The Motivation Trap

Moving from feeling good to getting things done... consistently!

“I only write when inspiration strikes. Fortunately, it strikes every morning at nine o’clock sharp.” – W. Somerset Maugham

Hey there…

We love motivation.

We pin quotes on our walls. Save reels to revisit later. Wait for that one magical moment when we feel inspired enough to finally start.

And then… nothing.

That project you care about, the habit you wanted to build, the change you hoped for, still sitting on your to-do list.

Still waiting for you to “feel like it.”

Is that your reality?

Unpacking this for you in this edition.

The Sweet Trap of Motivation

This need for motivation is a beautiful liar.

It makes us feel good in the moment. It’s a chemical high: dopamine surges when we dream big, visualise success, or consume inspiring content.

And that's not all bad. Motivation can be the spark that gets us going.

But here’s the catch:

Motivation is fleeting. It's a state, not a strategy.

Science tells us that motivation is context-dependent, influenced by mood, environment, even blood sugar levels.

It feels powerful, but it doesn’t stick around long enough to carry us through discomfort, fatigue, or resistance.

You will need it again, and again, and again.
It’s not sustainable. It’s a trap.

We overestimate its power and underestimate what it takes to keep going when it disappears.

In both personal and professional life, this creates a cycle:

• We wait to feel ready

• We delay action until the feeling arrives

• When it doesn't, we blame ourselves for a “lack of motivation”

The truth?

You don’t need more motivation. You need something else.

From Feeling to Doing

During a session, a client once realised “I can’t believe I was chasing motivation like a habit - scrolling through tips, saving hacks; but all I really need to do, was to start.”

That was a a-ha moment for her.. and it hit home.

Not just for her, but for many of us. We confuse planning with progress, inspiration with action. Sometimes, consuming content gives us the illusion of momentum while quietly keeping us stuck. The real shift begins not when we learn more, but when we act on what we already know.

What shifted for them wasn't finding better motivation.

It was committing to one small daily action - NO MATTER WHAT!

Five minutes. Every day.

No excuses.

That’s discipline.

Not flashy. Not sexy. But dependable.

Discipline is quiet. It doesn’t wait for the perfect mood or a rush of inspiration.

It shows up in small, consistent actions, setting the alarm, showing up to the mat, writing one paragraph, choosing the salad, sending the proposal. It’s doing the thing especially when you don’t feel like it.

Discipline is not about intensity; it’s about intention and follow-through.

Over time, it builds trust with yourself.

So… here’s what helps when you want to move from motivation to momentum

• Shift from goals to identity.

  Don’t just ask, “What do I want to achieve?”
  Ask, “Who do I want to become?”

  A goal says “run 3 times a week.”
  Identity says “I’m a runner.”
  That shift rewires how you show up, especially on hard days.

• Make it ridiculously easy to start.

  One stretch. One sentence. One mindful breath.
  The point is to move, not master.
  Start with something so small, it feels almost silly to skip.

  The trick is- once you begin, momentum builds itself.

• Design for friction and flow.

  Reduce the friction for what you want to do.
  Lay out your shoes.
  Open the document.
  Set a timer.

  And increase friction for distractions turn off notifications, move the phone, block time.

• Track your effort, not your outcomes.

  Motivation loves results. Discipline loves the process.

  Celebrate streaks, reps, and tiny wins. That’s how consistency compounds into change.

• Expect resistance and show up anyway.

  You won’t always feel like it. That’s not failure. That’s normal.

  The shift happens when you stop asking “Do I feel ready?” and start saying “I’ll do it anyway.”

Remember -
Motivation whispers, “You’ll feel like it soon.”
Discipline replies, “We’re doing it anyway.”

Which voice will you follow today?

If you’re tired of waiting for motivation to strike though and want structured support to build momentum, reach out. Until then..

Love & peace
Aparna