Stop overcomplicating motivation.
Here's one of the biggest lessons I've learned from Jocko Wilink:
"You can't fake bravery as an emotion.
You can fake being angry or upset or whatever.
But if you fake bravery when you're terrified, that's bravery.
Doing the thing in spite of being terrified IS what bravery is"
I realise that there is a parallel here with motivation.
I think people overcomplicate motivation.
They believe that motivation is some necessary precursor to doing the thing.
This optimal mental state when you feel ready to do it or like you want to do it or something.
But you can't fake motivation.
No matter how motivated you feel, if you don't do the thing, you weren't sufficiently motivated.
And even if you don't feel motivated at all and you do do the thing, that IS motivation.
That's why I prefer discipline to motivation.
Motivation is fleeting, it comes and goes.
Discipline is always there.
You don't need to want to go to the gym or meditate or walk your dog or have a difficult conversation with your partner.
You simply need to do the thing.
And by doing the thing, you shortcut the need for motivation entirely.
Go do the thing.
Chris Williamson | @chriswillx