Motivation without Action is Wishful Thinking
By: Daniel Speiss
Tags: Action, Motivational, Thinking, Motivation, Motivational Speaker

How do we maintain a state of motivation and heightened energy for when we need to harness this energy the most when we need it?

Why is the topic of motivation is so popular? When we think about being motivated in life, it often comes from the desire to change our lives in a specific way. When there isn’t something we don’t think we like in our life, we are quick to want a change. We find that changing ourselves or a situation is difficult than we originally planned, and the thing we wanted to modify is left unchanged as a result. Why is manifesting so daunting?

We’re going to look at what makes motivation effective and ineffective, the dilemma around the traditional sense, and what you need to do in order for palpable changes to manifest.

Motivation is an interesting concept because there is so much built around your capability to do. There is a whole business built around motivating people, inspiring you to do the things you always dreamed of only to find that doing is easier said than done. Motivation without taking action is wishful thinking. What is the point of accumulating motivational energy if not do anything with it?

You could call this process the “motivational quick fix.” I’ve experienced this myself. I used to go to church, feeling capable of accomplishing during and after, only to find that it only helped me get motivated for a short time.

I see this motivational process all the time at churches and speaking events. There is a build-up of inspiration and empowerment which elevates people. At the height of this motivation, they leave these events with a sense of optimism. However, as I’ve seen and experienced myself, somewhere between a day to a couple of days, this energy subsides, only to leave you with where you started.

Going to events where we look to elevate our motivation makes sense. After all, people don’t typically resonate in this heightened motivational state for long periods. This insight brings us to a big question.

I think there are several conditions people can hope to do if they want to maintain a flow state of motivation. We can assume that the intention of being motivated is to create an action for the desired outcome. The problem is maintaining this state long enough to accomplish what it is you want to do.

Let's illustrate the conditions in an example. Let’s say you are looking to work out more to lose weight, having short term motivation isn’t enough to create a consistent change. Going to church or a Tony Robbins event will get you to show up, maybe a couple of times, but not enough to get the engine running indefinitely.

You need to create the mental, social, and physical environment for motivation to take root in order to bring your goals to fruition. Let’s use the example of going to the gym to lose weight. This will require an extended period of time unless you have the funds to go to a motivational speaking event every week to get a fix. This isn’t lucrative in any sense.

So, what can you do? Part of getting motivated is setting up the parameters to be in the state of motivation. Having people around you to support and share the same desires you have, an environment that warrants positive change, and a system that positively rewards you for creating action.

Why not have a cheerleader? Why not have someone push your accountability to do your goals? Why not hold personal self-expectations to pursue these goals? I think one of the best actions you can do to keep the motivation going is sharing your progress, or having someone be a part of the journey. Going to the gym every day and attempting to lose weight is a hard goal by yourself. Without some sense of support or system to keep you interested, to remind yourself why you’re doing this goal, you will most likely give up faster than you started.

By getting yourself in a state of doing more on average more often, you create the space for more opportunities to happen. If you are used to doing, and if you acclimate your body to be in motion, motivation is less of a far-reaching concept and more of a reality in your day-to-day life.

So next time you want to be inspired, or motivated to do something, did you create the environment to “do?” Are you in a state of action or paralysis? Is there someone you’re updating as you push forward on this goal?

Also, think about why aspire to become motivated for something that you aren’t truly moved by? You could argue why go to the gym and lose weight when you are happy with your body the way it is? My point is, without having a deep emotional and mental bond with the goal, you aren’t likely to pursue it for long unless you are constantly reinforced to pursue it through external means (someone telling you to desire it.)

Before you want to do something, even if you are convinced you want to pursue this goal, ask yourself if this is something that really speaks to you on a deep level. Do you really want (x) as a goal, or is it because John Doe is telling you to make it a goal? Is your goal to be great at snowboarding, or is it because everyone around you is snowboarding and you think conforming to the averages around you is legitimate?

Remember that the thought of doing something is easier than actually doing it. People love to romanticize their aspirations, but without action, it’s just a dream.

Always ask yourself where the desire is coming from. You will be able to tell how much motivation you could possibly maintain for this desire by how much it speaks to you on a deep level.

In summary, motivation is a powerful state to harness. Without the needed facilities like taking action, or creating an environment for change, accomplishing goals becomes a long and tedious journey. There is a difference between how you approach motivation, whether it be short or long term.