A few days ago, I saw a friend write about his philosophy of how to keep going when you’re not feeling very motivated. I liked the thought process he approached with it, but the nature of things like this is that no one can ever truly give you a one size fits all solution. Which is why I’m writing this post today. To remind people (including myself) of a very simple way to practice consistency and keep yourself accountable for thing.
I won't be the first, or second or even the third person that surfaces anyone’s mind if they were making a list of consistent people, but I think that recently, I haven’t done too bad myself when it came to showing up. The number one thing that truly matters and will have an effect on your desire or commitment to be consistent, as I've noticed lately is how tethered you are to your goals, and the implications of bailing on them.
Consequences or “taxes” can be very powerful motivations
Every time you want to stay to keep yourself accountable to your progress, you need to consider the taxes you'll pay if you slack. If you don't have a lot to lose for not staying committed, you more than likely won't. So ask yourself
Why are you hitting the gym? Is it for health? To look better? To feel better?
Why do you have to read a book everyday? Because your friends are readers? To learn from the experience of people you want to become? You have an English exam coming up?
Why should you meditate? To practice mindfulness? Cos people are doing it and you think it’s cool?
In each of these cases, consider what would happen if you didn’t do what you intended to do. Parents wake up early to work jobs they're not super excited about because the tax is that their family will suffer if they don't.
Often times we lose motivation to do the things we say we want to do because we lose sight of our whys, or they're just not strong enough. In either of these cases, your resolve will crumble.
I didn't plan to write a post today cos I wasn't motivated. But why I still did it anyways was because I remembered my why for being consistent again, and I understood that the consequence of not writing for just one day could be a trigger of my procrastination which could send me back to my days of zero energy for writing.
When you’re working towards something, the universe has a way of sabotaging it with friction. I don’t think this is bad. I think that this is necessary to separate which people want something just because from which people deserve it and should get it. Think of it like a weeding out process. A selection process of sorts. Every time you allow a lack of motivation hold you back, remember that you're being weeded out by natural selection.
So everyday it feels like you’re not motivated, go back to your wall of questions. Do all your whys, because your those will be your reminder to lock back in.
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It is very easy to slack on things but it’s hard to be consistent. I saw a meme a while back that really stuck with me.
I’m not the best at doing everything but it’s hard either way. It’s hard to be consistent and stay in shape but it’s also hard when you get lazy and fat, it’s just a different kind of hard because you’re miserable and out of shape.
I’m not able to be the best at staying on track but I definitely try my best to get into good rhythms and consistency for things so that I can give it my best each day.
I think it’s important that we remain focused and dedicated but give small opportunities to relax when we can. A 75/25 balance!
Choose your Hard!!!!!
Absolutely. I know I could use a bit of relaxing every now and then. Everything that just gets too much sometimes.
So this is what it's called? 😂... Whenever I don't feel motivated to write, I quickly remind myself of the consequences of not writing. Thanks to @merit.ahama who spelt it out virtually for me 😂... Now I try to write at least one post daily.
Haha, I try to write at least once daily now myself. I've been gone for a very long time and only recently became active again, so I don't want to disappear again.
Lol, how did Merit spell it out for you? Maybe the spelling will help me build my vocabulary too😂😂😂
Shr said if I don't write, I'll miss out on the reward... 😂
Consequences is a great motivation, even if you don't have the strength to carry out the task once you remember the consequences you will feel motivated immediately.
Yes. But like I said, if your consequesnces are not strong enough to deter you from slacking, you'll still fall off even with them.
I write posts even the days I'm not motivated, but I've lost touch of how well I use to write, life has happened in many ways, and my concentration has been marred by the too much issues I have to face, but being motivated even with niggling circumstances can be a blessing
Man, you're actually trying a lot. You're one of the people I draw motivation from when I'm looking for paragons of consistency. Everything will be fine and you'll get on top of your writing once again. I pray this for all of us.
Your contents are good as well, I think overtime everyone that's active here has learned from someone. I'm glad you've found my stuffs inspirational
@tipu curate
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Thanks, man.
Arguably, the moments we don't feel like doing the things we need to do is the best time to do the things we need to do. A quote that stuck with me and which I often recall whenever I experience such moments is "actions aren't perform for their own sake or for the end result or outcome, but for the growth of the will." willpower is something that I'm keen on developing :)
I'm sure this comment is what TikTok saw on my phone and decided to flood my fyp with topics centering around willpower last night. You're very right, man. The goal is to strengthen my will power slowly to do the hard things.