I have a challenge for you. Laugh out loud as hard as you can for five seconds (read the next line once you’ve done this).

I’m guessing your laughter wasn’t genuine. If anything, forcing yourself to laugh probably felt dumb.

You can’t force genuine laughter. Similarly, despite what the self-improvement world might have you think, you can’t force genuine motivation, either.

Laughter and motivation are both emotional responses. Emotions can’t be felt on purpose, they’re not something you do, they happen to you. Trying to feel something guarantees you won’t feel it.

So, when you think, “How can I get motivated to exercise more?”

Your question is a conundrum, trying to feel motivated ensures you will not feel genuine motivation.

So, is it possible to feel motivated on-demand, whenever you want to?

Yes, you can, by tricking your brain. Instead of trying to get to the effect you want directly (feeling motivated), start with the cause.

The Root Cause of Motivation

If you try to feel sad, you won’t feel much. But, if you think about a sad memory, you will feel sadness.

If you try to laugh, the laughter will be fake. But if you tell a funny story, you will laugh genuinely.

If you want to feel motivated, think about things that inspire you, things that you want.

Visualization is a technique used by many highly successful people: Jim Carey, Connor McGregor, Michael Phelps, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Will Smith — to name a few.

A lot of people stray away from visualization because it’s explained as something mystical. But you don’t have to believe in some spiritual law of the universe to get value from creative visualization.

Visualization helps you get what you want because it makes you want it more.

The more you think about the rewards of staying on a diet and working out, the more motivated you’re going to be to persist through the hard work getting those rewards will require.

The more you think about that Tesla you want, the more motivated you’re going to be to secure that promotion you need to afford one.

Our thoughts, emotions, and actions are intimately intertwined. Our thoughts cause us to experience feelings that lead us to take action.

Control your thoughts, and you control your future. Think about what you want, and you will feel motivated enough that you might just get it.