Prime the Pump: Action First, Then Comes Motivation
Question:
Does Action or Motivation Come First?
Answer:
Motivation comes after Action and NOT the other way around.
Dilemma:
Lacking Motivation?
Never fear!
ANSWER: Take actions and the feelings will come around.
Action-> Motivation
However, if you wait until you feel motivated you may be waiting a long time … have you been waiting around for too long? Maybe it’s time to take a step forward.
Example:
I never feel like waking up at 6am on Saturday and going for a 15-mile run. However, I can honestly say there is not a single time in my life where I have decided to run when not feeling motivated that I regretted choosing to run.
100% of the time I have gotten myself out of the door I have been rewarded (that’s a pretty great return on investment (ROI)!). On the other hand, most of the times I skipped a run, I later regretted it.
Application:
Commit and Do a Mandatory Awesome Activity-
Whatever an intrinsic good is for you [running does it for me] schedule it in your calendar [see ‘helpful activity types’ and ‘examples’ below for ideas].
Treat that activity as an important engagement you cannot/will not miss (e.g. interview for your dream job, chance to meet Taylor Swift in person). Regardless of how you feel, make that appointment.
Brief Reflect:
After you do the activity, write down-
Predicted enjoyment of activity (1-10);
Actual enjoyment of activity (1-10).
Helpful activity types include:
pleasurable
productive
social
active
values-based/meaningful
examples:
SOCIAL
Hanging out with that one friend who always gets you, supports you, and makes you laugh.
VALUES-BASED/MEANINGFUL
Listening to an edifying podcast where you learn something new; playing an instrument.
ACTIVE
20-30 mins of home dumbbells or walking/jogging.
PLEASURABLE
Stretching, taking a 15-30 minute break to eat or nap.
PRODUCTIVE
Making your bed or folding your clothes.
REFLECTION
How did you experience the Mandatory Awesome Activity? Chances are you enjoyed the pleasurable activity more than you predicted you would.
If you enjoyed the activity (the most likely result).
Congratulations! In doing an activity you enjoy you:
Experienced pleasure you would not have if you skipped it
Built a stronger connection between doing this activity and experiencing satisfaction.
Because you did, you are more likely to do this activity in the future.
If you started out not wanting to do the activity but did it anyways and ended up enjoying the activity.
You get a DOUBLE CONGRATULATIONS;
You:
Get the benefits of enjoying the activity [see above]
AND
Built tenacity and willpower: When you do something you do not feel like doing you practice doing something hard and uncomfortable.
Doing hard things builds tenacity and willpower—prerequisites for many worthwhile and valuable things in life like: AM and PM Rituals to Win the Day, the ability to focus on what matters most.
If you did not enjoy the activity:
…SURPRISE!!! you still WIN!!!
Congratulations, you:
You built tenacity and willpower [link to within article].
Became more aware of what does or does not work to motivate you.
This awareness empowers you to choose differently next time.
AWARENESS brings choices:
Next time, you could choose to:
Modify a part of the the same activity that did not work, while keeping what did work the same
OR
Pick a new activity
OR
Modify the same activity AND/OR modify your attitude towards the activity.
Whatever you choose, greater awareness leads to more options and more control over what you can control.
My friends,
Act first. Motivation will follow.
Do what matters,
Charles
