Motivation — When Motivation Takes a Coffee Break

Hey there! Gather ‘round for tale of grand app dreams meeting harsh reality.

So picture this: There I sat computer humming anticipation building. Today marked day I’d start creating revolutionary app. Visions of tech stardom danced in head as fingers hovered over keyboard. But universe had other plans.

Diving into project felt like cannonballing into pool only to find it filled with jello. Tools promised to be helpful buddies turned into mysterious puzzles. Learning curve? Steeper than my coffee intake on Monday mornings.

Each step forward felt like wading through quicksand. Motivation decided take impromptu vacation leaving me high and dry. But here’s thing: we’ve all been there right?

So what’s aspiring app creator do when mojo goes MIA?

1. Accept struggle: Learning new skills often feels awkward. It’s cool embrace discomfort.
2. Chunk it: Break project into smaller tasks. Tackle one piece at time.
3. Celebrate tiny victories: Wrote function without errors? Time for happy dance!
4. Find tribe: Connect with fellow newbies. Share frustrations and wins.
5. Take breaks: Sometimes moving forward means stepping away recharging batteries.

Remember even when motivation ghosted me passion for creating something cool still simmered beneath surface. Might take time might take effort but we’ll get there.

So friends don’t let setbacks dim your app-building enthusiasm! Embrace learning curve laugh at mistakes keep pushing forward. Who knows? Your idea might just be next big thing.

Now if you’ll excuse me time to make peace with some stubborn code. May debugging gods smile upon us all!

Stoic Exercise

The Stoics understood that motivation can be fleeting, but they emphasized the importance of duty and action regardless of our feelings. They believed that true virtue lies not in how we feel, but in what we do. Losing motivation is a common human experience, but Stoicism teaches us to push through this by focusing on our responsibilities and the greater good.

Relevant quote:
Marcus Aurelius wrote,

“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: ‘I have to go to work-as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for-the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?’”

This quote reminds us that our purpose is not comfort, but action and contribution.

Practical Stoic exercise:

Implement the “Five-Second Rule”: When you need to start a task but feel unmotivated, count backwards from 5 to 1, then immediately take physical action. This technique, inspired by modern author Mel Robbins but aligned with Stoic principles of action, helps override the brain’s hesitation and resistance to starting.

1. Identify a task you’ve been procrastinating on.
2. Take a deep breath and say to yourself, “5–4–3–2–1.”
3. As soon as you reach “1,” physically move towards starting the task.
4. Reflect on how taking action, despite lack of motivation, aligns with your values and duties.

Stoic thought for the day:
“You don’t have to turn this into something. It doesn’t have to upset you. Things can’t shape our decisions by themselves.” — Marcus Aurelius

This thought reminds us that our lack of motivation is just a feeling, not an immovable obstacle. We have the power to choose action regardless of how we feel, focusing on our duties and the common good rather than waiting for motivation to strike.