Most of us usually set our goals on things that are measurable. They are usually hard numbers (usually with monetary values) because they are easier to focus on. While it’s good to have clear goals and targets, the mental side of things may not be so clear-cut. Motivation is one such challenge. How can we be sure that we stay motivated even though we may have already met our targets? The secret to staying motivated, apparently lies in treating it (whatever you are working on) as an art.
Treat It As An Art
I was in a chat room in Clubhouse (the new social media app) recently and one of the speakers talked about how he regained his motivation after a period of struggle. There was a time when he was doing really well by most societal standards but he didn’t feel motivated. He lacked real goals and was not happy. Although he accomplished many things (seen from the outside), he didn’t feel fulfilled deep down. He couldn’t quite explain why and was frustrated by the mysterious lack of motivation. He then sought advice from a sports coach he knew from high school. The coach pondered for a while and told him the reason for the lack of motivation was because whatever he was doing had stopped being an art. There was a time when the speaker really enjoyed what he was doing and it was because he simply treated his training (this could be substituted for work or other things) as an artistic endeavour. He did it because he enjoyed it and simply wanted to perfect his skills.
Enjoy The Process
What art means is, instead of focusing on the goal itself, the focus should really be about the journey. Rather than treating it as a task or a chore, one should try to enjoy the process. The focus is on the immediate task itself. It’s about expressing freely while not knowing what the end result would be. I think one of the reasons why some films or books are so popular is because the viewer doesn’t know how these stories would end. There is usually a surprise, a kind of mystery in the stories. It’s probably the same as going to a live concert or even going on a trip, we never really know what would happen and what we would encounter. I think most people actually like the feeling of not knowing exactly what to expect.
Magic Of The Unknown
This is perhaps the magic of the unknown. I think we are drawn to spontaneity, there is a kind of surprise. Of course I am not talking about nasty surprises or shocks, but more of an anticipation of something good that may happen. If everything is all mapped out, there is no fun. Would you want to watch a film which you already know all the plot twists? I’d say probably not, it’s not that enjoyable. Predictability is what really kills our ability to enjoy something.
By treating it (whatever ‘it’ means to you) as art, we are also creating the story in which we are the protagonist. Yes, there is a surprise element. But it is also this surprise element that will allow us to enjoy the process and staying motivated throughout the journey.