You have a plan. You have a strong desire to see improvements in your life. You are ready to embark on an important, meaningful and wonderful journey. However, you know that in order to make it from today to the tomorrow you have envisioned it's going to require a level of determination and consistency with which you really aren't accustomed.
In order to build that commitment, you will need to find powerful sources of motivation to keep you on track. You can tap those sources by spending time every day engaging in proven motivation exercises. The trick, however, is going to be separating a great technique from some less meaningful and lasting motivation exercises.
There are many "artificial" motivation exercises out there and it's easy to find yourself engaged in efforts that manipulate more than they motivate. What do we mean by this? Let's draw a clear line between motivation and manipulation to develop a clearer understanding.
Motivation can be understood as a strong, heartfelt desire. It usually arises after a great deal of introspection and a development of what matters most to a person. Motivation is real and lasting. It may be influenced by extrinsic factors, but it always dwells within the individual.
Manipulation, on the other hand, is the process of convincing someone to feel a certain way. This may involve persuasive techniques such as hitting emotional "buttons" or using exaggerated claims and ultra-positive hype to create a feeling of capability. It is artificial and superficial. It may be temporarily inspiring, but it lacks the internal resonance that makes real motivation so very powerful.
Obviously, we want to use motivation exercises that cultivate real motivation and avoid the shallow efforts that merely manipulate us into feeling good for a short period of time. Whereas motivation can produce lasting life changes, manipulation generally leads to emotional highs quickly followed by low periods that lead us to surrender our goals or to seek out more high-hype manipulation in order to "keep going."
How can you distinguish between real motivation exercises and manipulative impostors? There are a few techniques that should help guide you in the right direction.
First, ask yourself whether the motivation exercises under consideration are truly reflective of your own personal beliefs and personality. Try to look at them objectively before becoming involved and determine whether they are really "you" or if they have appeal only because they hold out the promise of motivation. You only need to involve yourself in motivational exercises that connect to you on the deepest levels.
Second, if you have tried a particular exercise, ask yourself whether the messages you took from your involvement helped you to do your very best throughout the entire day or if their effects seemed to "wear off" as time passed. Most manipulative exercises don't have a great deal of longevity. They may seem inspirational for a short period of time, but the eventually leave an almost empty feeling behind as their power wanes. True motivation that connects with you will be a source of power at almost any time. Thinking about good motivation exercises, even briefly, should serve as inspiration.
Third, try to approach the messages and strategies of motivation exercises with an eye toward logic. Motivation definitely involves more than pure logic, but every successful motivational exercise does have underpinnings that make sense. The success of a method shouldn't rely on the speaker's voice or rate of delivery. A good exercise won't be dependent on a gimmick. Real motivation will be based on a rationale, sensible foundation.
You understand that maintaining a constant level of motivation is an important component of positive change. You also recognize that strong motivation exercises can help you to develop that "can do" feeling. So long as you are prepared to separate motivation from manipulation, you can reach the future you have envisioned! Remember to choose exercises that match your personal feelings and beliefs. Assess the merits of motivation exercises by evaluating their long-term effectiveness. Finally, try to review exercises to see if they are premised on reasonable and logical foundations or if they rely upon gimmicks to "work their magic." If you apply those guidelines, you can develop the level of motivation necessary to reach your goals!
