Everything's going well, for a while at least. Things start to deteriorate at some point, and the motivation that initially motivated you, which your project cannot last long without, fades. So, the next thing that will happen is that you will regret it and all the other things that were destined for success failed, and then you would be overwhelmed by a wave of frustration.
You don't know what went wrong and, frankly, you're very frustrated, and you can't do an analysis to find out why the project failed. So, after a short period of sadness, you move on to the next project enthusiastic and motivated, as you were before, but unfortunately, after a short period, it also fails to find yourself in front of a group of failed projects. At this stage, you cannot help but wonder why it is so difficult to maintain motive.
Don't worry, as this happens to everyone, and fortunately, the reason for the death of motivation and lack of enthusiasm is known, and it is one or all of these four mistakes.
4 Mistakes That Kill Your Motivation
1. Comparing oneself to others
Nothing drains your energy more than comparing yourself to others, which is a very stressful habit. For this reason, you are not surprised to lose at the end of the day your remaining energy to invest in your projects and goals.
Comparison is a natural process carried out by the human brain throughout the ages, and it is an essential feature of our species. It's like a microchip that's already been implanted deep in our minds, but fortunately, even when it comes to the emotional drain of "comparison," there's a right way to do it.
If you want to achieve the goals you set yourself, the first thing you need to learn is to reserve your precious and limited mental energy for important things that will bring you useful long-term results. For example:
Comparing a stunning Instagram snap of a beautiful model lying in the sun on a tropical island taken by a professional photographer, with a selfie of ourselves taken immediately after waking up, is not only an unfair and irrational comparison, but it's also unproductive and pointless, and it can be called a self-destructive comparison, which is the kind you have to avoid.
By contrast, comparing your habits and lifestyle to a well-planned program of nutrition and fitness, actively seeking to identify your weaknesses and willingness to improve them to live a healthier life, is beneficial and productive. This is called self-evaluation or constructive comparison.
This is the kind in which you have to invest in your precious and limited energy. In short, self-destructive comparison dampens our motivation while constructive comparison enhances it.
2. Slackness
Motive requires extreme care and a constant flow of stimuli to maintain it. Imagine a house plant that needs constant watering and soil nurturing to grow. If you don't take the time to nurture it, it will wither and eventually die.
You could ask: "What can I do to activate my incentives every day?"
The answer is straightforward, and it is something you may have heard of before: vision plates. It's an ideal way to nourish your motivation, nourish your imagination, and help you overcome any creative obstacle that may arise.
Remember that humans are visual creatures. So, it's not surprising that sometimes we need to see the things we want to achieve to keep moving forward, and what vision plates do best help you visualize your goals.
How to make one? It is very easy to implement in your electronic devices or you can even take an extra step and print and hang it on the wall, so you can see it every day.
3. Impatience
We have to come to terms with the fact that good and worthwhile things take time, and it is necessary to learn to develop the virtue of patience, which we lack every day. Sometimes, especially in the period of opening a new project, we get so excited and energetic that we want to do everything directly.
Although high morale is important, things become dangerous when we start setting all these unrealistic goals.
We may end up feeling painfully disappointed when we realize it's almost impossible to lose 2 kg a week or learn Korean in one month, and after all the constant disappointment of our inability to reach these unreasonable results that we have set ourselves, it will provoke a sense of defeat that gradually weakens our motivation. It makes us frustrated and unhappy, and we end up abandoning our projects altogether.
So, what can you do to protect your motivation from the devastating effects of impatience? Start by allowing yourself to work slowly, but steadily by splitting tasks into small parts, and while you do, pay attention to the goals you set, because setting unrealistic goals can end your entire career before you start.
Also, don't forget to pay attention to the feedback you give yourself, and make it customary to acknowledge and praise your progress, no matter how small the progress is. That's because knowing how much you've accomplished can give you the reassurance you need to know that you're doing things right and that knowledge helps maintain patience.
4. Pursuit of perfection
When it comes to draining your energy, there is only one thing that can be as dangerous as self-comparison to others mentioned above, and that is the pursuit of perfection.
This quest slows you down and puts an unnecessary amount of pressure on your shoulders, not to mention that it is extremely time-consuming.
The quest for perfection influences your motivation in the same way as impatience; That is, by fueling a constant sense of defeat that eliminates your motivation and will to do anything.
So, instead of sinking your energy into the nitty-gritty, worrying about every little thing, and overthinking every little aspect of your project, try to focus on what's important, focus on the things that will pay off, and make a difference in the long run.
Focusing on details is good, but don't overstate it, and when it comes to achieving your goals, the most important thing is perseverance, not perfection. What matters is continuity, working smartly, and the wisdom of spending your time and energy.
Add comment