I was thoroughly unmotivated to write today. Maybe it's not just me. Maybe that is your story as well. So, what Did I do? Just like you would do. I started to watch you tube for a spark of motivation. Then I realized some of contradictory ideas about motivation within myself. It may be applicable to you too.
Facts about motivation
In Theory, motivation has two roots. External and internal motivation (Locus of control). Remember when Sheldon used gifts to make Penny's behavior appealing, in big bang Theory. Of course that looked unethical, however that is using external motivation. However, if you ask some artist why he even would paint while he is not selling any, or someone who play the guitar when that is not his job, that is because we are internally motivated.
Few Facts to remember.
Internal motivation is more rewarding, as it lets us enjoy our work. "Life is a journey not destination. "
Having both internal and external motivators can make you weary.
If the task is easy to do, you will need less motivation (Hence divide and conquer)
Locus of control, is it with us? clashing with motivation.
Now, this is the fact I noticed about myself. If you have read the articles of mine before I have written about philosophical ideas about how the self is generated. How thoughts are created and what will happen after life etc. More and more I learn about these things more and more it is evident that we have less control over our lives. Contradictory to what teachers have taught me. Even anyone who want to succeed have to think that there is a great deal in life which we can control and hence mendable outcomes.
Read the poem, Science of nature.
So, learning that we have, less control over life, or no control makes me not motivated at all to write or do something for changing future. It destroys the internal motivation. However, as it seems that there is no control or will over my thoughts look like a true fact, mind would not agree on anything otherwise. At least for now. So, how can I get rid of this loop of mild depression of knowing the truth?
Dual worlds solution.
I like to put it in practice like living in two different worlds. Like Plato mentioned. There is a platonic world I can linger in mindfulness embracing futile nature of the mind and everything it brings into my attention. The other world is the illusive world where you and I talk about these things. Where you and I exist, and we can get motivated to learn and write about the world. Where we can listen to music, paint a picture and do some measuring and math.
Each world has its own rules.
In summary: Motivation- Locus of control and the dual world solution
knowing that our control in life is less than we expected in the beginning, clashes with our motivation.
To be stay motivated, thinking these as dual worlds helps.
How would you perceive the reality? It is one or duel in nature for you?
Thank you for reading, Motivation- Locus of control and dual world solution
You may also like to read Embracing Emptiness Poem
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