Motivation is Not What You Need

In our times, everybody is more or less familiar with the concept of motivation. Whether it is the lack of it, excess of it, or just the desire to stay motivated about something, motivation is considered a necessary virtue. We all have various goals dictated by career, studies, financial stability, family, self-improvement, etc., and these goals require motivation and a certain ambition.

More often than not, lack of motivation is considered the problem. It is almost taken for granted that one should feel motivated. The lack of it would mean you are incapable, and you cannot achieve anything without being motivated to achieve — and achieve you must, says the society in so many ways gross and subtle.

We have internalized this framework, and it is obvious that something is wrong with our approach.

Acharya Prashant has given us the following pointers to understand the subject matter clearly.

1. What is Motivation?

At the root of the word ‘motivation’ is the word ‘motive’. What is meant by ‘motive’?

Motive means: “I want to get something.”

Which implies that you want to get something that you already don’t have.

In simple words: something is missing in you.

You have been continuously told that you are imperfect, inadequate. You have been compared to others, you have been told to become like somebody else, you have been told to get this and that achievement. And that kind of conditioning is coming from family, media, religion, everywhere.

“Look at uncle’s son, you are not good enough.”

“You characterless woman, you are always in the hunt of a partner, you are not good enough.”

“Unless you have a good husband, you are incomplete.”

“After marriage, if you don’t become a mother, your life is incomplete.”

“Only one kid, you must have two kids, then your life is complete.”