Saturday, November 23, 2013

Studying Tips - Motivate Yourself To Study

By Lachlan Haynes


At one point or another everyone lacks the motivation to do something. Lacking motivation is not necessarily a problem - unless of course it becomes a constant theme of your life. When you lack the motivation to get up in the morning, something is definitely amiss.

This may not be a regular problem for you (and kudos to you if that's the case) but for many students, 'lacking motivation' can be a real pain in the you know what!

If motivation is not present in the individual, simple uncomplicated tasks have a nasty habit of becoming huge complicated problems - ones that can end up being avoided for days (and sometimes weeks or months!) So how does this happen?

Well, when you feel 'motivated', it's easy to stay focused over a long period of time and work diligently towards your goal. However, when you are not feeling 'motivated' you will have virtually zero focus and the chances you will even start the task are minuscule. Either that or it will require someone threatening you with something before you'll get started on your work (like a parent taking away your iPad or a teacher removing you from the class). That's not a great way to get motivated!

Generally, motivation comes in the form of fear. As in, what will happen if I don't complete this task? What will happen if I don't hand in my paper on time? What will happen if I don't do what my parents say? What will happen if I don't go to school? It's the fear of negative consequences that really motivates us as a human race. It's the way we are conditioned to behave. Why? Because it creates order.

If there were no consequence for not doing your homework, or not doing exercise, or not following the laws - what would happen? It would create chaos wouldn't it? Why would anyone do anything they didn't "feel like doing"?

Fear of negative consequences has its place in the world. It's important in its own way - however it should absolutely not be the ultimate reason for you to do whatever it is you do each day. It should not dictate your behavior. That's not living. That's just "existing".

Whilst "existing" may work for you for a period of time (and for many people it works for their entire lives) it doesn't both work and lead to a positive approach to life. The motivation we seek to promote is one where you want to complete the tasks you do for positive reasons.

Real motivation is borne out of a possibility. A possibility of what may happen from taking a certain action. The possibility of what can be created. For example, when you ask a girl or guy you like for their phone number, you are living into a possibility. The possibility you may get to go out on a date with them! Sure, you may not succeed. You may get shut down. But so what? The power of living into a possibility drove you to take that action. If you act out of fear, you probably won't ask for the number or take any action and you'll just feel regret. Why? Because fear of negative consequences (like being embarrassed or laughed at) won the day. By living in fear you don't really live. By living in fear you don't feel the amazing power of real motivation.

So the next time you are doing something (anything) ask yourself "Am I acting out of fear, or out of possibility?" You may be very surprised by the answer.




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