A lack of motivation can often seem to be caused by laziness or procrastination at first glance, but looks can often be deceiving! If you’re struggling to stay motivated about working on your goals or any other endeavor, a little introspection can be just the thing you need to provide clarity and insight about what’s really happening beneath the surface.

Grab a sheet of paper and a pen, and answer the questions below:

Fear of failure is an all-too-common reason why people lose motivation. If this is one of the reasons you’re holding back, you’ll likely be able to come up with clear ideas why you feel so afraid. For example, you may write, “I’m afraid of embarrassing myself in front of my family and friends,” or “I’m afraid I’ll be really disappointed in myself if I don’t make this happen.” Whatever comes to mind, write it down and then really think about whether it would be so terrible to experience – or if it would be much worse to not try at all.

1) Am I afraid of failing?

            I didn’t realize it until now, but fear of failing is present in my mind. I am afraid I will never beat depression, or if I do, I won’t be able to sustain it. I am afraid of failing in work, that I won’t be able to live up to the average or expectations. Not to mention my own expectations of myself which is to be better than average. There are a lot of things I am realizing that fear is a part of my lack of motivation and/or procrastination

Likewise, you may be feeling uncertain about your ability to overcome obstacles and challenges, which is slightly different than a fear of failure. For example, you may have a certain measure of confidence in your skills and abilities but doubt that you have the determination and fortitude to achieve the full outcome you desire.

2) Do I really believe in my own ability to persevere until I make it?

                As far as the depression/forgiving myself goes, this doesn’t apply. For being an independent woman, a worker breadwinner, this does come into play. I worry that I won’t be able to hack it, especially since the navy and being a mechanic didn’t work out so well.

Below another excellent question to ask because sometimes you’re not aware that your priorities and preferences have changed, and you can gain a lot of clarity by understanding what you REALLY want. If you do find that you’ve lost interest in your initial goals, you simply need to come up with some new and exciting goals that will spark your eagerness to move forward again.

3) Have I grown bored with the goals that once meant so much to me?

                If anything, I believe that I have lowered them. I don’t think I’m bored with them so much as not persevering. Some things have lost meaning, like being a mechanic or a secretary or office person. More because my interests have shifted.

Another common fear is the fear of success. A fear of success is more about fearing the baggage that often comes along with success. You may feel nervous about taking on extra responsibility, feel overwhelmed by the increased attention your success would bring, or you might even be worried that you’ll never be able to “top” this level of success in the future. The only way to work through these fears is to discredit them. When you break them down and really examine them, you usually find that they’re groundless or irrational, which helps you to move past them.

4) Am I afraid of what it might mean if I succeed?

                With the mental health issues, this is a big one. Because depression never ‘goes away’, it just becomes manageable. I also fear of being a center stage person, or having people count on me, like I won’t be able to live up to the things expected. There are so many skills I need to build in order to be in any position as such.

Sometimes you can’t find any clear reason for feeling unmotivated, but asking this question can often help you feel more in control of your own willingness to take action. Not only do you realize that you’re not powerless against a lack of motivation, you may come up with creative ideas that could inspire your sense of enthusiasm again.

5) What would make me feel more motivated about this goal or activity?

                Sounds silly, but progress brings more motivation. If I can just get the ball rolling, I am much more likely to keep it going. If I could find some methods of self-talk that would help bring a positive outlook, or come up with a clear, organized plan of accomplishment about whatever the goal is, then I am much more likely to see progress and to get it done/accomplished.

So this weekend I've started experiencing these weird symptoms... numb tingling all over my body but most noticably in my extremeities and muscles. I feel lightheaded extremely and nauseated (sp) and mom said it sounded like panic attacks. I know I have a lot of things going on in my life, but I thought I was handling them pretty well. However, the feeling of disconnect during these feelings also leads me to believe maybe I am not dealing with them so much as bottling them more effectively... Not sure if that makes any sense or not.
The kittens are driving me nuts. They are shitting everywhere! I am very sensitive to smells and nothing drives me nuts more than to come home, open my front door to a clean-looking house and be accosted by the smell of cat excrement. I miss Tsukiyo. She was a good cat. Not only that, but these kittens want to be on me 24/7. If I'm moving around, they are following me meowing loudly. Roxi still likes to chase them, but I think they are getting used to each other. I still don't know if I should keep them or not though. They aren't really filling any void for me, but also, if I get them a litter box, maybe they'll not be so bad.
I don't know, the one was supposed to be for Andrew, but he isn't coming back now, so its almost a bitter memory going home and seeing cats. It wouldn't be so bad if I was coming home and they were there on the couch on his lap or something, but just there on the couch next to a pile of excrement is more of a blood pressure raise than a warming feeling.
I just don't get it. Doing my budget, one would think I should have enough money to get out of debt and live relatively comfortably, but Murphy keeps coming up and taking big chunks out of my funds. Like I know I didn't need to pay for Gib to fly back to NY, and if I hadn't, I wouldn't have gotten my truck repossesed, but at the same time, I was in the situation, and had to deal with it. So I made the best choice I could. So there is no use in harping on it now.
I am the captain of my own life, not the prisoner in the brig. I need to put all my strength into taking control of my life and stop playing the victim.
I know alot of my issues come from being repressed and never being really allowed to stretch my own wings and see how high I can go and what I am capable of. So I became adjusted to the idea that I ultimately didn't have control and wasn't responsible for my actions. So lately, I've been trying to take control slowly, working on things like my health and mental state. Reminding myself that most things don't have a 'due date' and that its perfectly ok to take some time to figure things out in my head, so long as I think and not obsess or think myself in circles. So I've been trying to think until I realize the circles, and then stop and let it go. Or meditate on myself for a while and focus on loving me. I like to picture myself giving my heart a hug to ease the pain. It feels like it is shattered and bleeding all over my insides, so gathering up the pieces and hugging myself feels really good. Its not a feeling I can always hold on to, but I also realize if I practice it, then it will get easier.
I feel like I'm taking slow baby steps (well it feels more like in my dreams where my legs are lifeless and I'm dragging myself by my forearms) but I am also realizing that there is no dinosaur chasing me, and that its ok, I can take it one inch at a time. I know alot of the self-help books talk about taking as much time as you need to heal, and I think its finally starting to sink in. I am finally starting to feel freed from the constant thought that I am behind some cosmic schedule and deadlines.
The most frustrating thing right now is the lack of control I have over my own mind. I still feel like a passenger, riding the emotional waves that rack my brain, and even though I'm trimming sails and adjusting tension lines, its like I haven't found the sailor's instinct yet.
I have so many changes I want to make in my life, but I am trying to focus on relaxing and learning to love myself again.
I don't think people realize how intense my self-hatred has been, heck, I haven't even realized it until lately, but I see a long trail ahead of me before I'll be able to fully forgive myself. I need to find my feet again, my solid ground in myself and stop looking for comfort in other people. At this point in life, its like everyone is trying to stretch their wings, and I think I should have stuck to my own advice when I broke things off with Fred. I need to not worry about relationships right now and just worry about gaining control of my own life's voyage