The Motivation Myth
Waiting for the right time to do the thing you’ve always wanted to do? The time is now, you dummy. If you find yourself waiting for the right motivation to start the project you’ve always wanted to, to finally get yourself to the gym, or to learn a skill you’ve always wanted to: you will be waiting forever. Motivation is a myth: here is why.
“Fleeting” is the best word I can use to describe motivation. “Ephemeral” maybe. I might even use the word “whispy”.
In my previous life, I’ve been someone who waited for the “right time” to do things; for the right motivation to go train gymnastics, or learn about photography, or study for a test. Even to train as a dancer, I had to “feel like it.”
I had to be in the right “mood” to accomplish things. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be perfect…right? And that’s all I would settle for: perfection. Or at least what I thought that was for myself and my work (spoiler alert: perfection doesn’t exist).
And to be honest, up until that point of my life, I felt as though I was doing things for the sake of proving I was busy to everyone else; for the sake of saying “Hey! I’m being productive! Look at me do all the stuffs!”.
I truly think there is immense wisdom in realizing this: Motivation is garbage. It’s a myth.
It’s for the people who want and not the people who do.
And you, right now, reading this – this is the biggest piece of advice I could give you. Done is better than perfect.
It took me until 25 to realize this; for some, it’s earlier; for some, it’s later; and for others, it’s never. But not you.
I was in a creative funk with my photography and design work at 25: a bad one. It had been months since I had shot anything, or felt like it, or even entered Adobe Illustrator for that matter. I felt cursed; as though even if I did try and shoot/design again, that it would be far from perfect; that it would be judged as garbage work.
Until, thanks to the collective wisdom of a few figures, I realized it’s okay to suck. In fact, it’s encouraged. Take it from filmmaker and photographer Peter McKinnon.
Take it from Mel Robbins, who’s “5 Second Rule” changed my life at the ripe age of 25; it’s based around the concept of how when ideas or opportunities come our way, we can’t take time to deliberate. We just have to go do the thing and think later. Her "5 Second Rule” involves identifying a potential opportunity and then immediately starting a countdown in your mind – 5, 4, 3, 2…1. She elaborates on the idea that if you haven’t done the thing within the 5 second window, you probably won’t.
Sitting at a café and see that cute person you want to ask out, but are too afraid to? 5, 4, 3…
Thinking about applying for that job you’ve always wanted to? 5, 4, 3…
Want to download that app which will help you learn French for your new job? 5, 4, 3…
If anything, the 5 Second Rule is a way to overcome fear, which is the biggest proponent of why we procrastinate, why we don’t feel capable, or feel ready in order to change. It’s a notion – a falsehood – we buy into: at some point, you’ll have the confidence to do the thing, right? At some point, you’ll be secure enough to try that thing, right?
Wrong.
You have incredible ideas. Motivation isn’t what’s missing: it’s action.
And for “creative people”, it’s easy to claim that we have “creative block” when it comes to our work or that we need the ideas to come to us before we act.
Ask yourself: Do plumbers wait for the right motivation to repair the pipes in your bathroom? No.
They have a job to do, they have skills and tools, and they show up, whether the mood strikes them or not. They know there is a requirement for their skills and experience, so they show up with that in mind. Creative people need to think the same way in order to progress; treat creativity like a sport. Be Kobe practicing going for 100 buckets during practice.
From a biological and evolutionary perspective, we’re wired to be risk-averse as a survival mechanism; however, true growth only comes from uncomfortable situations.
And if you’ve read the blog post on my agency site (I’m not mad if you haven’t) about consistency over intensity, you might have realized that growth and progress come from smaller, day-to-day efforts on a consistent basis.
Don’t wait until you feel like it. You’re one decision away from a totally different life, income, relationship, etc. You just have to do it and not think so much about doing it. Take control of the micro-moments on the day-to-day and over time, you will watch things change. With that said…