In a previous blog post titled “Get Better, Not Bitter,” I discussed my nightlife experiences, which can be both physically and mentally exhausting. I mentioned that these experiences motivated me to improve as a person, so I become stronger the next time I go out. Some might argue that my motivation to get better, healthier, and stronger is based on “wrong” reasons. But if it leads to a positive outcome, does it really matter?
There are two schools of thought on this:
- Your motivation matters a lot
- It doesn’t matter as long as you take action
For example, imagine I want to get in shape, but my reason is to use that strength to hurt others (assuming, for the sake of argument, that this is wrong—though we could debate whether it’s about hurting bad people or self-defense). In this case, while the outcome (getting in shape) is positive for me, the motivation is harmful. Therefore, my reasons matter, and I should reconsider my intentions to avoid negative consequences.
At the same time, not all motivations are equal. Some reasons simply aren’t compelling enough to drive action. For example, many people want to be rich, but few are willing to do what it takes to achieve it. You might have 100 reasons to do something and still not act, or you might have just 1 reason that spurs you into action.
Of course, having 100 reasons is better than none. Each additional reason builds momentum, and eventually, you act out on inertia. The same applies to negative motivations—reasons not to do something. These can stack up until they paralyze you. For example, I might want to make money, but if I don’t want to put in the required work, and so I never take action.
Now, I invite you to reflect on your own goals. Are you moving forward fast enough to achieve them, or are you stuck? Think about why you act in some cases and only daydream in others. If something is truly important to you but you’re not doing enough, ask yourself: What positive motivations do I have to achieve this? What’s holding me back?
If something is preventing you from taking the right action, review your motivation and find solutions. For example, I once wanted to go to the gym but never seemed to have enough time. Then I thought: If this is truly important to me, I need to schedule it. I ended up selecting two time slots per week and religiously sticking to them, no matter what. This small change transformed my life for the better.
Overall, if you want more support and concrete advice, consider hiring Optimal Happiness. We offer courses that dive deeper into these topics.
Stay happy and motivated.
