How To Stay Motivated?

Chances are that you're the type of person who wants to accomplish things, succeed in your own way, and move the needle on something greater than yourself. Chances are that you're deeply caring, intelligent, and resourceful. Chances also are that you experience chronic overwhelm that costs you money, health, and relationships. So, how do you stay motivated in the midst of changing demands, seemingly contradictory inner turmoil, and/or a generally complex reality?

In "Keeping House While Drowning", KC Davis shares the idea that "motivation begets motivation". Lots of people have said this in some way, shape, or form. And. From my perspective, her genius comes through when she shares that moral neutrality is core to staying motivated. With moral neutrality as the starting point, motivation begets motivation in a way that reduces harm. For example, in her book, she explores the moral neutrality of care tasks. (10/10 recommend checking out this book if you're looking for ways to keep up with self-care and home-care as the basis of community-care in ways that are neurodivergent and disability-friendly ways.)

So, what if moral neutrality is core to staying motivated? What would that look like for you and how would that change things? Coming from a society that hyper-fixates on the ever-elusive success at all costs, moral neutrality can seem threatening to excellence and perfectionism. And. What if that's okay? What if moral neutrality helps us divorce excellence from perfection and self-abandonment in the name of success?

I invite you to consider the following questions:

1. What if the success or failure of this effort is morally neutral?

2. What does motivation feel like for you?

3. How might connecting to the Why of doing something help you continue your efforts?

4. How do you want to feel in the process of achieving whatever you've set your mind to?

5. How might you work *with* your brain and body to stay motivated instead of working against them?

6. Who can help you nurture your drive to fuel your motivation?

7. What types of experiences add up to where you want to go?

8. What places inspire you?

Your answers to these questions can serve as a springboard to structure habits that help you get to where you want to go. Part of what KC Davis explores in her book is the idea of 'gentle habit building' as a way of meeting yourself where you're at. The perfectionist part of you may read this language and 'logically' tell you not to soften up or you'll fail. The reality is that you're more likely to stick to a lifestyle change if you build it up gently over an extended period of time. As James Clear shared, "sometimes all you need for exceptional results is average effort repeated for an above-average amount of time."

The path there can be one of beating yourself up, dragging yourself through it, or it can be one of befriending yourself. Being who you are, you'll get to where you want to go. And. How do you want to feel on your way there *and* how do you want to feel once you do get there?

For support on staying motivated to become the strongest leader you can be, book a Discovery Call with me today.