The Myth of Motivation

Have you ever wanted to do something, but didn’t feel like it, so you didn’t do it?

Have you ever put off something you should do but didn’t have the motivation to do it? 

Of course you have! We all have experienced that, and more.

To be successful in reentry you will have to do a lot of things you don’t feel like doing but knowing how to get things done, even when you don’t want to do them, is a huge part of building a successful life and getting ahead after you’re released. 

The Myth of Motivation

Everything boils down to motivation, not “feeling motivated.” I believe two things about motivation:

1. Waiting to “feel” motivated is the enemy of motivation. 

2. Motivation is something we usually don’t feel at the beginning of a task, but we begin to feel motivated after we start doing something. I call that THE MYTH OF MOTIVATION. 

The Myth of Motivation says that we never feel like doing something we don’t want to do until we start doing it. 

If you wait to “feel” motivated to do it you will never do it and you’ll remain stuck, without moving forward.  Of course, it’s easy to do the things we enjoy and want to do. I want to watch TV.  I want to play on the internet, I want to pig out on ice cream and chocolate.  I want to sleep in. I want to smoke. I want to drink. Or I don’t feel like working out today. I don’t feel like paying bills. You get the idea. 

What are some things you ALWAYS feel like doing, no matter what?

Are they healthy or good for you, or are they bad for you?

How often do you :

• Feel like eating right?
• Feel like quitting smoking?
• Feel like quitting drinking?
• Feel like working harder than everyone else so I can get ahead?
• Feel like reconnecting with my kid I haven’t talked to?
• Feel like apologizing to that person I argued with?

What are some things you should be doing but you don’t feel like doing?

What things in your life that you missed out on because you didn’t “feel” like doing them?

Feelings are not always our friends.

John Maxwell (the leadership guru and best-selling author) says: “You can sooner motivate yourself into feeling than you can feel yourself into motivation.”  In my opinion, I think most people believe they need to feel like doing something in order to do it. 

That’s how we get trapped by the Myth of Motivation!  You can’t wait to feel like doing something before you do it, or you never will do it!