What a deceptive word. The web defines it as “the general desire or willingness of someone to do something” or “ the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way”.
It’s a deceptive word because we tend to attribute our successes to things we were motivated to do. If we don’t feel motivated, we tend not to do them, because we assume that without motivation, we won’t put our “heart and soul” into the work required. So the outcome will be poor.
What is interesting about life, and the traction we get in working towards our dreams, is that a lot of what needs to be done to be successful, hinges more on personal discipline rather than motivation.
Routines, follow through, second and third calls, detailed analysis, thoughtful ideation, or late night meetings (to name a few) are all things that must be done over and over. They are all necessary activities that must repeat themselves over and over, long after the motivation to accomplish something first appeared.
So I find that, invoking the need to be motivated to do something very short-sighted (therefore deceptive) and not sustainable, over the long journey to achieving something of substance.
Motivation has an emotional component to it that dies out with time. The drudgery of the work needed to be done to achieve something can only be strengthened with personal discipline.
So don’t be deceived the next time you use either phrase “I am motivated to…” or I am not motivated to….”. They either provide you with a short burst of energy that makes you feel good in the moment or gives you an excuse not to try.
Leaving you to face reality and the many difficult things you need to do regularly in order to realize your dreams.