Well, maybe I don’t want to

Summary

The article emphasizes the importance of self-motivation and acknowledges the necessity of taking breaks without guilt, especially in the face of societal pressures and personal commitments.

Abstract

The article discusses the challenges of maintaining a consistent flow of motivation, noting that while external sources like the internet and social circles can provide initial inspiration, true motivation must come from within. It reflects on the author's personal journey of finding motivation in unconventional ways, beyond the internet, and the struggle of comparing oneself to others who seem to make the "right choices." The author, a mother of two, highlights the difficulties of balancing personal development with life's responsibilities and the mental and physical toll it can take. The article advocates for the acceptance of taking time off when needed, stressing that motivation is an individualistic and proactive endeavor that requires energy and adaptability. It also suggests that motivation can be cultivated through action, likened to charging a battery, and that this energy leads to more opportunities. The piece concludes by encouraging self-compassion and the understanding that it's okay to occasionally choose not to pursue certain activities, citing a quote on the value of all experiences, whether good or bad.

Opinions

Motivation is not a passive activity but requires active engagement and self-charging from within.
It's important to find motivation beyond the internet and in one's immediate surroundings.
Comparing oneself to others who appear to be making the "right choices" can be detrimental and lead to feelings of inadequacy.
Life's commitments, especially as a parent, can add significant pressure and make it challenging to keep up with societal trends.
Taking a day off is not only acceptable but also necessary for mental and physical health.
Motivation should be seen as a proactive activity, where the act of doing charges up one's motivation.
There is a need for self-compassion and not being too hard on oneself when unable to meet personal goals or deadlines.
The article suggests that every experience, whether it brings happiness, experience, lessons, or memories, is valuable and should not be regretted.

Activating and continuing a flow of motivation is difficult but you are permitted to slow down and take a day off.

Motivation has become an ubiquitous scene on the internet of late. Many finding it difficult to get it started and some, once found, find it hard to keep it running. There are many ways in which you can find motivation, including the internet and through friends and family, but this kind of motivation may not continuously flow. To be truly motivated, you have to charge your own motivation from deep within.

Publishing Finding motivation in the unlikeliest way led me beyond the internet, to explore my immediate surroundings and gain inspiration elsewhere in my life. But there were times where life was still bombarding me with people making the “right choices”, finding motivation to get to the gym, work out and transform into someone beyond their imagination, leading me to believe that I wasn’t doing enough.

Being a mother of two young boys in an era where the internet is running wild with promises on how to make a substantial amount of money online, where you feel you have not made the right decisions in life and trying to grow with lack of essential life skills, such as negotiation, decision making and budget planning makes it seem pretty bleak. There are some hard decisions we have to make nowadays. And it all adds to extra pressure on your health, mentally and physically.

And sometimes, it is ok to falter, to relax, to take a day off.

Where exactly do I find the time and energy to be able to keep up with these trends. Well everyone’s circumstances are different. Some are young, independent, working hard and may have the luxury of being able to enjoy life and develop themselves further than they would if they had children. I, on the other hand, have commitments elsewhere. And thats ok. Adaptability is key to where you want to get to. And sometimes, it is ok to falter, to relax, to take a day off. Motivation requires a lot of energy to keep it going, not just physically, but mentally and spiritually. There are ways in which we can keep it flowing, but this is all individualistic. We just need to rethink motivation as a proactive activity than a passive one.

A great book I was reading (I have forgotten the title, but once I remember, I will add it into the comments) looked at how motivation comes about and it is the act of “doing” that builds up your motivation and that without the “doing” part, it lays dormant. Almost like you are charging up your motivation. And with motivation, comes the push to greater opportunities.

Thomas Kelley, Unsplash

But, alas, sometimes, you just don’t have the energy to do it. This is a part where I think we need to consider.

We need to be able to not be so hard on ourselves. We need to be able to not feel guilty that we were not able to write, or publish on a particular day.

“The most important thing I can tell you is that we should never regret …. because good days gives happiness, bad days gives experience, worst days gives us lessons, and best days gives us memories” , Shahnawaz Alam

Sometimes, it can be just as rewarding to say to yourself, well, maybe I don’t want to.