Motivation & GTD

[tallmarvin]

I relate the source to inertia. When my body is in motion, it stays in motion. Once I stop, it's a lot tougher to get rolling again. Getting started is the toughest part of the process. Breaking down projects, large or small, into bite-size pieces helps the process along. Of course, I still have to get off my ass and start step #1. Once what has to be done is defined, then it gets a lot harder to make excuses for my lack of action.[size=18][/size]

[me_brown1110]

Agreed, breaking the next actions down to the molecular level if necessary, is a great way to visualize a project.

Based on my readings in Constructive Living, I would say you can't motivate yourself. A tenet of CL is that behavior wags the tail of feelings; start doing something, in other words, and the feelings will follow. You c=have to be clear-eyed about the consequences of NOT doing it.

For more on basic CL tenets: http://boat.zero.ad.jp/~zbe85163/dkr2.htm

Here's a little more from the CL site:

Feelings are an important part of human life. It isn't surprising that some people try to generate some feelings and eliminate others. The problem with that effort is that feelings cannot be turned on and off at will. We cannot make ourselves stop feeling nervous before an exam or tense before a job interview. They are natural and uncontrollable, like the weather. So the best way to handle feelings is to acknowledge them, accept them, learn from them, and to go on about doing what needs to be done.

Behavior, in contrast, is controllable in spite of feelings. We are responsible for what we do no matter what we are feeling. As time passes so do feelings unless they are restimulated by actions or other circumstances. Reality provides us with a variety of information about what needs to be done, feelings are only one source of such information. Simply put, we need to accept reality (including our emotional state) as it is, know our purpose or goal, and do what needs doing

I find the GTD processes and philosophy very compatible with CL.

[Anonymous]

Well I started this thread and it appears the overwhelming majority agree that the cure to motivation is to get busy!

I know the next question is get busy doing what? But Jason answered that pretty well by saying (in effect) to get busy figuring out what we need to get busy at! I may not be too clear sounding on this, but I think I agree with the prognosis. When it really comes down to it, what the heck else can you really do?

This may seem contrary to standard GTD thinking, but I think I need to get more stress in my life! Not distress - mind you - but the constructive stress that comes from being dilligent and deliberate about ones life/activity.

Thanks again for the input.