On Motivation
we can’t wait for feelings & motivations to get us where we want to go
I’m jumping right in. To put it simply:
motivation is never the best way to make a change in your life.
What do we do then?
We make up our mind ahead of time.
We make a decision ahead of time.
The easiest way I know how to give you an example of this is exercise.
You make up your mind ahead of time & say: I’m going to wake up every day at 6 AM & I’m going to workout.
So when Tuesday morning comes & you think to yourself, I don’t feel like working out, it doesn’t matter, because you’ve already made a decision ahead of time!
When we do this, we are replacing motivation & feelings (something that’s transient) with something much more stable which is discipline & consistency.
a few practical tips for when you’ve made the decision ahead of time, but you’re still not feeling it:
Pump up the jams. Turn on some music that will impact your mood.
Get moving. Literally move your body.
Set a timer. I use this timer cube daily for various reasons. Mostly to stay focused on one specific task! On some days though, when I’m not looking forward to cleaning dishes, I’ll give myself 15 minutes. Before the time is up, I better have started!
Give it a name. Change your perspective & give yourself a fun phrase for the task or “expectation” you’re attempting to uphold.
Each week, I have a Lady of the House Day. (It’s a coined term I learned from Jess Conolly.) It’s the day I complete all the mundane household tasks. This phrase reframes how I respond to my work. Instead of everything being something I have to do, its something I get to do. It becomes my worship. The laundry, my service. A clean & structured home creates an environment for my family to thrive.
6 things. Make a list of 5-7 things you will do every day. (Do this ahead of time.) Check in every week. For the curious, here are my 6 things I do every day: Drink water. Read Bible. Sit in silence. Kiss my husband. Move my body. Get outside.
Put a motivational quote or scripture passage in plain sight. Encouraging words can go a long way.
Invite God into the process. In the moment, give God access to your feelings, motivations, dreams, plans, & goals. Let Him give you wisdom & vision & insight.
it takes what it takes
At some point you’ve got to decide, "I'm doing this." & it takes what it takes. I get to do it humbly. I get to make mistakes. It’s okay to have false starts. I’m going to fight defeat. I get to be honest. I might need help along the way. But today. Flip the switch. Prayerfully make a plan. Set your intentions. & then go.
a final note on feelings…
My feelings are not God. God is God. My feelings do not define truth. God’s word defines truth. My feelings are echos & responses to what my mind perceives. & sometimes, many times, my feelings are out of sync with the truth. When that happens — & it happens every day in some measure — I try not to bend the truth to justify my imperfect feelings, but rather, I plead with God: Purify my perceptions of your truth & transform my feelings so that they are in sync with the truth. | John Piper, Fully Alive