Comments on: Finding The WHY To Motivate Ourselves

By: Pablo

Pablo — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:28:39 +0000

I think that when things get confused or complicated, you should look at the simplicity that underlies everything: Instead of trying to find a “why?” to do things, try to think “why not?”

By: Personal Development Roadblocks – Taking Things for Granted

Personal Development Roadblocks – Taking Things for Granted — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:39:11 +0000

[...] Alex Shalman on Finding The Why To Motivate Ourselves [...]

By: Vedapushpa

Vedapushpa — Fri, 29 May 2009 03:03:24 +0000

Saw Rudolf’s earlier post now…It gave me a sanction for my ‘Motivation Cause’… Thanks Alex for the Forum.

By: Vedapushpa

Vedapushpa — Fri, 29 May 2009 02:56:39 +0000

I sort of spontaneously get ‘motivated’ when I find the need to speak of rights and wrongs ; logics and illogics of a situation IN GENERAL.

And – even risking a lot of displeasure and even agressive reaction – I manage to dare motivate myself to refer to the erring person of the context… and this naturally gets me into troubles. But then – my condoning of the error will only increase the erring around me – with a sanction ‘it’s human to error’ that I get to the worse plight of ‘having to make do their errings’… !!!

So I’ve decided to go ‘Motivating Myself’ to speak and even Act against any disadvantaging or disparaging talk or act as affecting me – in the first place ,, I used to give in most when things affected me in person… Motivating myself to act on my behalf as person was indeed the hardest…In fact it should beging with oneself…..Then Motivating others for good reasons will become far easier…

By: Cassi

Cassi — Sun, 24 May 2009 21:00:41 +0000

I could never figure out what I was put here for. I don’t even recall having a big dream in my youth. I bet if I could, it would change how I feel about things right now.

By: Jake | Revive Your Life

Jake | Revive Your Life — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:11:55 +0000

Alex,

Interesting question that your reader has posed. Sometimes that’s a question that’s nearly impossible to answer. I would like to think that the reason why I do certain things is because I have learned a lesson in the past and choose to better my life. Without prior life experiences, its hard to think that we would choose what tends to be the more difficult path (self-improvement). That being said, hope and encouragement for the future are great motivators!

Thanks again for the great insight. I am new to your site and it looks quite interesting.

Jake

By: Rudolf

Rudolf — Mon, 18 May 2009 12:48:00 +0000

Interesting article, thanks Alex. My “why” comes from my purpose, values and passions. Of course it is never easy because nothing is static, even values can change from time to time based on our life experience or at least priority of values. But this is what helps me. That inexpressible, sometimes strong, sometimes subtle, feeling that this IS right and long term and can make a difference. The more I choose the “right” stuff to do the better I am at this and my “why” is in bigger harmony with my actions. It is calibration, sort of.

By: Sarah Merion

Sarah Merion — Mon, 18 May 2009 12:31:21 +0000

My “why” often comes from an uncontrollable feeling to do something. In that sense, I don’t have reason to not do it, and the why is the fact that I can’t help myself. What I have trouble with though are those activities which I don’t receive that wonderful, uncontrollable feeling. There are often things that need a “why” but I still need a push.

By: Alex Shalman

Alex Shalman — Mon, 18 May 2009 04:42:18 +0000

@Lisis, I would say that you should concentrate on daily incremental improvements. Move towards the things you already know to motivate yourself, and remove all of the demotivating things. Eventually you’ll be surrounded by lots of external motivators, which usually come in the form of people that say positive things, and can motivate you by the example of their own success.

Also, why should you exercise? It benefits every part of your mental and physical. It will give you energy, it will become an addictive source of motivation, and it will increase your longevity so that you can have the energy to play with your sons grandkids one day.

By: Lisis

Lisis — Sun, 17 May 2009 13:13:45 +0000

Alex, I have found that the BIG “why” for me is fairly simple: my son. But the little “whys” are the ones that I stumble over. For instance, Why should I exercise? I don’t enjoy it, I don’t need it to fit into my clothes, I’m not vain enough to need washboard abs… and yet, I should do it anyway because it’s the right thing to do? Is that really enough of a “why”?

(Apparently not.)

My question, which I also posed to Leo on Zen Habits, is how do I get an external motivator to be enough?? I still haven’t found that answer.

=-)

By: Jarrod - Warrior Development

Jarrod - Warrior Development — Sun, 17 May 2009 00:06:17 +0000

I first allow myself to dream about what I really want.

Then I check my why for wanting that (what does it give my life?), if it is acceptable then I can pursue 100%.