Motivation is Overrated — Here are Proven Methods that Work

An Exploration in Behavioral Nonsense

“If the problem you are facing can be solved with action, you don’t have a problem.” -Mel Robbins

Motivation is garbage.

I’ll tell you why and better yet, I’ll share what actually propels us down the road of progress.

Motivation is an empty word in the language of persuasion. The misguided and overused term has been engaged to captivate an audience in the health and wellness industry as well as general media.

We shouldn’t act surprised any longer since hyperbole is designated as the fluent language of commercial media.

Allow me to explain.

Implying there is “motive” is nice but it didn’t make you lose an extra 10 pounds to fit into those new skinny jeans. Sustainability is the term we’re looking for. Habits in orchestra with sustainability can create exponential accomplishment.

Motivation is useless in the context of changing behaviors and deliverable actions. The perception of motivation is driven by hyperbole in media industries that capitalize on the misconstrued audience stimulation.

What are the key components for a marketing ad selling a specialized diet or an exercise bike on network television? The image of lean, muscular physiques appear speaking phrases meant to disarm, conceptualize, demonstrate compassion with sympathy, and finally, “motivate.”

Theodore Roosevelt was quoted having said, “Comparison is the thief of Joy.” What he should have said is that “comparison sows doubt and demoralizes people with valuable intent.” It doesn’t have the same dynamic pizzazz.

It still rings true.

The only relative comparison permissible for the individual is the comparison to his or her past self. What progress have you made as a person from the previous year, week, or day?

While we have self-development in the spotlight, I may as well confirm. Motivation is pure, unadulterated malarkey. Excuse my language.

Please stay with me as I drag this tragic misconception into the sunlight. Life coaches and motivational speakers can collectively hold their breath.

Motivation is a reaction to a feeling. Courage, ability, and fear all significantly contribute to creating a sustainable force more than motivation. Motivation isn’t the gas in the tank. It’s a roadside billboard advertising McDonald's and lottery tickets.

Most people understand what to do in order to accomplish goals and change life trends. They think the missing key is motivation. This is painfully false. The components that truly prohibit us from accomplishing our goals are as follows.

1. Doubt

2. Lack of Discipline

3. Lack of Focus

4. Lack of Planning

Eliminate these from your life’s radius.

Dr. Andrew Huberman is a prolific neuroscientist and a professor at the Stanford school of medicine. He is an expert in brain function and the recalibration of human behavior.

When discussing these components he makes it quite clear. “Change these behaviors first. Feelings and thoughts and memories are all complicated and all are important. The ability to shift our patterns in life for improvement is to change our behaviors first,” says Huberman.

“Change behavior to be better, or to show up better or get away from addiction.” Changing behaviors is the catalyst for everything else to follow suit according to Huberman.

Thoughts, feelings, and perception are all important but behaviors are the catalyst that engages all other functions. The control panel.

Mel Robbins is a prolific author that studies habits and human behavior. She has written the New York Times bestseller The Five Second Rule. “Hesitation allows us to overthink and our brain takes over”, Mel Robbins said when describing decision making. “If I didn’t move within 5 seconds my brain steps in and talks me out of it.”

The brain is wired to stop us from doing things that are uncomfortable, uncertain, or scary. “It is your job to learn how to move from those ideas that could change everything into acting on them.”

“Motivation is garbage.” — Mel Robbins

In order to be the best version of ourselves, we have to do the things that are difficult and scary which contradicts the evolutionary reflexes of our brain. We know what to do but can’t seem to make ourselves do it. How do we stop thinking about an idea and just do it? The desire is there as it is with everyone.

Exercise. Cultivate relationships. Be a better wife or husband. Hear that inner wisdom and react quickly.

How do you go from knowledge to action?

Here is the solution. “I counted out loud and then I stood up. All day long there are moments throughout your day where you need to move from idea to action”, says Robbins. She was referring to her method of counting down from 5 to initiate an action.

Further building on this method, we should not allow our brain to disengage our body from the action at stake.

Grasping the decision, creating an action, and not allowing ourselves to anticipate the “motivation fairy” is the payoff we owe ourselves. This circles back to my original thesis on the subject.

Motivation is like the TV remote. We can never find it when we need it the most. Trust yourself to create inertia and quantify your decisions. We all have the ability to change. The ember is burning inside everyone and the fuel is a cognizant and deliberate action. Pour the fuel on the fire without giving your mind a moment to disagree.

Motivation is wishing for a nice return on your investment you hid under the mattress. You’ll use it again but don’t expect it to last.

Thank you for reading. Comment and clap if this speaks to you. I respond to all comments.

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