The single biggest reason cited for not competing tasks is the lack of motivation. If you're like everybody else in the entire universe (and you are) then at one point or another you will lack the motivation to do something. Welcome to the club. There are about 6 billion human members plus a few million animals as well (that's right animals can be lazy too).
Whilst a lack of motivation may not be your biggest challenge personally, it is one of the biggest challenges that students face as they try to find the strength of character to push through high school and College.
If motivation is not present in the individual, simple uncomplicated tasks have a nasty habit of becoming huge complicated problems - ones that can end up being avoided for days (and sometimes weeks or months!) So how does this happen?
Well, when you feel 'motivated', it's easy to stay focused over a long period of time and work diligently towards your goal. However, when you are not feeling 'motivated' you will have virtually zero focus and the chances you will even start the task are minuscule. Either that or it will require someone threatening you with something before you'll get started on your work (like a parent taking away your iPad or a teacher removing you from the class). That's not a great way to get motivated!
Generally, motivation comes in the form of fear. As in, what will happen if I don't complete this task? What will happen if I don't hand in my paper on time? What will happen if I don't do what my parents say? What will happen if I don't go to school? It's the fear of negative consequences that really motivates us as a human race. It's the way we are conditioned to behave. Why? Because it creates order.
You see, if there was no negative consequences what would happen to the world? Would everyone still behave themselves in an orderly way? Or would there be total panic and disorder? How would the world run itself if there was no negative motivation? It's actually a scary thought!
Fear of negative consequences has its place in the world. It's important in its own way - however it should absolutely not be the ultimate reason for you to do whatever it is you do each day. It should not dictate your behavior. That's not living. That's just "existing".
Acting only out of fear of consequences will not lead you to a positive and happy life. It will lead to "existing" - and existing is not the level of motivation you will need to take you to where you really want to go - all the way to the top (of whatever it is you want to do)!
True motivation is when you don't act out of fear, but instead you act out of possibilities. You act out of the possibility of what doing the task may bring to your life. The possibility of wealth (there are more forms of wealth than just monetary), the possibility of health, the possibility of love, or the possibility of some form of prosperity. This is the entire foundation for positive motivation - and the real kicker is that it's more powerful than any form of negative motivation could ever be.
So the next time you are doing something (anything) ask yourself "Am I acting out of fear, or out of possibility?" You may be very surprised by the answer.
Whilst a lack of motivation may not be your biggest challenge personally, it is one of the biggest challenges that students face as they try to find the strength of character to push through high school and College.
If motivation is not present in the individual, simple uncomplicated tasks have a nasty habit of becoming huge complicated problems - ones that can end up being avoided for days (and sometimes weeks or months!) So how does this happen?
Well, when you feel 'motivated', it's easy to stay focused over a long period of time and work diligently towards your goal. However, when you are not feeling 'motivated' you will have virtually zero focus and the chances you will even start the task are minuscule. Either that or it will require someone threatening you with something before you'll get started on your work (like a parent taking away your iPad or a teacher removing you from the class). That's not a great way to get motivated!
Generally, motivation comes in the form of fear. As in, what will happen if I don't complete this task? What will happen if I don't hand in my paper on time? What will happen if I don't do what my parents say? What will happen if I don't go to school? It's the fear of negative consequences that really motivates us as a human race. It's the way we are conditioned to behave. Why? Because it creates order.
You see, if there was no negative consequences what would happen to the world? Would everyone still behave themselves in an orderly way? Or would there be total panic and disorder? How would the world run itself if there was no negative motivation? It's actually a scary thought!
Fear of negative consequences has its place in the world. It's important in its own way - however it should absolutely not be the ultimate reason for you to do whatever it is you do each day. It should not dictate your behavior. That's not living. That's just "existing".
Acting only out of fear of consequences will not lead you to a positive and happy life. It will lead to "existing" - and existing is not the level of motivation you will need to take you to where you really want to go - all the way to the top (of whatever it is you want to do)!
True motivation is when you don't act out of fear, but instead you act out of possibilities. You act out of the possibility of what doing the task may bring to your life. The possibility of wealth (there are more forms of wealth than just monetary), the possibility of health, the possibility of love, or the possibility of some form of prosperity. This is the entire foundation for positive motivation - and the real kicker is that it's more powerful than any form of negative motivation could ever be.
So the next time you are doing something (anything) ask yourself "Am I acting out of fear, or out of possibility?" You may be very surprised by the answer.
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