3 Misconceptions on Motivation

Myth 1: You should be motivated continuously

Fact: While this might be true for some people, for most of us there are times when motivation wanes. There might be some obstacles along the way, challenges or complications that appear to stand in the way of reaching your destination. While some people become more determined, others might get disheartened. It is unrealistic to expect there won’t be moments when you might want to give up and go ‘back home’ to what is familiar. Remember that after the initial period there is often a time when the desire and enthusiasm diminishes. During these times it is especially important to keep the momentum going; keep that plane or pickup truck rolling! The key is to keep the momentum going even though part of the journey might be uphill at certain times. Remember to always keep the end in mind clearly and firmly.

Myth 2: Motivation is the same as using stength

Fact: When the going gets tough there might be moments when you have to put your shoulder to the grindstone. But if your journey is only powered by will billed power, you are likely to tire and it’s unlikely that you will succeed. If you are clear about why you want to reach your destination, together with a real desire to get there, you will use your inspiration than counting on stength alone rather. Strong desire and emotionally connecting to the enthusiasm of reaching your destination is far more powerful than using sheer stength. Without engaging your emotions and feelings (the subconscious and the limbic part of your brain), you have to work much harder. Inspiration is more powerful than perspiration.

Myth 3: When you are motivated it gets easier and easier

Fact: “The previous Gods may always come and challenge you at the border of the country that you will be leaving”. You want to shift something and move away from a current situation, in order to achieve a goal. For most people there comes a stage which is called the point of greatest level of resistance. It is often when you least expect it. All of a sudden something pulls you back and stops you from moving forward. This is often just before you are about to succeed. Why? Just like being tied to an elastic band, the additional you move aside the stronger the pullback. The point of greatest level of resistance occurs just before the elastic band breaks and you hurdle forward.

In psychology this is called a ‘pay off’ or a ‘hidden benefit’. At some point the ‘pay’ off, the ‘benefit’ of not ‘travelling’ any further motivates you more than the destination. Nicely engrained behaviors have a lot of pullback power. That part of you that is attached to the old behaviors will pull you back (especially after 3-4 weeks and then again at a later on stage) as it does not want to get rid of those ‘benefits’. When you want to move to a new way; a new world or a new country so to speak, the previous habits will often try to call you back. This is one of the most important aspects to understand in the motivation process, yet it is often not addressed in popular motivation information. Why would that part of you that just wants to ‘stay home’ and blob in front of the TV get excited and co-operate with another part of you that wants to actively pursue your goals? You have to negotiate with these various and often conflicting factors within yourself so they come on board. Once you understand and effectively tackle the pullback element, you are far more likely to succeed.