//Static in Your Brain: When the Motivation is Gone//

Static. It's something I hear on the radio all the time. I live in the mid-western part of the US and just about everyone here will tell you that all the radio has is static. There is quite literally only three radio stations one can get in town. Even then, only the local radio station is clear.

But the point is, there is a lot of static. You can flip and flip and flip through the channels and you will never get anything else other than those three stations and a bunch of static. You can try and boost the signal, but until you head outside of town and over the hill, you won't get anything. 

"And?" you ask. "What's the point?" 

I like analogies, okay? 

How often do you tell yourself you will get something done, but then never do it? I do that often, actually. I tell myself I'll get up and go for a morning run....and then in the morning I convince myself that running is a really bad idea. Sleeping in is much more fun, right?

How often do you convince yourself that really important things actually aren't that important? Writing, drawing, reading, etc. All that good stuff that is actually important. There's a lack of motivation. There's a lack of 'wanting'. You have good intentions and you had planned on doing it, but... there is static in your brain.



Which actually leads me to my radio analogy. First, you have to pretend like you live in the middle of no where like me. If you live in a city where you haven't ever heard static on a radio before, just pretend for a second, 'kay?

You are the radio set, your brain is the radio stations and the static parts? Those are lack of motivation. All those static-y channels are probably the ones that allow you to binge watch Psych or Doctor Who. But what does one do when all their channels aren't working? When the writing your were supposed to have done weeks ago still stares you in the face, unfinished? What do you do when you've been putting off taking photographs for days because you don't 'feel like it'? What about the simple things, like taking a run. How do you clear your head of all that 'static'?

Be Purposeful

I read a quote the other day that I really, really loved. I don't know who said it, because it didn't credit them, so I will just call this beautiful person "unknown" for right now. The quote:

"An artist breathes life, other people just inhale it."

How true, though? We create life. We create worlds. We create beautiful things. People around us breathe in the life. They don't make it. That thought alone makes me want to get to work. But artists can't breathe life until they are purposeful with their time. It's honestly a hard thing to do. 

I was watching this youtube video the other day and they mention procrastination. That when you procrastinate, to do it purposefully. If you choose to not be creative in that moment, then do something else. Go for a walk and don't think about your novel or your drawing. Think about something else entirely. Think about the future, or how about one day you might end up on the moon. Think about crazy things. If you're not going to practice your play lines, then read a book or doodle. Don't just sit around. 

Up and Over

I mentioned above about driving out of town and getting a better signal. Sometimes you have to leave to get some motivation.

I've talked before about working outside the home. Sometimes, to get inspiration or motivation, you have to go somewhere else. Scene change really does help a lot. I was in a bigger city the other day waiting for an appointment and so my mom and I sat in McDonalds. They have wi-fi, so I stuck on music and wrote (and got one of those real fruit smoothies that are so good. Still not sure they actually use real fruit though...)  I didn't have a lot of time to get a lot done, but the scene change fueled some imagination. 

Motivation is different than just "not having inspiration". Motivation is hard to gather sometimes. In everything we do. School, work, writing, acting, dancing, instruments and photography. Everything takes dedication. It's hard to feel like what we do is going to make a difference in the world. But it will. Someday. But not until you clear your head of the "static" and actually get motivated to make the difference.

Summary:

• Clear your head of the un-motivational static
• Be purposeful with your time
• See if motivation comes with a scene change
• Stay rad

Related Posts:

3 Reasons Introvert Creatives Should Sometimes Work Outside the Home
Complaint. Delete. Moving On
The Fear of Failure: Learning to be the 1%
Finding and Keeping Your Creative Voice

Epic Posts You Need to Check Out:
5 Reasons You Need to Stop Being Your Worst Critic -- Aidan Bender, Story Forger
5 Tips to Help Your Fall in Love with Creating Again -- Emily Tjaden, This Incandescent Life
10 Ways to Kill Writer's Block -- Hope Pennington, The Epic Place