It’s very painful when you feel unmotivated. It’s like the world is a merry go round and everyone is having fun and you’re just lying down on the ground, unable to get on the ride.
When I am unmotivated I can’t get out of bed. There was one period in the past three years where I look back on it and I can’t even imagine writing a to do list. I don’t know what I was thinking during the day. I did absolutely nothing. Zero. And as a result my entire life turned upside down. “I needed to gather the strength,” I would whisper to myself. But still I was unmotivated.
Than I would watch a motivational videos and this was good enough to do just do one thing and one thing only. Make me feel good in that time but honestly the return of investment was awful. I spent hours feeling motivate but I wasn’t doing anything to get myself out of the rabbit hole of depression.
Motivation is overrated. If you want to accomplish the things that will grow your life and your business, you can’t rely on it. Trust me. I tried.
So this what you need to do.
Build.
Don’t try to be perfect. Build a Story- Brand podcast, blog or YouTube Channel- starring you. Tell the truth. Actually tell the worst thing about yourself. The thing that makes you cringe.
Because there’s this notion that motivation is the key to success. But it’s bs. Your story is there already.
It’s waiting to be discovered with a simple mental strategy we can use to bypass motivation in order to make wise decisions that grow your mind, your mental health- your business, to make healthy decisions, and strengthen your relationships.
It’s incredibly simple and intuitive, and you’ll see, you have the ability to dramatically impact anyone’s life.
But Logan? I have no idea what you’re talking about….
Good! Because by the end of this article you’ll know exactly why you’re lucky to be down, wrecked and out of options.
I believe in this: we have four pillars:
- Physical (the obvious one)
- Emotional
- Mental
- Spiritual
They are all connected. There is virtual blood that flows between them. There is a virtual heart in the middle. The blood is pumping through every second.
Any blockage in any body and you have a “heart attack”, i.e. you get depressed, unmotivated, unhappy, unwilling to relax, you feel anxious, you feel like purposeless.
It’s important to get back on track with each. As I’ve said- start with small goals.
For physical, maybe instead of: “working out more, sleeping more, eating well” just do “drink one less soda for one day” or “sleep one hour less.”
Next pillar is emotional:
Truth- gravy.
You are very lucky. If you’re down. The only place you can go is up. You can try to spend one afternoon volunteering. You’re probably spending a god-awful amount of time thinking about yourself. Just one afternoon, volunteer someplace else. Please. You have two hands and two legs and a brain. People with less need your help. I know I know you probably don’t want to do this but…… what do you have to lose? That’s right. Nothing. You’re probably like feeling worthless too. So which one would you rather have. Worthless feelings or worthy feelings?
Feeling good though is hard when you’re drowning in Depression
Start small. I can’t say this enough. Take just 5 minutes to help someone. If you go on Facebook and someone has a Facebook status that’s negative. There you go!! There’s your chance. Cheer them up.
Instead of “get rid of all the crappy people in your life” try “next time you are angry, put yourself in their shoes for ten seconds”.
For mental: Solve a small problem for someone.
Heck- I don’t care if you copy this very post and share it with a friend that you know is al feeling down to cheer them up.
Sharing rhymes with Caring for a reason.
But instead of “feeling terrible and staying in bed” how about doing one thing?
Make a new plan.
By writing down just one thing on your “to do list” and than taking action on that to do list teaches you valuable skill. It trains you to have the ability to listen to your past self. To start something and finish something is a very profitable skill.
Idea habit: Take notes of your inventions, plans or things that make you smile.
“write one idea.”
Heres one idea that will instantly make you feel better.
Can you call some people today and tell them you are grateful for them. Because this is the part in your life. You’re old enough that no matter what has happened in the past, there are people you are grateful for. Please call them. Family, friends, ex-clients, ex-lovers. Whoever. And tell them why you are grateful for them. What you learned and why you love them. It’s way easier then starting a business. BUT it could lead to one.
Be Curious
Putting your curiosity cap on helps a ton with playing again. Ask yourself why things are the way they are.
Meditation
Okay everyone and their Grandma reccommends meditation. Over time anxieties and all the thoughts that spring back and forth like a ball in a pinball machine, starts to get more and more silent and less active.
It is out of this quietness that true change and ambition comes. It turns your body into the transmitter for something else.
Wait for the transmission. Wait for the message. You won’t need motivation then. This will take you over and everyone around you will feel the energy spilling forth.
I just gave you a lot of things to do. Which is hard. Because who needs more shit on their plate. So you have to replace some things with these things. No news. No TV. Just try it.
Lasting thoughts- Brene Brown has written an excellent book called The Gift of Imperfection, but I’ll summarize it here: Perfectionism is sometimes the most dangerous set of thoughts you can let inside your head. It’s perfectionism that keeps us from actualy turning messes into successes.
When I write a blog post I think sucks, I might take it down before too many eyes see it. I’m ashamed of it. I want to win the Nobel Prize for blog writing. Or get at least ten thousand Facebook “like” s. But I can’t control that; I’m imperfect. The shame of imperfections takes at least 20 percent of my intelligence away. Because people sense and appreciate honesty, and honesty about imperfections, believe it or not, it creates enormous opportunities. I’ve seen it happen in my own life. And this can happy in yours too.
And this is EXACTLY WHY you’re Lucky because down, wrecked and out of options.
Logan Tyler Nelson is the creator of Scratch You Own Itch podcast, He is a Performance Enhancement Expert, and Published author on Thrive Global and Medium. Logan graduated with a BFA In Acting from NIU. He inspires and motivates you to “Scratch Your Own Itch” so you can grow personally and professionally.
Logan equips people with the tools necessary to live CREATIVE, COMPASSIONATE and CURIOUS lives, and leaves people better equipped to manage change effectively. His WHY is he’s a suicide survivor, and shares his powerful testimony globally.