Motivation is such a fleeting emotion. It creeps up one fine day, when you are utterly frustrated with everything in your life; when you are depressed and desperately want a change in your life. It is this time, when motivation is at its peak.
You decide to make your life better. Yes. I will do it. First thing tomorrow!!!
Surprisingly, for once, tomorrow does come. A bright new day, with your motivation still high, though not at its peak as it was the day before. But it is high enough to want to chase your dreams. This motivation is addicting - it makes you believe that you are capable of anything. It makes you feel good about yourself. It makes you believe that you are capable of achieving all your ever wanted. Today, you are ready to work hard like you have never done before.
It's a wonderful feeling, while it lasts. That's the catch - I think. For a lot of people, it doesn't last. Motivation was at its peak, of course it will fall. But how much it falls makes all the difference in our life. I think that for a lot of successful people, it would fall, but stabilize at a level where it still pushes them to work hard, everyday. Probably that's how magic happens in their lives. For the rest of us, it falls so low, that it isn't long before you are back where you began - depressed, and frustrated, but a burning desire to change your life. With these thoughts, you are once again at the peak - only to fall back again ...
I feel that to 'stabilize' your motivation at a level which will push you everyday, is a mind game. You love the adrenaline rush that comes with the peak. Those feelings are awesome! I love feeling like I am a superwoman capable of anything in the world! But how do you convince your brain that stability is good, that it is important for your success?
For some time now, I have been trying to keep the motivation at a constant level. It is tough - extremely tough. More often than not, I feel de-motivated because of my bad habits. My brain is tuned to imagine the worse scenarios and is an absolute expert at negative thinking. Which is why I often catch myself thinking - "Oh, this isn't working, what's the point!", or "I am happy, I don't want to do these things!" Of course, I am not really happy; but who can explain this to the overbearing voice in my head which only likes instant gratification!
Motivating yourself on a daily basis is tough - and all those quotes like "If you feel like quitting, remember why you started" don't help me at all! Most of the time, why I'm on the downward slope of motivation, I am enjoying (?) the ride so much that I cannot remember why I ever started. After all, why would I want to eat healthy to lose weight when I can eat cake now and forever and feel SO GOOD!!!!
I suppose learning to keep up my motivation always and working hard is another thing to do before I transition into a 'proper adult'. Until then, I will be enjoying the up and down rides on the slopes of Motivation!