Motivation is the driving force that propels us towards our goals. I have seldom known someone who has been successful without commensurate motivation. But here’s a thing about motivation; just as easy it is to spike motivation, it is equally quick to fizzle out, even when our goals are well-defined and compelling. Especially when the journey is long and arduous, it is easy for us to fall into the loop of procrastination and frustration, which either stops our progress or delays it till eternity. Why? Let us understand.
When you were learning to walk as a child, did you set a goal for yourself? Or did you decide to learn your mother tongue, before you started to talk? All beings have an automated creative mechanism within them that guides them every moment towards the goals they have set for themselves knowingly or unknowingly. This automated system makes corrections to stay on the course, based on the feedback provided by us through our sensory organs. The conscious part of us, the one that is within our control, sets its target. The automated part, which is now referred to as the unconscious, gets initiated into action, directing all our actions, emotions, feelings and vitality towards accomplishment of that goal. That’s great. But it still does not answer why would an automated mechanism allow us to fade our motivation and drive, even when the target has been laid and defined clearly?
1. Programming of the Unconscious: The Hidden Saboteur
The unconscious part of us is a repository of beliefs formed through past experiences, traumas, and conditioning. If these deep-seated beliefs conflict with our conscious goals, they create an internal tug-of-war. For example, if we aspire to be wealthy but unconsciously believe that only wealthy people can be successful, our unconscious mind will resist our conscious efforts, draining our motivation. It is not easy to recognise these underlying beliefs. Most of us are not even aware that they do exist. Unconscious can however be reprogrammed very effectively with expert help. One can also use methods like visualisations, affirmations and mental rehearsals to overwrite limiting beliefs.
2. Self Image: The Silent Dictator
Over the years of our life, each one of us have created a self image for ourselves deep within our unconscious. Every spontaneous action, behaviour and responses of ours are directed at validating that image and they cannot exceed the limits of our self image. If we see ourself as someone undeserving of success, no amount of motivation will sustain our efforts. Our mind will sabotage progress to stay consistent with this negative self-image. One way to reshape our self image is to engage in “The Theatre of Mind”. Visualize ourself already living our desired reality, feeling the emotions of success. Our nervous system cannot make the difference between reality and imagination. Try visualising a traumatic experience from the past, many of us will be able to bring back the same intensity of emotions and feelings to our bones. The same works when we imagine something in future as well.
3. Emotional Thermostat: Comfort vs Growth
Our unconscious mind is also our defence mechanism. It functions like a thermostat, regulating emotional comfort levels. Striving for ambitious goals disrupts this comfort zone, triggering fear, anxiety, and resistance. The mind seeks to restore balance by dampening motivation. We can condition our mind by expanding our comfort zone by taking consistent small actions. This gradual exposure conditions our unconscious mind to accept newer realities without being threatened.
4. Goal Fatigue: The Illusion of Stagnation
The unconscious mind requires constant feedback for it to keep us on the track. When progress toward a goal is slow or imperceptible, the mind interprets this as failure. Motivation fades because the unconscious system assumes the goal is unattainable.
Break down large goals into smaller milestones. Celebrate every small victory to signal the unconscious mind that progress is being made. Here it is important to remember that overrated or underrated feedbacks are also incorrect feedbacks.
5. Negative Mental Feedback Loops
Our journey towards our goals is bound to be strewn with temporary setbacks and failures. Our perception about them creates a feedback to our automated goal-seeking mechanism. If we magnify the failure more than reality, it might signal our unconscious to stop any progress altogether in that direction. Remember, the mechanism will eventually figure out how to navigate around a failure, only if we give it a correct feedback. Practice mindfulness, disrupt negative loops by reframing setbacks as learning experiences.
Finally, motivation isn’t just about willpower or desire. It’s a delicate interplay between conscious intent and unconscious programming. The key to sustained motivation lies in aligning both systems. Our unconscious mind is a powerful ally when nurtured correctly. By becoming aware of its influence and consciously reshaping its programming, we can sustain motivation, even when the path seems challenging. When our inner world aligns with our outer aspirations, success becomes inevitable—not just a fleeting dream but a deeply embedded reality.