The Essential Insight on Motivation: Just Take Action
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Understanding Motivation
Recently, I have been reflecting on the concept of motivation. After delving into various blogs, books, and videos, I've come to realize that there’s a fundamental aspect of motivation that we often overlook. This oversight is the reason many of us struggle to accomplish our goals. Instead of seeking complicated solutions, we should recognize that the answers might be simpler than we assume.
While consuming all this content can be valuable, what truly matters is often overlooked. To illustrate this point, let’s consider a story from my experience.
When I was teaching guitar, one of my students would often arrive for lessons unprepared. He consistently found it challenging to grasp the material we had covered, particularly from the previous week. The reason for his struggle became clear to me immediately.
“Did you practice?” I inquired.
“No,” came his reply.
“Why not?” I pressed.
“I was busy with other things. I just didn’t feel motivated,” he answered.
“Then why do you come here?” I asked.
“To learn guitar. It’s something I’ve always wanted,” he explained.
“Then practice. You need to do it repeatedly,” I told him.
“What do you mean?” he asked, puzzled.
“Play the guitar. Improvement requires effort. There’s no shortcut.”
Surprisingly, he embraced this advice. He became one of my most dedicated students, consistently showing up eager to learn and improve.
A few years later, I ran into his mother at the mall.
“He wants to express his gratitude for your motivation,” she said.
“There’s no need for that. He motivated himself,” I replied. “He had the desire to learn, so he acted. He didn’t give up.”
Why We Struggle with Self-Motivation
The truth is, we often fail to motivate ourselves because the tasks we want to undertake seem daunting. Learning to play the guitar was challenging for me, but I persevered. I practiced daily and made sacrifices because that was my goal. There was no alternative to learning; I could fantasize, but ultimately, I had to take action.
My student had to embrace this same principle. No amount of encouragement or suggestions from me would have helped if he didn’t commit to playing his guitar. Fear often holds us back.
What if I fail?
What if you succeed?
We mistakenly believe we need motivation to write, when in reality, we just need to write. We think we need motivation to lose weight, but really, we just need to take that first step. We tell ourselves we require motivation to launch a business; the truth is, we just need to begin. The same goes for learning about investing—just start educating yourself about finances.
Stop Overthinking and Start Acting
Last year, I spent nearly the entire year contemplating quitting drinking. Ultimately, all I had to do was stop. While some may require medical assistance to achieve this, I managed to give it up. I could have read countless articles about quitting or watched videos about what life might be like without alcohol, but the act of quitting was what truly mattered.
We often search for that elusive spark of motivation, but what we really need is to take action and observe the results. Each day, I take a step in my writing career by simply writing. I choose sobriety daily by abstaining from alcohol. Without these actions, I would remain stagnant.
My student took action by picking up his guitar.
Avoid Idleness
Dreams do not manifest on their own. Success in any area requires proactive steps. At times, the process is challenging, and failures are inevitable, but taking action will lead to progress. The essence of motivation is you; it’s the reflection staring back at you in the mirror. The only obstacle you face is yourself. Progress is made one step at a time.
So, take that step and embrace the journey. You never know what opportunities await you.
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