I. The Problem of Motivation

Many people see motivation backwards to the way it actually works. Perhaps you think that first you must get motivated, and that gives you the energy to accomplish things. That is backwards. Typically, people accomplish things, and that success motivates them to do more.

Remember that motivation is an emotion. Emotions do not come from nowhere – they are a response to your circumstances.

Your circumstances include your health, your home, your relationship (or lack of relationship), your job (or lack of job), your friendships, your accomplishments, and other aspects of your life.

Typically, very motivated people have good circumstances, while very unmotivated people have bad circumstances. Your circumstances drive your motivation, which in turn impacts your circumstances.

The good news is that you have the power to change your circumstances, even with very little motivation. Improving your circumstances will boost your motivation, starting a cycle that leads to a better life.

II. The Solution

Don’t focus on getting motivated. Instead, focus on making small, concrete steps that improve your life in measurable ways. Motivation will naturally follow.

No step is too small.

Focus on Health (water, food, sleep, anything else), Hygiene, Home, Family/Friends, Job, Hobbies/Interests/Anything Else in that order.

To start with: If you are reading this and your Health is lacking – if you are thirsty, hungry, tired, or unhealthy in any way – take care of that immediately. Get water to drink, food to eat, or go to bed.

If you are not taking care of your physical needs, your mood and the rest of your life will be negatively affected. On the other hand, if you are sleeping enough, eating well, and drinking enough water, your mood will be boosted along with your physical wellbeing.

After Health comes Hygiene. If you feel dirty, you will feel unmotivated. If you have not done so, do the following: brush your teeth, wash your face, shower, comb your hair, or shave. If your hair is too long or messy, get a haircut. Even minor changes like these can greatly improve your outlook on life.

After Hygiene comes Home. If your room is dirty, clean it. If you are seriously unmotivated, even that may be too demanding – instead, simply make your bed. This is one of the reasons why JBP says to clean your room; a clean and organized environment leads to greater motivation and sense of efficacy.

After taking care of your Home comes being with Family and Friends. In some ways, this is the most important part. If you are depressed or suffering, your friends and family would be happy to help you. Call them up and ask for help. Even if you are not in a bad mood, face-to-face socializing is extremely important to human wellbeing.

The key takeaway is that your mood is highly dependent on your lifestyle. Eat well, drink well, get enough sleep, take care of your hygiene, be active, and be social with friends and family. All of these things will make you happier and boost your motivation.

III. View Goals and Objectives Correctly

Similar to misinterpreting motivation, many people confuse goals and objectives, or do not know how to set goals properly. You may be familiar with this if you set a New Years Resolution, only to confront it again months later and find you have made no progress.

Think of a goal like a goal in sports. The goal of soccer is to get the ball through the net at the end of the field. However, although every soccer team is trying to accomplish that goal, none of them set "get the ball through the net" as their strategy. That would be way too simple! Instead, soccer players set objectives, such as "pass the ball to my friend" or "dodge that opposing player", that are prerequisites to achieving their goal.

In other words, a goal is generally a far-off aspiration, while an objective is something you can do right now. "Get physically fit" is a goal; "get dressed and go to the gym" is an objective. "Be healthier" is a goal; "make a doctor's appointment" is an objective.

In general, think in terms of objectives, not in terms of goals. Whenever you set a goal, consider the smaller objectives you will need to perform in order to reach that goal. This will keep your focus on the tasks at hand that lead to real progress.

[This chapter is still a work in progress; if you liked it, or if you have any criticism or suggestions to share, please leave a comment below!]

The following is part of the first chapter to a comprehensive guide to self-improvement. I'm in the process of writing it, and it will cover topics like Motivation, Socializing, Fitness, Diet, Grooming, Dating, Occupation, and much more. When I'm done the book will be released for free in its entirety. If you are interested in contributing, I would love your help! Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts, and/or join the sub here at /s/FoundationGuide. Thanks! ----- #I. The Problem of Motivation Many people see motivation *backwards* to the way it actually works. Perhaps you think that first you must get motivated, and that gives you the energy to accomplish things. That is backwards. Typically, people accomplish things, and that success motivates them to do more. Remember that motivation is an emotion. Emotions do not come from nowhere – they are a response to your circumstances. Your circumstances include your health, your home, your relationship (or lack of relationship), your job (or lack of job), your friendships, your accomplishments, and other aspects of your life. Typically, very motivated people have good circumstances, while very unmotivated people have bad circumstances. Your circumstances drive your motivation, which in turn impacts your circumstances. The good news is that you have the power to change your circumstances, even with very little motivation. Improving your circumstances will boost your motivation, starting a cycle that leads to a better life. #II. The Solution Don’t focus on getting motivated. Instead, focus on making small, concrete steps that improve your life in measurable ways. Motivation will naturally follow. No step is too small. Focus on Health (water, food, sleep, anything else), Hygiene, Home, Family/Friends, Job, Hobbies/Interests/Anything Else in that order. To start with: If you are reading this and your Health is lacking – if you are thirsty, hungry, tired, or unhealthy in any way – take care of that immediately. Get water to drink, food to eat, or go to bed. If you are not taking care of your physical needs, your mood and the rest of your life will be negatively affected. On the other hand, if you are sleeping enough, eating well, and drinking enough water, your mood will be boosted along with your physical wellbeing. After Health comes Hygiene. If you feel dirty, you will feel unmotivated. If you have not done so, do the following: brush your teeth, wash your face, shower, comb your hair, or shave. If your hair is too long or messy, get a haircut. Even minor changes like these can greatly improve your outlook on life. After Hygiene comes Home. If your room is dirty, clean it. If you are seriously unmotivated, even that may be too demanding – instead, simply make your bed. This is one of the reasons why JBP says to clean your room; a clean and organized environment leads to greater motivation and sense of efficacy. After taking care of your Home comes being with Family and Friends. In some ways, this is the most important part. If you are depressed or suffering, your friends and family would be happy to help you. Call them up and ask for help. Even if you are not in a bad mood, face-to-face socializing is extremely important to human wellbeing. The key takeaway is that your mood is highly dependent on your lifestyle. Eat well, drink well, get enough sleep, take care of your hygiene, be active, and be social with friends and family. All of these things will make you happier and boost your motivation. #III. View Goals and Objectives Correctly Similar to misinterpreting motivation, many people confuse goals and objectives, or do not know how to set goals properly. You may be familiar with this if you set a New Years Resolution, only to confront it again months later and find you have made no progress. Think of a *goal* like a goal in sports. The goal of soccer is to get the ball through the net at the end of the field. However, although every soccer team is trying to accomplish that goal, none of them set "get the ball through the net" as their strategy. That would be way too simple! Instead, soccer players set *objectives*, such as "pass the ball to my friend" or "dodge that opposing player", that are prerequisites to achieving their goal. In other words, a goal is generally a far-off aspiration, while an objective is something you can do right now. "Get physically fit" is a goal; "get dressed and go to the gym" is an objective. "Be healthier" is a goal; "make a doctor's appointment" is an objective. In general, think in terms of objectives, not in terms of goals. Whenever you set a goal, consider the smaller objectives you will need to perform in order to reach that goal. This will keep your focus on the tasks at hand that lead to real progress. [This chapter is still a work in progress; if you liked it, or if you have any criticism or suggestions to share, please leave a comment below!]

I. The Problem of Motivation

II. The Solution

III. View Goals and Objectives Correctly

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