicate yourself fully to seeing it accomplished.
Summary:
True inner motivation comes from self-awareness, an understanding of yourself and your flaws, and the ability to re-commit and realign to everything that’s going on in your life.
Life happens and things can come in between your life and your tasks.
But, if we remain cognizant of how we’re spending our time, if we reward ourselves suitably, give ourselves the time and space to do the things we enjoy as much as the things we have to do, we can find a balance that will automatically bring an inner motivation to accomplish everything that needs to be done.
Finally, remember to ask for ease as you navigate your life. You can always do something with ease or make it all a struggle.
The choice is yours!
Book Resources for you:
Leading you to a path of success and fulfilment by searching for and finding your whys:
Find Your Why BUY FROM AMAZON.IN
How to eliminate distractions and focus on the one thing that is the most important at this time:
The One Thing BUY FROM AMAZON.IN
Finding one’s purpose in life and the keys to lasting happiness:
Life’s Amazing Secrets BUY FROM AMAZON.IN
Practical tips for everyday well-being and making happiness an integral part of your life:
Happiness Express BUY FROM AMAZON.IN
Get rid of debilitating behaviours that will sabotage your goals:
Deep Work BUY FROM AMAZON.IN | AMAZON.COM
A habit developed the right way goes a long way in achieving a lot more than you can imagine:
Atomic Habits BUY FROM AMAZON.IN | AMAZON.COM
You can find all my books here at BOOKS.
I’d love to hear from you if you found this article useful!
You can write to me at sudha@sudhanair.com
