Debunking Five Myths About Motivation

Motivation is a buzzword for many people, and whether you realize it or not, you’re probably carrying some misconceptions prohibiting you from reaching your potential. These false narratives can result in unrealistic expectations, poor strategies, inaccurate self-perception, and several other potential issues. On the other hand, if we can better understand what motivation is and how it works, we can find a greater sense of empowerment to reach our goals and move to the next level.

Before developing a new approach to motivation, we must figure out what lies we’ve been believing and how they hold us back. Let’s unpack some of the most common misconceptions about motivation and examine where they come from and how we can leave them behind. 

One: Motivation is constant

This myth is easy to pinpoint. We see people in pop culture or on social media who accomplish huge goals, and we assume that they hit the ground running daily. We don’t feel like we can compare, making us wonder if we should try. 

 The truth is that developing and maintaining motivation is never a linear process. You’ll have days where you aren’t sure where to find your motivation. You’ll experience random increases in motivation and instantaneous motivational drains that leave you wondering how you’ll rebound and move forward on your motivational journey. 

By recognizing the occasional volatility of motivation, while also remembering that you have more control over your motivation than you think, you’ll be prepared to attack the days when your motivation feels low. You’ll build consistent habits, celebrate small daily wins, and build meaningful systems of accountability to ensure you don’t fall too far off the rails. 

Two: Motivation eliminates the need for discipline

Discipline seems like a dirty word. Most people hear discipline and think about the negative consequences of poor choices or a highly regimented life without room for fun or pleasure. Yes, discipline requires effort, but a disciplined life can be far more enjoyable than this limited portrayal. 

Motivation and discipline aren’t identical, although there is some overlap between each area. Regardless, motivation doesn’t eliminate the need for discipline. In fact, discipline strengthens the power of your motivation by making it practical and actionable. 

Let’s say you’re motivated to lose weight. You’re ready to take action and make meaningful life changes. That’s a great start, but what could that practically look like? If you take this desire further and bring in discipline, you’ll form positive habits such as exercise, counting calories, and limiting unnecessary indulgences. Your motivation to lose weight manifests in disciplines that serve you well and accelerate your progress toward your goal. 

Is motivation without discipline helpful? Sure. You’ll take a few steps through sheer will. However, motivation works better when used as a fuel to power discipline, which is the vehicle that often helps to get you where you want to go. 

Three: Motivation guarantees success 

This won’t be news to most people, but we crave control. We like black and white. Cause-and-effect processes entice us because we prefer situations with predictable outcomes.

Unfortunately, life is rarely this way. Motivation may increase your chances of success, but it can’t guarantee anything. People can’t achieve their goals simply because of their motivation. Success requires a complex recipe of motivation, daily habits, resources, timing, and external circumstances. 

I love what Stephen Covey teaches about the circle of concern and the circle of influence in his classic book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” Covey argues that the circle of concern contains all the issues we care about but ultimately can’t control. On the other hand, the circle of influence includes any topic or domain where we have influence. For example, you can’t control whether or not someone says yes to a request. However, you can control the timing and manner of your request and choose what kind of attitude and response you’ll have if the other person turns you down. 

Success doesn’t entirely fall into either circle, meaning we don’t always have full influence over success. However, we can take steps to control our motivation, and when we do so, we put ourselves in the best possible position for success.

Four: Motivation is always positive

I’m sometimes guilty of thinking about motivation only from a positive standpoint. Indeed, feeling motivated usually feels good because it’s a sense of energy that inspires us to take action. However, it’s important to remember that motivation doesn’t always come from a good place and doesn’t always produce a desirable outcome. 

Neither the source nor the application of motivation is inherently or constantly positive. The spectrum of motivation is complicated, dynamic, and multifaceted. Sometimes, a seemingly positive motivation comes with negative undertones or baggage. Perhaps you want to pursue a goal or accomplishment not because of its potential significance or impact but because you crave external validation. While the motivation may help you get started, you may not find fulfillment or success because of your misguided expectations. 

For this reason, it’s important to challenge our motivations as they arise. Since motivation is neither inherently positive nor negative, another factor in the equation must determine whether or not the motivation is worth acting upon. So, what could this be? Is it the action or result that our motivation produces? Is it how our motivation impacts our growth and development? Is it how our motivation changes how we see ourselves, others, and the world around us? 

To identify the value of your motivation, you must remain curious. When you feel a push or a drive to do something, ask yourself what you would lose if you didn’t act on your motivation. Answering this question will reveal the cost of inaction and the reward for taking a step. Seeing this information in the light of day will help you make an informed decision about whether or not you’ll answer the motivational call. 

Five: Motivation is the same for everyone

Let me start here by clarifying something. I believe strongly that we all have the same amount of motivation. This premise is true because everything we do requires motivation. 

However, this doesn’t mean everyone uses or perceives motivation similarly. What motivates me may not have the slightest impact on you. The way you understand motivation may be entirely foreign to me. What’s important is not aligning our understanding of motivation with what’s expected or conventional. Instead, our approach must be to become deeply aware of how our motivation works to leverage our motivation’s power to reach our most important goals. 

As we wrap this up, let’s take a minute to think about your current relationship with motivation. Which of these limiting beliefs has the greatest effect on your motivation? What are 1-2 steps to improve your relationship with motivation and enhance your ability to maximize its power? As Craig Groeschel writes in his book “Winning the War in Your Mind,” a lie that’s believed as true will affect your life as if it were true. You must approach your motivation with the right understanding to use it in the best possible way. This perspective will help you harness the amazing capabilities your motivation brings to the table.