What Came First: Motivation or Action?

What Came First: Motivation or Action?

I found myself recently making statements such as, “Motivation comes after taking action.”

I mean, it made sense to me at the time I was saying it.

My main reason for saying this came in response to my workouts.

Many times, I don’t feel like working out.

However, I start working out and become more motivated as I get into my workout.

I saw somebody post on X (formerly Twitter) the other day about this subject and they made the claim that motivation follows action (in different words).

I decided to really think about this statement and question whether I believe that motivation follows action or it’s the other way around.

Before I get into my answer to this question, I wanted to look at the definition of motivation from a scientific perspective.

“Motivation comes down to wanting change; it’s wanting change in one area of our lives or multiple areas of our lives, but it’s wanting change.” (Reference here)

“Motivation is the process that initiates, guides, and maintains goal-oriented behaviors.” (Reference here)

Motivation is intentional; we must be intentional about creating it.

Something in our environment or within ourselves gives us enough reason to want to change.

For me, I got tired of living in the constant state of trauma I was living in.

I got tired of reliving my past every day in my present.

I didn’t like who I was, and I didn’t like how it was affecting my marriage and family.

This motivated me to want to change.

It took a long time, but I finally got to that point.

If you’re stuck now and not sure how to create motivation in your life, here’s three easy ways to start creating motivation today:

1) Setting priorities, goals, and actions

As I said before, you must know your priorities, goals, and actions.

Your priorities are the most important things to you in life.

My priorities are my family, health, and business.

Your priorities keep you focused and less likely to get distracted.

Your goals and actions must support your priorities.

When you identify what’s most important to you, set a goal for that priority, and identity one action you can take today to start working towards that goal, it’s hard not to get motivated.

Again, don’t start out big, start small.

You can start by identifying one priority, one goal, and one action and get started today.

2) Visualization

If you’re dealing with trauma like I was for a long time, you’ve created a Survivor Identity.

You’re constantly living in a survival state if you’re stressed, anxious, depressed, or angry.

You’re not going to feel motivated when you’re living in a survival state.

You’re going to want to close down and stay safe.

You must create a Thriver Identity if you want to change, if you want to get motivated to change.

Take the time to write out a vision of who you want to become in as much detail as possible.

Think about how you want to act, think, feel, behave in certain situations, and anything else you want to create.

Just start writing about your Thriver Identity, the person you want to become.

Next, start being grateful for being that person.

That’s right, give gratitude for being that person.

I want you to visualize becoming that person.

Visualize what it looks and feels like.

This is how you start creating your Thriver Identity and this is how you start creating motivation.

Do this every day and watch what starts to happen.

3) Creating a purpose

We all have a purpose.

That’s right, each one of us is one in several billion on this earth.

Not one person is like you, you are one-of-a-kind.

God made you this way and He created you for a reason.

Think about what’s important to you.

Think about what you want to achieve in your life.

It can be anything you want it to be as long as it makes you want to start changing your life.

Give yourself a reason to get motivated by finding a purpose.

This means you’re going to have to get out and try some different things.

Finding your purpose is powerful and reminds you why you’re here every day.

At the end of the day, you’re going to have to find a way to get motivated to change.

It’s your decision to do so and it’s up to you to make it happen.

I know it’s hard, it’s hard as hell, but everything that’s great in life is going to be hard, but always worth it.

Remember, motivation precedes action.

You can do it, you can heal, you can change, you can become successful in whatever you want to be successful in.

Stay positive and take action!

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