Even during the moments I struggle to maintain my mindset or I feel more physically drained, I still find it hard to just admit, “You know what, I have no motivation right now.”
I’ve been so focused on using so much of my mind to work on myself that I feared accepting those moments would open that black hole back up. I feared that once I let that “negative” thought or feeling in, I would fall back into old patterns and regress to the hopeless, broken person I once believed I was.
This just goes to show that with all the healing I’ve been doing, I am still a work-in-progress. Old beliefs I had hoped wouldn’t haunt me again still make an appearance. I’m reminded that it is a daily effort to keep challenging those moments of discomfort.
I need to let go of the subconscious belief that I’m afraid to admit is there. That part of me still hopes that if I work on myself enough, I’ll never have to feel the downs of life again.
It’s Human To Experience No Motivation
You see, my logical brain knows that wishful thought is completely unrealistic and unattainable. None of us are completely free of the difficulties of life or ourselves; that is just life. But the wounded inner child of mine sometimes finds it hard to accept this.
But even admitting this is a step in the better direction. Putting words to our challenges helps us see that they are not as dangerous as we once thought. Everything hasn’t unravelled by being honest about how I feel; it reminds me that we are human.
There Could Be Endless Reasons Why You Feel No Motivation. Become Curious
There’s often a reason you have no motivation; try and become curious instead of frustrated or disheartened. Trust me, I know this can be hard. When I feel demotivated, a domino effect starts to happen. I begin to feel hopeless and doubt my future and myself. But once I’m aware of this, I shift. I start to put my techniques into practice (tools I use are discussed further here), and eventually, the wave does pass.
I get it; wading out discomfort seems like the raw end of the deal. “What? You’re saying I have to just sit with it?” No, not just sit with it; let it be while you proactively steer and train your mind. It’s a case of learning to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.
If you are able to calm your system enough, you can begin to explore what could be causing your lack of motivation. Everyone is different, and your reasons for having no motivation are personal to you. But it is often a symptom of something else going on. Once you address the cause, you can start to heal the symptom.
Listen To Yourself And Your Body
What I’ve discovered is that feeling guilty for the times we lack motivation not only punishes us but makes us more afraid to face these low moments in the future. We do not voluntarily choose to have no motivation, and so we do not deserve to feel blame. I think my inner critic believed I was lazy or incapable of change if I wasn’t pumped to be working on myself 24/7. But the thing is, this will only lead to burnout and a constant feeling of defeat. So that when we inevitably lack motivation at some point in the future, we’ll associate it with failure instead of accepting it as a normal human response.
Our bodies and our minds require rest just as much as stimulation. It does not say anything about who you are as a human being if you stop for a moment. Now, when I feel physically exhausted, I consciously allow myself to take it a little easier. I still do my best to work towards my goals, but I also cut myself some slack if I miss something. If you build more belief in yourself, you’ll trust that you’ll be able to pick right back up from where you left off. If you have a look at my post about self-doubt, you can find some practices that hopefully can help you.
If You Share, You May Be Surprised By How Many Care.
When I felt no motivation, at first I kept it to myself. However, once it started to trigger more emotions, I gathered the courage to just reach out to a friend. Admitting to another that you’re struggling can be just as agonising as admitting it to yourself. But the relief you feel from sharing with the right people can help you feel less abnormal and alone. When I did voice that I was feeling unmotivated and down, I asked, “Do you ever feel that?” She replied, “I’m feeling that right now.” I instantly felt comforted that someone else understood what I was experiencing, and even that helped calm the anxiety I felt about myself.
If you do feel something deeper is behind your lack of motivation, try and gather the strength to reach out to someone, be it a friend or professional. They may have some insight into how you can unpack and address your struggle. But again, don’t feel pressured to do anything you feel you’re not ready for.
Just take it one step at a time.
Do You have no motivation sometimes? What helps you? I’d love to hear your story. Let me know in the comments or just fill out a contact form!
Interesting read Faith.
My motivation is my kids. I work hard to provide for them. My only concerns are is the money I earn just about makes ends meet so it I’m a bit like what’s the point.
My other thought was I would be less motivated if I was on my own living with parents as I wouldn’t be relied on by anyone.
I wish I had more motivation to get fit though. I’ll check out your tips and advice when I’m on the train tomorrow. Thanks for shedding light on these matters
Thank you for taking the time to read. Appreciate it.
That’s great you have meaningful reasons (your girls), that give you the lift and motivation in life.
Having a purpose or finding one, really helps 💫
It was a good point of yours when you said that if you feel demotivated it’s not because of you.
I spoke to a girl who was studying to be accountant and then the pandemic happened and she lost all motivation to revise as exams had been cancelled etc and she was in a slight state of panic with all the uncertainty.
Yes, totally. Uncertainty can sometimes mask our fear as a lack of motivation. When actually it’s all just too overwhelming