Motivation.
This week I have had some discussions with parents and students regarding the need for motivating the student. This is the same esoteric motivation rainbow that we all chasing to reach our lofty goals. Learn Hebrew. Run 10km. Write a newsletter. Study for exams etc.
If only we could harness this motivation then we would be able to achieve our daily and long term goals. Right?
Wrong!
What if I told you motivation is a myth?
Motivation is based on emotional decision making. It relies on the fact whether you wake up in the morning and ‘feel’ like writing the article or whether you ‘feel’ motivated going to work.
This is not a particularly good way of living life. Unless you are a 3 year old child who basis their day to day decisions on what they feel like doing.
Motivation also incidentally only works in short term bursts.
We must then cultivate an alternative - Discipline. A longer lasting substitute.
Here is a quote aptly explaining this concept:
“...motivation is trying to feel like doing stuff. Discipline is doing it even if you don’t feel like it.
You get to feel good afterwards. ” - Wisdom Nation.
I believe motivation is one of the most misunderstood topics in the current age. We must learn to command our mind, to do what is best for us in the long run [Discipline]. So moving forwards let us DELETE the word motivation from our vocabulary.
Further Reading
1. https://www.jotform.com/blog/motivation-is-a-myth [A longer read on cultivating habitual discipline.]
Like what you see, sign up to the email newsletter here, to get early access to these newsletters. [This email was originally sent out more than a year ago to the mailing list.]
