Meditation for Motivation

I used to think that the solution to low motivation was to push through it and force myself to take action. That approach was neither pleasant nor sustainable. Now, I’ve shifted to using meditation and I’ve found this to be surprisingly effective. It starts with calming your mental state and then moving on to visualization. Here are the steps:

1st Step - Accept your low motivation.

Accept that you’re experiencing low motivation. Tell yourself that it is a perfectly normal human condition. There’s no need to be hard on yourself for not feeling motivated. Give yourself compassion for experiencing this low state.

2nd Step - Visualize having accomplished your goal.

Visualize the future version of you having achieved your goal. What does a day in the life of the Future You look and feel like? Imagine this future so vividly that you experience physiological feelings, such as a tinge of excitement or a lightness. Really spend time in this state so that you start to feel positive emotions like joy and peace.

3rd Step - Visualize taking steps toward your goal.

Now visualize yourself taking action toward achieving your goal. This could be as simple as imagining yourself at your desk working on your project or visualizing yourself in a situation acting calmly and in control. Imagine that the steps you’re taking toward your goal are going extremely well. Picture yourself being calm, patient, creative and effective. Continue to visualize this version of you in action until you experience good feelings associated with this picture. When you’re ready, come out of the meditation and back to the present moment. Take a deep breath. Think about what you can do now that will bring you closer to reaching your goal.

Do you feel more motivated?