Motivation/Action - Grasshopper

Here's something I've noticed.

Most of us wait for motivation before we take action.

Unfortunately, that's usually a long wait.

We treat motivation like some mysterious visitor who shows up whenever it feels like it. It's like standing at a bus stop hoping a bus will arrive . . . even though no one's seen a bus there in years.

And because we think motivation has to come first, it becomes the perfect excuse.

"I'm just not motivated to exercise."
"I'm not motivated to clean up the yard."
"I'm not motivated to take the dog for a walk."

Pretty soon, motivation becomes our favorite escape word.

But here's the rub – as Shakespeare put it.

We've got the whole thing backward.

Motivation doesn't lead to action.

Action leads to motivation.

Think about how often you've sat in your favorite chair arguing with yourself over some chore you've been putting off. Let's say it's washing the car.

"Should I...or shouldn't I?"

The interesting thing is, debate almost never produces action.

It usually produces . . . more debate.

So instead of trying to win the argument in your head, interrupt it.

Just stand up.

Walk to the kitchen and pour yourself a glass of water.

Move something from one spot on the counter to another.

Do anything that gets you physically moving.

Now you might be thinking, "What does any of that have to do with washing the car?"

Absolutely nothing.

That's not the point.

The exercise isn't about washing the car. It's about teaching your brain that you're capable of taking action.

Once you've broken inertia, taking the next step becomes easier. And then the step after that.

Action creates momentum. Momentum creates motivation.??Action is the spark. Motivation is the flame.

The more often you practice this, the more automatic it becomes. You're building an action habit that doesn't stop to negotiate with itself and doesn't sit around waiting to feel motivated.

Because the opposite of inertia isn't motivation.

It's action.

And once action begins, motivation usually isn't far behind.

All the best,