2 min read Mindset

Motivation Masterclass: How To Get Started And Stay Disciplined

Over time, the routine moves beyond lifestyle. It's not just something you do, it's actually part of who you are.

In order to understand how to get motivated, you need to understand how motivation typically works.

The Motivation Curve

Starting

The very start of any given journey is often the hardest. You don't know what to do, and everything is unknown and scary. Then, once you break out of that initial start, you gain motivation quickly. The new thing you're doing is exciting and you notice all the different possibilities of your journey. You're starting to reach the peak of the "starting"-phase.

The dip

After a while, you start getting a bit bored. The journey is harder than you thought. The initial excitement wears off. Now you're off in the most critical part of any journey, "the dip". This is the place where most people fall off. However, if you can muster up the motivation to continue, it will get easier.

Habit

If you keep going, you will start to develop a habit. This doesn't mean it easy yet, but it's a lot easier to keep up a consistent routine. More importantly, from here on out, it will only get easier over time, as long as you keep going.

Lifestyle

After a certain point, it is not longer just a habit, it's a lifestyle. Meaning, you will consciously keep a certain routine in your life despite different circumstances. For example, if you're a student, you've probably adopted a student lifestyle, whereby you design your days and weeks around you school routine.

Identity

Over time, the routine moves beyond lifestyle. It's not just something you do, it's actually part of who you are. The routine is so ingrained that you will keep doing it, no matter what outer circumstances you are in. It may still require some amount of discipline, but you're neurological pathways work for you, not against you.

Staying Motivated

In order to stay motivated, you must keep up a consistent routine. Consistency is the key. The most important part of the journey to be conscious of, is "the dip". Know that it will come, and you take some of it's power away. You may not know where the bottom is before you've surpassed it, but always remember that it will get easier to stay motivated.

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