We always see motivation as something almost magical, an energy boost to do stuff that looks difficult for you. There's an argument that motivation doesn't last and it's discipline that you really need. Well hard to argue with that statement but motivation is not meant to last.
It comes and goes, that's how it is. Sometimes without any quote or words from anyone you can wake up randomly motivated and then there are days where you wake up very down. But you need motivation if you're going to tackle things on a daily.
Motivation is sort of like going for a bath. When you take a bath, you’re not clean for the rest of your life are you? You need to do it over and over. Some shower once or twice but you need to do it on a daily to keep being hygienic.
It's the same thing with motivation. You also happen to read words of motivation everyday, or watch a video that inspires you to keep going. I personally have songs I play every morning to get me motivated to do the most in the day.
It is an every day affair, or with some frequency at least, because eventually you run out when you don't get yourself motivated all the time.
Like I said before, there are days that you wake up and feel energized. You want to do everything and you don't even feel tired. And then some days you wake up and you don’t want to do anything at all. Even lying down makes you tired.
That a normal thing. Nothing is wrong with you if you're experiencing that. It only means that you are a human being and your motivation is not something that’s there all the time, so you have to find a way of getting it back when it goes away.
Some people wait for motivation to change their mood, the way a pie in the sky optimist waits for it to start raining money. Money will never rain on you, so forget about waiting.
You cannot wait forever to get motivated. You need to first be doing things in order to create that motivation you need to continue. Perhaps you read a little quote that gives you a warm feeling, that's why I visit quote sites more often these days.
Maybe you call a friend who gives you a good pep talk. Perhaps you hear a tune and it inspires you to be on the go because your work can get boring if it's the same routine. These small things help a lot.
They are to the mind what soap and water are to the body.
Plus, motivation is most effective when it turns into a habit. If you do one kind thing each day, no matter how small, it becomes easier. There’s no need to be Superman. You only need to start, you don’t have to feel like it. That is the real secret, and then, take the unsexy steps and the little ones and motivation will come climbing back.
Motivation doesn’t stick around. But that doesn’t mean it is worthless. It only means we need to renew it, like bathing, eating and sleeping. We don’t seem to be resentful or obsessed with them. We just do them. So see motivation in the same light. Do it every day and you’ll remain clean in your mind, not just your body.