Obstacles to Motivation

A lack of self-motivation is not necessarily laziness. If you have the desire but lack motivation, find and overcome the obstacles to your motivation.

Examples of obstacles include fatigue, low self-esteem or confidence, a conflicting self-image, distractions (such as things you would rather be doing!), worry or fear (i.e. pessimism), attention deficiency, a lack of helpful habits, disorganization or clutter, a physical handicap, or a difficulty in seeing the task as interesting.

Overcoming one's obstacles is no easy task! Here are some steps which can get you started:

1) Research each obstacle, to determine which ones might apply to you. Research by reading (Internet sites, books, magazine articles, etc.), by self-reflection, and by asking people who know you. If you require assistance in your research, a medical or psychological professional can be invaluable. When you've determined which obstacles are impeding your motivation, research those particular obstacles in more depth.

                                  

2) Select one obstacle, and overcome it exponentially. That is, start with baby steps, and as you accumulate small achievements and confidence in this area, take bolder and bolder steps until you have partially overcome the obstacle.

  a) Based on your research, brainstorm a list of small tasks which require you to overcome your chosen obstacle for a brief time.

b) Pick the easiest, and do it.

c) Write down your achievement.

d) Pick the next easiest, and do it. Write down that achievement.

e) Continue until your confidence has improved in this area. (You don't need to overcome the obstacle completely, and maybe you never will.)

f) Pick another obstacle to work on.

3) Focus on your goals, not on your obstacles. Working toward your goals will automatically require you to make progress toward overcoming your obstacles. But, if you think too much about your obstacles, they will become excuses, and you will lose optimism. Let your goal-oriented desires and hopes fight for you. Increase them!

Seek to replace bad habits with goal-oriented habits. That is, form habits in your daily or weekly routine which move you closer to your goals. Sometimes bad habits simply move aside when you do that; other times, they become easier to overcome.

                              

4) Seek to overcome bad habits, not necessarily eliminate them. Helen Keller did not eliminate her blindness and deafness, she merely met her goals despite her handicaps. That's what overcoming obstacles is often about. Without obstacles, life would be boring!