Only YOU can motivate YOU

Success in reaching your full potential in academics/study is determined largely by how good your attitude is. Ultimately, this is something that no one can help you with. Many people consider me to be a ‘motivator’ of students. This however, is not the way I see my role in facilitating success.

So what then is my role in helping you achieve your full potential? First, let me tell you what I’m not going to do. I’m not going to motivate you to study more! Why? Simply because high motivation is, almost by definition, a temporary state. Sure, I could motivate you and tell you how amazing your future could be. I could describe how, if you apply yourself, there is nothing you cannot achieve. This, by the way, is all true. But while it might get you psyched up, this psyched up state will only last a very short period of time.

A problem with any type of motivational approach is that it relies on the presence of a motivational speaker! While you may enjoy being motivated by someone and may increase your efforts as a result, this increased effort almost always subsides as the motivation slowly decreases. And make no mistake, the motivation always decreases. If you are like almost every other person on the planet, your emotional state will vary significantly from day to day, perhaps even hour to hour. That is why for an approach to have any lasting impact on your study behaviour, it needs to cater for the fact that you will not always want to study! Your motivation to study might be high one day and non-existent the next.

The Next Level Learning approach is not based on manipulating your emotions to get you psyched up. Rather, this approach is much more balanced. This approach will be one whereby respect is given to your emotional state at all times. No longer will you be beat yourself up when you can’t seem to get started. You will, in essence, become your own motivational speaker, offering yourself kindness, compassion, and encouragement at every stage of your academic journey. This approach, while involving much less bravado, has bundles more heart.

Perhaps even more importantly, I am not here to tell you to what you have to do. As you will learn on this site, the fact that you are repeatedly being told what you have to do in terms of your study is actually a huge part of the problem. I am certainly not here to scare you into study. It is a sad fact that the force which typically drives students to engage with academic work is not inspiration, but fear. Think about your own experiences for a moment. How often have you thought to yourself “You know what, I could really go for some study right now. I just feel really up for it!” I’d imagine this happens rarely, if ever. Sadly, it is far more likely that the idea of negative consequences motivates you to take action. And this action probably comes only after considerable mental debate and anguish. You think about what will happen if you don’t get the work done. You think about failure. Thoughts of repeating exams and disappointed family members are prominent. With the Next Level Learning system, these negative thoughts will be a thing of the past. It is important to realize that in order to do well in study, being fearful and miserable are of absolutely no benefit whatsoever!

Believe it or not, some people find this concept hard to accept. They think that unless they are suffering they must not be working hard enough! This is the old ‘no pain, no gain’ maxim. Let me fill you in on a little secret about myself: I am a very lazy person! But in a good way. I am always looking for the easiest option available. Sure, if something I want involves effort, I will certainly apply myself. But if there is an easy, enjoyable way of achieving success…I’ll take it! How about you? Do you enjoy struggle? If not, the Next Level Learning system is for you. All you are really being asked to give up here is the belief that in order to do well you must struggle. This is not true! By the way, you don’t have to fully accept this concept just yet. Simply be willing to entertain the idea that maybe, just maybe, achieving the success you desire might be much easier than you previously imagined.

#GetMotivation #PopularArticles