Nowadays you can’t seem to be online long enough before being bombarded with yet another motivational or inspirational post from a successful Influencer or an aspiring one. They’re on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Twitter … essentially just everywhere! Everyone has their motives for spreading motivation.
“Stop whining. Be all you can be. Don’t give up. Become a better man. You were born to win. Don’t be a loser. There are only 86,400 seconds in a day so use them wisely.” While I too am big on encouraging and supporting others to become enhanced versions of themselves, a strange thing can begin to happen when too much of a good thing is forced upon others; it gradually loses effect.
The truth about Motives and Motivation
Attempting to force others to change is like trying to get them to buy your product through advertising without them having genuine interest in it. You can advertise your product a million times and, at best, the most you may receive for your efforts is lukewarm or temporary interest. It can also be like trying to consistently tell people about God when they’re just not quite ready—or may never be ready—to hear anything about it.
Today everyone seemingly wants to be a Social Media celebrity. The bouts of inspiration they share can make them feel good; it can trickle down to make you feel good as well. But this is until you begin to realize one very important thing. No matter how many times you feel inspired after consuming their posts, you begin to feel indifferent or worse afterwards.
It’s almost like a drug. You watch whatever you care to watch and feel good about it. Then you feel so bad or empty afterwards that the only way you can feel better is to watch more. Rinse and repeat. The individual sharing their stuff gets more views, likes, shares and possibly money and you get your daily fix. It’s a win-lose situation.
How to motivate yourself
But are the people who share the content to blame for your infinite, non-progressive, spiral? No, you are. Especially as the same logic can be applied to those who make themselves a slave to television, movies, drinking, sex or anything that can easily become an addiction.
The truth is that no amount of motivational content you consume will ever inspire you to become a better person. You will never truly be inspired until you learn how to properly apply the knowledge that is shared in a way that actually alters your life. Simply put, you must get off your ass and take action!
Confirm the motives for your motivation
Stop talking about that book you always planned to write and go write it. Stop talking about that person you wish was in love with you and go make them fall in love with you. And stop talking about going back to school or quitting your job if you seriously wish to try something progressively different in your life. Just go do it! After all, there may be 86,400 seconds in a day but you only have 1 life.
Is what I just wrote any different from what the average motivator would usually share with you? No. The difference lies in the fact that I care less about views, likes, shares and money. Your freedom and true happiness is more important. I want you to take more control of your life and ACT on the good things you feel … until you become the best version of yourself that you can ever be.
