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A Lesson About Motivation
Yesterday morning was a struggle for me. I woke up at my partner’s place feeling fine. Then when I got home, I felt anxious. I was overcome by a strong urge to sit on the couch and do nothing. The only thing I felt motivated to do was waste time watching TV or scrolling through my phone.
Instead of letting myself go, I took out my journal and wrote for 15 minutes, and then I sat on my balcony and read for 30 minutes. About halfway into my reading, I felt my mind begin to engage with the material. I felt my body begin to settle down. By the time I finished reading and journaling, I felt motivated to do something other than sitting on the couch. So, I changed clothes and took my road bike out for a ride. The anxiety I felt seemed to fade away.
Yesterday was a reminder of how our mood can improve when we begin to take action. It’s easy to wait until we feel motivated to do something before we actually do anything. However, motivation works the other way around. We act, and then we feel motivated.
