Don’t Feel Motivated?  –  See.  Perceive.  Act.

Do you delay, former procrastinators, until you feel motivated?  Let’s be realistic.  Motivation may show up – and it may never show up.  An author told me he required himself to be at his desk writing at 8 a.m.  “Otherwise,” he said, “I’d be ‘inspired’ to go fishing.”

Emotions and self-control are both God’s design.  Yet in our fallen world, they often oppose each other.  We function well when we realize feeling and action do not have to match.  That is so freeing!  Diligence does not require feeling.  We act no matter how we feel because we submit to Holy Spirit control.  I recall this conversation: “But I don’t feel like taking the garbage out.”  “That’s okay.  You just need to do it.” 

A simple, realistic understanding of motivation can clear our minds of false beliefs and clear the way to fruitful living.

Motivation is that eager “I want to do this” good feeling that moves us to action.  Relying on motivation as the impetus for action is disastrous.  “I don’t feel like it” trumps action. 

Motivation is not a suitable strategy for accomplishing goals or forming good habits.  Why?

• Motivation is not consistent.  Habit building requires consistent repetition.  Accomplishment often requires steady application.
• Motivation is not reliable because it depends on our emotions.  Emotions are unpredictable and not a firm foundation.
• Motivation is difficult to produce on demand.  It’s hard to talk myself into a desire to do the job.  I may not even want to be motivated.
• Motivation sets us up for failure because enthusiasm decreases. (Notice:  As a behavior becomes habit, we do get less enthusiastic about it.  That’s because our brains are resisting the new behavior less and automating more – exactly what should happen for a good habit to form.)

Motivation does not have to precede action.  Feelings and actions do NOT have to match.  It is destructive to believe you have to feel motivated in order to act.  This leads to a limiting and frustrating life – for us and those around us.

We can choose better.

That’s why I appreciate mini habits.  They help us overcome the “no motivation” problem in a simple, quick way.  It’s time for a series on their how’s and why’s. 

The posts this month are based on Mini Habits:  Smaller Habits, Bigger Results by Stephen Guise.  He used mini habits to overcome his own personal resistance to action.  His experience and research have benefitted me and I gratefully pass on the basics to you.

A mini habit is a small positive behavior that you force yourself to do every day.  Force yourself?  Yes.  Now you see why a clear understanding of motivation is important.  But hang on… I assure you this is easy. 

Seeing a need, perceiving a simple way to meet it, and acting on it using a mini habit will help us all choose better.

In what area are you waiting for motivation?