064: What to Do When You Lose Motivation as You Age

There's an old, somewhat outdated book on one of my numerous book shelves throughout my house.

"Success Secrets of the Motivational Superstars"

I'm not suggesting that "success secrets" or "motivation" is old or outdated.

I've wrestled through the years with the popular and potentially lucrative concept that motivation is a commodity that can be bought or sold.

Sure, many (including myself) have shelled out cash for a motivational book, seminar, audio series, or personal coaching sessions.

Yet today, motivational techniques are dispensed freely across the internet.

With YouTube and podcasts your options are plentiful for a motivational "hit" when you need it.

It's proof that motivation is something that ebbs and flows throughout our lives.

And it's especially fleeting as you age.

It's essential to recognize the signs and symptoms of motivational drift and what you can do to sustain your motivation as you age

I consider myself to be a motivated individual.

I've arranged my day-to-day around some core habits that help keep my tank topped off.

But...I also have the tendency to fall into moments or periods where my motivation is sluggish or lacking.

Could be the season, a challenge I'm hesitant to tackle, or the weight of other people's drama in my life.

You or I might not be "motivational superstars" but that's not really the point.

As you age, getting through the next day, the next moment, the next year, or the next decade and doing it with a compelling purpose is a much better focus.

• Realizing that motivation isn't the goal, it's the result
• Disconnecting from what demotivates you can restore your motivation
• Setting a new motivational standard in this era of your life can increase your longevity

Motivation starts when you do

Being motivated and looking for motivation are not the issue.

Action is!

"Motivation follows action." - Robert Ringer 1

As a writer, I'm accustomed to the blank-page on a daily basis.

The cursor blinks relentlessly at me while my hands rest on the keyboard.

The only way to get past the occasionally demotivating blank-page is to start - writing, that is.

What's "the start" for you?

Notice I didn't ask why aren't you motivated.

Starting is the issue because the motivation you're looking for will ignite once you take action.

• If you lack motivation to get out of your chair, off the sofa, or out the door - stand up first and see where that specific action takes you.
• If you lack motivation to interact with others, have a difficult conversation, or make a necessary decision - step out of your comfort zone.
• If you lack motivation for making the most of your retirement era, doing something creative to expand your legacy, or believing that your best years are ahead of you - stay curious.

Motivation has greater potential to follow those and similar actions than sitting and wondering why you aren't motivated.

Motivation exists above the noise

Motivational challenges increase as a result of the static noise in your life.

Head/mental noise, expectation noise, control-centered noise, media noise - those and more are incredibly demotivating.

• Quiet your mind daily: pray, meditate, journal, read, listen to calming or inspiring music.
• Stop being a control-freak: get acquainted with the powerful word "let" - as in let them, let go, let up...enough said!!
• Squelch the media static in your life: turn off the pundits, let the “facts” speak for themselves, and limit your mindless scrolling on social media.

Motivation rises to the standards you set

I'm training for a half-marathon I'll run in April of this year.

I've incorporated a standard that's keeping me motivated now that my training has officially begun.

A monthly subscription to a running app has enabled me to create and follow a 15 week plan specifically tailored to me, my experience, age, training pace, and race day goals.

A cool thing about the app is the voice technology that speaks into my AirPods as I'm running.

Once I start moving (taking action) my personal motivational standard speaks into my effort throughout each mile I run according to the plan.

• Set practical standards or goals that give you a reason to take action: health, wellness and wellbeing, attitude.
• Seek support that boosts and replenishes your energy.
• Stay motivated through envisioning the end results of your actions.

Motivation isn’t reserved for the "superstars" it’s for you as well when you take productive action

• Start something
• Squelch the static noise
• Set and act on some compelling standards

Press on…

Eddie

Sources:

1-Michael Masterson, The Pledge: Your Master Plan for an Abundant Life, p97.