How to Overcome a Lack of Motivation

Motivation is a fickle foe that lets you down, leaves you stranded, unsupported, and betrayed.

Learn how to see motivation for what it is and understand why you don’t need it and shouldn’t be waiting for it to return before working on your dreams and goals. We will explore:

The truth about motivation
Is motivation an emotion?
What is motivation and why do we think we need it?
Why you should ditch motivation
Motivation steals our dreams
Replacing the motivation mindset
Living without motivation

Read on to learn how to create your dreams without being motivated.

The truth about motivation

I want you to look at motivation differently.

In fact, I don’t want you to be motivated.

I want you to see motivation as the enemy.

I mean, seriously, when was the last time motivation had your back?

Or showed up when you needed to finish that presentation, or weed the garden, or do your taxes?

Do you have unrealized dreams and ambitions, a handful of projects you’ve started on but never finished?

Did you think motivation would be there to support you because you wrote your dreams down on paper and decided that’s what you wanted?

When did you last wake up and break the promise you made to yourself that you would get up early, go for a run or spend 30 working on that book you’ve been meaning to write for the last five years?

This morning? How did that work out for you?

Is motivation an emotion?

Think about your emotions. You feel them, right?

You feel bored, you feel happy, you feel depressed, you feel excited. And so on.

How often, when you know you need to hit the gym, write your business plan, or do the thing that’s going to move your life closer to your dreams, do you say to yourself, “I don’t feel motivated right now”, and so you don’t do the work?

Imagine yourself feeling happy, or content, and life is good.

Happiness comes and goes, just as sadness does.

Motivation is no different: it’s an emotion, and it’s completely and utterly unreliable.

In fact, I think it is the most unreliable of all emotions, and it shouldn’t be trusted. EVER!

What is motivation and why do we think we need it?

Motivation is the lie we tell ourselves every time we procrastinate.

Like turning down a night out with your friends because you want to stay home waiting and hoping that the person you dated two weeks ago who still hasn’t called but had such crazy chemistry with might just show up at your door.

So you stay in.

You mope.

You do nothing.

And your dreams are cast aside.

We make excuses for not doing the work, not taking action, not getting clear on our goals.

I didn’t work on my dreams because I didn’t have motivation and I falsely believe I need to be motivated to take the next steps.

What a load of tosh.

Why you should ditch motivation

Why are you waiting for something you don’t need?

That uses you when it feels like it then dumps you just as you feel fully acquainted with it again.

Motivation lets you down.

It ghosts you and then gives you a little hope by showing up one day, and you work on your dreams or goals like crazy.

You think you’ll wake up to it the next morning. But then you find it’s gone; it has deserted you yet again!

And while motivation is gone, you put your dream to the side and wait for it to make an appearance before you take action.

Motivation steals our dreams

When motivation disappears it also takes your dreams with it. It is not only unreliable but also a thief!

If you had someone in your life who ghosted you, was unpredictable, was never there when you needed them, stole your dreams and ambitions, and breadcrumbed you, how long would you tolerate it?

If motivation was a guy your best friend was dating, wouldn’t you tell her to dump the dude?

It is time that we booted motivation out of our lives for good.

Replacing the motivation mindset

Every time you think to yourself, I don’t feel motivated to do it right now, I want to start switching your mindset.

As soon as you think about it, remind yourself that motivation is the enemy.

The enemy doesn’t want you to lose weight and feel healthy and vibrant.

The enemy doesn’t want you to write that book and get out of your miserable, soul-destroying job.

The enemy doesn’t want you on your yoga mat, reconnecting with your heart and remembering the dreams it so desperately loves to crush.

And you’re going to do that thing to spite it.

Imagine you’re setting your alarm for 5.30 am and you promise to get up and work on your side hustle, write a chapter of your book, or go to the gym.

Are you assuming motivation is going to be ready to give you the feeling you need to get up and do it?

The truth is there’s very little chance it will be.

The only thing that’s reliably there is the next action you need to take.

And so you’re going to replace motivation with action.

Believe me, there’s always a next action, and action will never let you down.

Action is reliable, it builds confidence, steps that lead to goals, and makes dreams come true.

Living without motivation

If it helps, you can think of motivation like a former boyfriend or husband that you’re sticking two fingers up at.

You’re not going to let them drag you down and stomp on your dreams, are you?

You’ve moved on now, you’re living your best life. And when motivation does show up, ha, you don’t need it anymore.

Motivation: you’re dumped.

Go work on your dreams, you got this!