random8

There’s a great big sign on the wall across from the stairs at the gym that I go to which says “Motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going”. This slightly offends me, because it stinks of not having been thought about at all.

I find motivation fascinating, and even more fascinating than motivation is the diversity of material that helps people - including myself of course - to be motivated. I find that I may want very much to do something, but until a certain je ne sais quoi is achieved or in place, I won’t actually take up the bat and do the thing.

This certain thing appears to be some form of catalyst. Successful people seem to know exactly what it is that catalyses and pushes them into action. It’s sometimes almost like one is waging a war with oneself… and other times, it’s not.

Friends have told me various things from time to time about this topic. One told me that he just goes with the flow of whatever seems to be “standing in the way” of getting useful work done, because fighting it often takes twice as long to get to the point where you’re “in the zone” than not fighting it.

I’ve always been intensely interested in my moods, my thoughts and just generally my whole EVENT with respect to this. Why is it so easy on some days, and other days almost impossible? We seem to be incredibly fragile beings, with our moods constantly in flux here and there… one day a chocolate bar will help, another day I don’t need any THING at all. Some days, reading a certain something will help, and other days it’ll be something someone says.

Generally, though, it’s my mood that’s in control. My feelings. If I’m in a “good” place, then it’s easy to connect to myself and altogether arrive at some destination, all parts of myself acting in concert. If, conversely, I’m a bit disjointed, it’s like a poorly tuned school band that just can’t seem to keep tempo, rhythm or tuning, and the desired effect is… well, let’s just say the “mark is missed”. ;-)

There’s an old eastern idea that likens the human being to a horse, carriage and driver. The carriage is the body, the horse the emotions and the driver is the mind. Today the driver would like to drive somewhere, but the reigns are a little too thin to convey to the horse that he’d like to go somewhere, and perhaps the horse isn’t trained very well, or is a little temperamental because he hasn’t been trained very well. Sometimes the carriage is not in good wear, and so the horse has a very hard time pulling the carriage. All of these variables and more are constantly in flux. It’s fascinating to see the various parallels with this idea, and let’s not even get to the point that the master, who is directing the driver from the carriage may not even be present!

So, when I find myself in this predicament of not being able to direct myself at all, it’s a strange finding. Also, likewise, when I find myself in the state of everything flowing, it’s an interesting finding. I’m left with a question, which keeps lingering, much like the subtle fragrance of a flower - you’re reminded of it when it is there, and you know it, but when it’s gone it’s very difficult to remember the smell of the thing.

I’d be very interested to know what helps others…

(Habit, conversely, is all about MECHANICS, I find - the human machine, like all physicality, finds it easier to repeat things that have been done before than not… the interesting thing about that sign on my gym is that it doesn’t actually say anything about motivation, really, but it pretends to be pithy)