Hard Truths About Struggling with Motivation

Reading time: 4 minutes

Introduction

Hello everyone! This week we’ll focus on a subject that is closer to everyone than we might like to admit: the hard truths about struggling with motivation. If you’ve ever been excited to start a new project or habit, only to find your enthusiasm disappearing just when you need it most, this one’s for you. Below, we’ll dig into why motivation slips away, how you can rebuild your drive with small daily actions, and why forgiveness for past “quits” is more empowering than guilt. You’ll also find a quick spotlight on how the same principles of mindset and motivation apply in the finance world to help you turn good intentions into lasting routines.

Weekly Highlight: Hard Truths About Struggling with Motivation

The Quiet Enemy of Motivation

Have you ever noticed how your motivation fades the moment you stop seeing progress? It’s almost as if your initial burst of excitement is meant only to get you started, and the real test begins once that excitement wears off. The truth is, it’s not your fault if you’re comparing your behind-the-scenes struggles to someone else’s highlight reel. But acknowledging that motivation can vanish at any time is the first step to creating a more reliable system, one that doesn’t rely on constant motivational speeches.

We often assume we’re alone in our doubts. In reality, many of us wrestle with the same feelings. We wonder if we measure up or why it seems so much easier for other people. Recognizing that you’re not alone can be surprisingly freeing. It shifts your focus from “I’m the only one failing” to “This is common; how can I navigate it better?”

 Finding the Why

A fragile, surface-level goal will buckle under the smallest wave of discouragement. But when you uncover a deeper reason, one rooted in personal meaning rather than just external approval, you anchor yourself. Remind yourself daily why this goal matters to you at a fundamental level. That “why” becomes a life jacket when excitement fades. It helps you keep going when motivation vanishes.

Grand gestures like a weekend seminar or a massive surge of willpower might kick things off, but it’s the small, consistent habits that keep momentum rolling. Just five minutes of reading, writing, or exercising daily can do more in the long run than sporadic hours of intense effort followed by burnout. Consistency is the unsung hero of real progress.

Forgiving Past Quits

It’s tempting to label ourselves as lazy or incompetent because we’ve abandoned goals in the past. But the past doesn’t define you. Each new day is an opportunity to start fresh, armed with the lessons you learned from previous attempts. Guilt is draining; a clean slate is energizing.

Practical Steps

1. Pick one goal - dig up a dream or habit you let go of.
2. Define your reason - ask yourself why this truly matters to you, beneath the surface.
3. Set a mini-task - just five minutes of progress each day.
4. Accountability - share your plan with someone who cares about your success.

When motivation slips, a sense of commitment and small daily actions keep you inching forward. Think of it like building a house: one brick a day might seem slow, but eventually, you have a sturdy structure that hype alone could never achieve.

Inspiration & Personal Growth

“The future depends on what you do today.” – Mahatma Gandhi

This quote by Gandhi is a powerful reminder that your actions, however small, accumulate into real change. There’s no need for grand, sweeping gestures. Even the slightest move in the right direction, taken consistently, shapes who you become tomorrow.

Resources & Recommendations

• Book: “Drive” by Daniel H. Pink - Focuses on autonomy, mastery, and purpose as the key drivers of motivation.

• Article: How to Keep Working When You’re Just Not Feeling It – HBR article with simple tactics to help you push forward.

• Exercise: Success Visualization - Spend 2–3 minutes imagining you have already completed your goal. Notice how it feels, reinforcing your motivation.

Finance Corner -  Mindset & Motivation

A finance team with top-notch skills and processes can still underperform if their mindset is stuck in a loop of complaints and resistance. As the business landscape evolves, an adaptable, solution-focused attitude becomes priceless. Instead of seeing new software or sudden requests as hurdles, a motivated finance function treats them as opportunities to refine workflows and boost their impact. When you set clear goals, recognize small wins, and align tasks with team members’ deeper motivations, the entire department shifts from mere number-crunching to proactive problem-solving. That’s the real difference between a finance team that merely copes and one that elevates the entire organization.

Check the latest video below:

Summary

Struggling with motivation isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a natural part of the human experience. The secret is to transform that initial spark into consistent, small actions that gradually build a strong foundation. We spoke about it in the discipline and small actions newsletters. Rediscover your “why,” forgive yourself for past slip-ups, and commit to even the tiniest daily tasks. Meanwhile, if you’re managing a finance function, remember that mindset shapes everything. Encourage a positive, growth-oriented culture, and watch your team go from complaint-driven to solution-focused; capable of adapting to any new challenge that lands on their desks.
 
When motivation is not there, remember that each day is a fresh start. Whether you’re building a healthier habit or shaping a dynamic finance team, small, consistent actions done with purpose lead to real transformation.

Until next time,

Maciej