The Cycle of Motivation and Demotivation: Understanding the Need for Patience and Persistence

Why do people get demotivated again and again after initially feeling motivated? The primary reason is their failure to see results as quickly as they had hoped. This leads to discouragement, and they overlook the importance of patience and persistence. To truly understand this, let's delve into how the human mind functions.

Understanding the Human Mind

Imagine you have a bent rubber pipe in your backyard to water the plants. The pipe's bend results in low outflow pressure, meaning the water doesn't flow as efficiently as it should. Now, consider two ways to increase the outflow pressure:

By increasing the inflow pressure using a more powerful pump, which requires more electrical or mechanical power. By removing the bend from the pipe, thus increasing the outflow pressure without any additional inflow pressure and without the need for extra power.

The first method is an external and temporary solution, while the second is an internal and permanent one. Similar to this analogy, motivation can be seen as an external factor that temporarily boosts your commitment to perform a task. However, willpower, the internal factor, is limited and can drain you of energy if used in excess.

Willpower and Performing Tasks

Every time you need to put in extra effort to perform a task, you’re leveraging willpower. Over time, willpower gets depleted, leading to fatigue and demotivation. This is akin to bending the pipe; no matter how much you try to unbend it, you can't permanently fix it with just external effort.

The Permanent Solution: Habits

For sustained performance and motivation, the permanent solution is to form habits. Once formed, these habits don't require any additional willpower to perform the task. For example, brushing your teeth in the morning is a habit that requires no cognitive load to maintain. This ensures that your "pipe" remains unobstructed and your commitment remains strong.

Forming Good Habits

There are several methods to form good habits. Here are some strategies:

**Schedule a Fixed Time:** Try to schedule a fixed time for the activity. Consistency is key. **Daily Practice:** Perform the task daily. If you miss one day, start again the next day, but don’t skip for consecutive days. **Baby Steps:** Don’t try to do everything at once. Take small steps and gradually increase the intensity.

Further Reading and Insights

James Clear's book, Atomic Habits, provides deep insights into the power of habits and how to form good habits while eliminating bad ones. The book is more than just a collection of tips; it has a profound impact on your life. Reading it can help you understand the role of habits in sustaining motivation and performance.

Understanding and implementing these strategies can significantly impact your ability to maintain motivation over the long term. By forming good habits, you can ensure that your commitment remains strong, leading to more consistent and productive outcomes.

References:

Atomic Habits by James Clear - A book that underscores the importance of habits in achieving long-term success.