Motivation = Clarity

Let me put it straight; I do not believe in motivation. I even take it further and claim that any motivational speaker or motivational book is a product of great marketing. Their impact never lasts. For me, it is straightforward… You either want to do something or don’t. When you want to do it, you will do it; when you do not want to do it, you will not.

When people say they lost motivation, I understand they no longer want to do it. However, many claims to lack motivation for what they want to do. When coaching, I realized one thing about those people. What they are missing is not motivation; it is clarity.

Think about the last time you thought you lost motivation. And ask yourself, what made you think so? You will undoubtedly realize that other events have taken your attention in some other direction. As they seemed interesting, you could not say no, and you lost your focus. That is because you lack clarity.

When you have clarity, you know what you want to do and can easily say no to other opportunities, no matter how attractive.   

That is what happens when you are heading to the gym and your friends call you to watch the game of your favorite team. When you lack clarity about the original reason for going to the gym, you might quickly drop it and join your friends to watch the game. Once, twice …  Then you will claim that you do not have enough motivation to go to the gym.

When you know the original reason (for example, health issues) you can easily turn down your friends’ attractive offer and not feel guilty about it. Because you know why you are doing what you are doing, in other words, you have clarity. Or if you know that you go to the gym just for fun, and you think you will have more fun with your friends, then you would accept their offer and not feel guilty about it. Therefore, you would not claim a lack of motivation.

Next time you think you lost motivation about something, I kindly invite you to think about the original reason you initially wanted it. Check how clear it is for you. Ask yourself whether you really/still want to do it as much as you think.

You will see that honest answers will bring clarity, and you will no longer have motivation issues.

Do you want to give it a try?