Just like it says in that song, there are days when we don’t feel like doing anything. Sometimes, those days last for weeks, even months.
You know THAT feeling… when we’re unwilling to do anything, and when we do, we do things half-heartedly; when we feel detached from our work, hobbies, and other things that usually excite us; or, when we find it hard to commit to something or be enthusiastic about any activity.
This isn’t because we’re lazy. It’s not because we lack values or energy. We all have personal reasons that stem from past, recent, or current events in our lives. Perhaps some of us just go through a phase in our lives wherein we are in desperate need of motivation.
What can we do if we seem to be stuck in this phase?
The Girl with a Typewriter Tattoo
Cathy is a writer I’ve been working with for a long time. She has an intricate tattoo of a typewriter on her inner right arm. Its creative style catches the eye.
“Oh, typewriter. ‘Coz you’re a writer, right?” I playfully asked.
“It’s more of a reminder for me,” she said.
“What do you mean? You might forget that you’re a writer?” I, again, asked in good fun.
But, her explanation made quite an impact on me.
“Yes, sometimes I forget. Sometimes, I’m overwhelmed and drowning in responsibilities. Other times, I’m just tired and feel lazy. Or, there are times when I don’t feel like myself. During these times, I forget what I’m meant to be doing. I need to be reminded of my purpose.”
The tattoo reminds her of her life purpose. For her, it’s not as basic as being a writer. It’s about connecting, helping, and sharing knowledge through her work.
I’m not suggesting that everyone get a tattoo. The point is to find YOUR OWN reminder. What is that specific something that will reconnect you to your purpose?
It can be a simple trinket that triggers a powerful memory or feeling within. It can be a person who, without fail, encourages you and gives you that much needed push. It can be a place that fuels your mind. It can be anything, as long as it is something personal to you that will help awaken that fire within.
Five Ws and H
Sometimes, Cathy gets stuck in a writer’s block. She has a special dice that helps her get unstuck. It’s a regular cube with six sides. But, instead of numbers, engraved on each side is a question word—What, When, Where, Who, Why, and How (information-gathering questions often used in journalism). If she’s stuck, she rolls the dice. When the dice choses a question, she uses it as a guide to continue writing. It helps propel her mind.
We can adopt something from Cathy’s special dice and create an exercise.
If we’re stuck in our demotivated phase, let’s ask ourselves some questions.
What am I waiting for? What needs to happen for me to get unstuck?
When do I see myself getting unstuck from this phase?
Where do I see myself in a year? Five years? 10 years? Where do I need to be to find motivation?
For whom am I living? Who motivates me?
Why do I do what I do? Why do I want to be motivated again?
How do I get myself out of this phase? How will I search for motivation?
Part of the exercise is coming up with the questions we’d like to ask ourselves. Perhaps this can help us figure out what we need to do to find our inner drive.
If you’re in a demotivated phase right now, know that it doesn’t make you lazy or weak. Many people go through the same.
One thing we all need to do is to keep moving, no matter how seemingly insignificant our actions are to us. Let’s KEEP MOVING.
