Social Psychologist & Personal Advisor

Below is Dr Matt's Answer
to a Burning Question

Feeling Uninspired: The Key to Motivation

Hello Dr. Matt,

My name is Anita, I live in New Mexico, and I am a 33 year old female. I am currently in school to obtain a teaching degree, and I am having a hard time getting motivated to do my assignments. I had some difficult circumstances early in the semester which caused me to fall behind in all my classes. I feel very overwhelmed by everything. I just don't know what to do. I am desperate for a solution to this problem.

Also, I don't really want to be a school teacher, so maybe that is part of the problem, but changing my major to anything else would take an even longer time, and I just want to finish school at this point. I just wish I had something to look forward to in life. I am also obese so i feel discouraged about my weight too. And financially I have been struggling to make ends meet. Everything just feels overwhelming.

Thanks in advance for your help,
Anita

Dear Anita:

You have revealed the root of your problem in the words you have written:

"I'm having a hard time getting motivated" and
"I don't really want to be a school teacher" and
"I just wish I had something to look forward to in life."

What you need is motivation to move forward in life—you need to find a pro-active project that you can get excited about. You need Inspiration!

The standard logic taught by psychology is to TALK yourself into being excited and motivated—but such is artificial and contrived. The Fake-It-Till-You-Make-It Approach—sold by purveyors of The Secret and decades of Positive Mental Attitude Preachers before that—is inherently insincere and dishonest. Why so?

Pretense is superficial; it lacks wholeness and integrity. Sellers of "The Secret" are bartering superficial pretense. It comes in the form of "positive self-talk" and trying to act "as if" you are really motivated, and you can really accomplish spectacular things—when really, you know you're just foolin' yourself.

What ever you do, . . . you must do it with pure intent, with full purpose of Heart. This is the way Jesus described a full effort, an effort that is whole: You must give your heart, might, mind, and soul.

So, the best remedy for low motivation will NOT come from the HEAD, but from the HEART. The very Key to the most magnificent Motivation will come through Heartfelt Inspiration!

The word "inspired" literally means "in-spirit." So, when you lack motivation to do productive things, what you really need is "inspiration" to get you going. As you put it: "I just wish I had something to look forward to in life."

Have a worthy project to pursue is only HALF the solution, the other HALF is in having the "spirit" and the inner drive to "DO" the project and "Follow Through" with the project.

When you are in-spirit, you will naturally "see" what Life is offering in abundance; you will "know" the bright possibilities to which you can look forward. When you are in-spirit you will suddenly see how there is just NOT enough time in a day to do all there is to be done.

In contrast, when you lack "spirit," you have lots of time on your hands to fall into old habitual ruts.

When the Spirit of God draws near to you, . . . you will naturally feel more alive and enlightened. It's like plugging into electricity! Motivation through Inspiration has been a true principle from the beginning of human history. It is expressed in the New Testament this way:

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,
and he shall lift you up " (James 4: 8, 10)

You will become motivated and inspired about life as you "draw nigh." Further, Jesus expressed this same principle with a promise:

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11: 28)

So, Tammy, if you will be true, . . . true to Heartfelt Promptings within,
then motivation will naturally flow from you!
As you are true . . . His Spirit will fill you, and lift you.

This is In-Spiration!

Sincerely,

Matt Moody, Ph.D.
Social Psychologist

* * * * * * *

The Greatest Prize
for Life's labors isn't
in material possessions
or impressive accomplishments,
but in the progress of personal character.
You labor for your own becoming, this is your richest reward.
Who You Become is your greatest possession,
make it your Masterpiece!
(Changing Your Stripes, 2nd Edition, page 274).

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- Matt Moody 

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Social Psychologist & Personal Advisor