These 9 unique habits will keep you motivated as F

For most of my life, I believed motivation was a personality trait possessed by the lucky few.

I was wrong.

It turns out we cultivate unstoppable motivation through our behaviours.

In other words, we can choose to be motivated.

I learned after years of procrastination that when I took on motivated habits, I realised more energy than I knew I had.

Though I don’t always feel motivated, these habits keep me feeling motivated more of the time:

1. Daily ideation.

I never knew that feeling like a creative machine was a thing, until I started writing brainstorm lists as a daily habit.

The brain responds to our repeated behaviours. In other words, we become more and more creative the more we use our creative muscle.

When we regularly create new ideas and solutions, we feel more motivated.

Why?

Because to create with intensity is to answer the call of what it means to be human.

2. Commit to elite physical health.

‘Taking care of yourself’ is boring.

Commit, instead, to developing and nurturing the most optimised physique and health you can, given what you’re able to work with.

There’s nothing more energising than to be on the path of not only tending to your health (yawn), but rather — to master health.

Lift heavy weights with a conscious view to sculpting an outstanding body.

Find mentors who understand how to optimise the body and diet. Eat the best quality primal food.

Walk for hours every day.

Mastery is fun and energising.

3. Finish things.

Starting things is one thing, but how many of us get excited about starting something new, and then leave it unfinished?

We chase that next shiny thing. This is a serious issue in the Internet world, and one to which I can relate. Every time we don’t finish, we’re voting against ourselves.

Results come to those who repeatedly assert themselves to completion.

When we act boldly, with a strong intention to follow through with what we start, we become that energy.

Finish what you start, build a picture of yourself as a ‘finisher,’ and you will feel unstoppable.

4. Avoid artificial dopamine sources.

I get it: porn, video-games, social media, energy-drinks, movies — they’re fun, addictive, and extremely pleasurable forms of escape.

The problem?

These things (porn most of all) cause high dopamine spikes and literally fry your dopamine receptors.

This means you become increasingly numb to ‘normal’ forms of stimulus.

Things which previously motivated you, like making art, being out in nature, and enjoying sex with a real human, now bring you less of a buzz.

Cutting back on these things will give you a renewed drive, and an advantage over most everyone else.

5. Prioritise doing difficult things.

Be careful with this cutesy advice: ‘focus on what makes you happy!’

This is a surefire way to live an unhappy and mediocre life (you won’t grow).

Do this instead: focus on things that interest you and bring you enjoyment. But then, within this avenue — whether it’s writing, or coaching, or design — ensure you regularly do things that make you nervous. Your fears are pointing you to opportunities, and fear rarely feels enjoyable.

Hard things, coupled with stuff that interests you: that’s the sweet spot.

6. Stop being focused.

Wait, what? Yes, I said it.

I realised over the years that when I pressured myself into being more focused, I lost motivation, and — ironically — I became less focused.

When we put stress on ourselves to be or do anything, our performance drops. We tighten up. Motivation is born out of a looseness in body and mind.

We can’t be loose if we’re trying too hard to be ‘focused.’

Sure, set goals and targets, but allow them to breathe and evolve.

Let go to enjoying the process without being attached to the outcome.

7. Master body scanning.

Want to know why we procrastinate and feel resistance to taking action? We limit ourselves in the mind.

When we tell ourselves ‘I can’t,’ we literally feel that thought physically.

We feel it as laziness or tiredness, or a stuck feeling in our chests. The solution? Become present to the feeling.

Observe it closely. Maintaining awareness on the feeling will dissolve it (and the thought) in real time. This is a great practice to apply to any resistance you feel through the day.

Sit with it and watch it float away.

In the absence of physical ‘stuckness,’ wisdom and enjoyment will appear.

8. Be remarkable to those who matter.

Many of us struggle because we underwhelm ourselves in our actions and creations.

We operate at 80%. We’re doing ‘just enough,’ before ducking out and heading to the pub with our mates.

The unstoppable have one mission underlying everything they do: make it remarkable.

Be surprising and unexpected in all you do.

This needn’t be reserved for everyone (common courtesy is obviously vital) — but focus on bringing remarkable value to those who you want to include in your vision for success.

Vital energy will be gifted to those who aim to deliver at higher levels.

9. Stop trying to ‘fix’ yourself.

While everyone else is transfixed on ‘self-love’ and ‘healing,’ you’re different.

You have learned to let go of the need to change yourself.

Why would you need to put effort into ‘self-love’ if you love yourself by default?

No. You are dedicated to action and success, as you see it. Stop trying to fix yourself. You’re already whole. Your life is already a damn miracle.

Stop. Healing is an excuse.

The most loving thing you can do for yourself is get out of bed in the morning and attack the day.

This is how to instil an unstoppable energy.

Do this and the world will watch you in awe.

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