“Not today, I will do it tomorrow.” Sounds familiar? More often than not, we all find ourselves stuck in this situation. It is either the lack of motivation to go for the kill or disinterest in general. We find ourselves worn down along the journey we once wished to conquer with flying colors. So much so, that sometimes, we even let it go altogether.

Have you ever wondered why?

Why does procrastination take over?

What happens that we wish to not continue anymore?

How do we find ourselves standing at this crossroads of motivation and complete neglect?

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I have often pondered over these questions, trying to find an answer by juxtaposing my life events with life events of those who motivate me. I even questioned the very paradigm under which human behavior operates. One thing that was deeply rooted, in all those introspections and discussions was detachment.

Yes, Detachment!

Detachment often leads you to believe that the cause that once served a great purpose in our lives, is no longer the fruit we were hoping to bear. It takes away the core purpose, often misdirecting as an entity unworthy of our time and effort. In some cases, even if the purpose stays alive, the desire to accomplish it dies, it just does.

A fellow colleague who was once admirable suddenly becomes unbearable. The daily routine starts to appear monotonous, with life moving in a full circle, day in and day out. The things that used to once excite you no longer appeals to you. Everybody around you seems to be leading a better life (on a relative scale). You feel like giving up, hoping that the next venture you seek out will bring a fresh wave of motivation in your life. That you will sprint through it.

But deceptively so, life, as it operates in a circle, meets you right where you started, with a sly.

Okay, motivation is broken. So what?

But if such is the case, we, human beings are doomed, for life operates in a complete circle and eventually we are bound to get tired and demotivated with everything we ever start. Right?

No!

Perseverance, the savior, comes to the rescue. Yes, across all the inspirational and motivational stories, those of success and failure alike, one thing ingrained in each is perseverance. And the more I have tried to logically question its validity, the more I have come to terms with it. It is the fulcrum on which the delicate see-saw of motivation and demotivation sways. As the saying goes,

If you ever feel like giving up, remember why you started in the first place

Perseverance comes with the theory of the eventual good. This says that disregarding the end result, if you are true and honest to yourself, the process will reward you appropriately. No matter what the circumstances are, NEVER GIVE UP.

Yes, it is easier said than done, but so is everything in life. Strike a balance. Be a funambulist. Do not lean much on either side. There will always be critical points in life, where the pros of giving up may far exceed its cons. In such a delicate situation, it is essential to remind oneself, that while giving up may take only a moment, it will void you of the eternity of satisfaction that ensues. As mentioned before, systems always work better than goals.

Zig Ziglar says-

“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily”.

So you do need to get into the habit of persevering and forming systems instead of being motivated for a few days and then letting it all get burnt down by not being motivated enough.

To conclude, I would just like to say – I have had several moments in my life, where I could have easily given up. I could have surrendered to the situation, not willing to move on. But retrospectively, I am glad I stood strong then. Those experiences have made me a better human being, capable of handling adversities much better. Those adversities taught me more about life than what I could have otherwise understood.

I would like to end by quoting –