The Motivation Trap And How You Can Avoid It

Motivation moves us forward, it makes us feel like we can achieve our dreams, and it helps us fight for what we strive for. The inspiration you feel when you are motivated can be fascinating. Anything seems possible when you are motivated. However, many people fall into the motivation trap when they no longer feel as strong and full of illusions as they did in the beginning.

When we lack motivation, we doubt ourselves. And when we try to do something about it, we find that we don’t know where to start.

What is motivation?

According to British psychotherapist and doctor Russ Harris , lack of motivation is impossible because everything we do requires motivation. In a sense, we do things to achieve something or to grant our desires.

Take a look at the following actions:

• To have a conversation
• Eating a muffin
• drive
• Telling someone that you feel sick
• Talk to someone on the phone
• Sit on the sofa
• Read a book or talk to someone about something

All of these actions have a purpose and a motivation, even when we are not aware of them ourselves.

So what is motivation? According to Harris, it is a desire to do something. Feeling motivated is neither a magical thing that makes you do things nor a divine inspiration. Motivation is simply the pursuit of wanting to do something.

A little example

Let’s say you’ve been writing a novel for months, but now you lack the motivation to keep working on it. You don’t find time to write and you are always tired when you come home from work. As a result, you spend your free time online, talking, or just lying on the sofa.

In this situation, your desire to just lie on the couch is greater than your desire to write. You want to write, but you feel too tired. Then you should ask yourself the following question: Why am I lying on the couch or just spending my time online?

Maybe it’s about relaxing, feeling comfortable, and good for the short term, because you don’t have to think about writing. In the long run, however, this will not help you achieve your dreams. So when you say that you are not motivated to do something, you mean that you want to do something important for yourself, but you lack the energy, confidence and happiness to do it. So if you think you are tired, insecure, or lazy, you will not start working on things.

What is the motivational trap?

If you view motivation as a feeling, you will feel stuck. If you are carefree and happy, you will say that you are motivated. However, when you are depressed and unhappy, you will say that you are unmotivated. Why?

The answer is simple. The feeling of motivation leads you into a trap as you try to experience the right feelings before you start something. This can leave you feeling stuck waiting to feel those emotions. This is known as a motivational trap.

If you view motivation as a desire rather than a feeling, you can change your behavior. You are able to see what your heart desires and understand what motivates you. You also differentiate between wishes that you approach the wrong way and those that help you achieve your goals.

It is up to you whether you want to lead a life that is avoiding things or that is determined by your values. Don’t forget that one of the basic instincts of humanity is a desire to feel happy. Hence, it can be difficult to overcome. However, you can choose to act on what you believe in. You don’t need to feel motivated, just do the things you do with dedication.

According to Harris, engagement is the main thing as motivation comes later. So the actions come first, and then the feelings. It is much more satisfying and enriching to act according to your values ​​and principles. It is worth mentioning at this point that the emotions or feelings do not always have to occur, since feelings do not contain any guarantees.

The motivational trap and what your mind is telling you

The motivational trap comes in the form of messages on social media, books, and people always developing strategies to help them feel motivated. There are two concepts that you will often hear: discipline and willpower. And if you believe that, you’ve fallen into the motivational trap.

You will try to find this magic formula to help you feel motivated instead of committing yourself to action. If you don’t find it, you will stop doing what is important to you because you lack the discipline to do it.

If you think about it, you will see that discipline and willpower are ways to commit yourself to your values. It’s about doing what it takes to get what you want, even when you don’t always feel like it.

You have to discard the belief that motivation comes suddenly. Instead, nurture your commitment to your goals. Don’t forget that no matter how you feel at the moment, you have to be coherent with what you believe in. Once you have this habit, you will always have the discipline or willpower to do it.

So it is time to stop waiting for motivation and commit to your goals. Only then will you feel the desire to move forward and work hard to make your dreams come true.