We have all been there. You have a list of things to do, but the desire to actually do them is entirely missing.

So, you sit and wait, hoping to suddenly find that elusive spark called “motivation.”

We use the word “motivation” everywhere—in sports, at work, and in our personal development.

It is the golden standard for how we get things done and reach our goals. But as I was reflecting on this recently, I started to wonder:

What does the word actually mean?

The literal definition of motivation is:

“The general desire or willingness of someone to do something.”

Even more interesting is its origin. The concept of motivation comes from the Latin word movere, which literally means “to move.”

When we say we aren’t “motivated,” whether it’s for an easy task or a difficult one, what we are really saying is that we just cannot get ourselves to move. We are stuck.

The Comfort Trap

Think about it right now: Are you motivated to do something specific?

Probably. But it’s likely something easy, like watching TV, eating a snack, sleeping, or scrolling through social media. These require almost zero effort.

The real challenge is figuring out where we find the motivation to do the things that are a little bit harder—the things that demand our energy and effort. It takes a different kind of drive to get off the couch and go to the gym, complete a complex project at work, take the dog for a walk, or finish a school assignment.

How do we summon the energy for those tasks? That is the hard part. If it were easy, we would all be incredibly productive all the time.

Shifting the Mindset: Start with Baby Steps

If the true meaning of motivation is “to move,” then the secret is simple: We have to make a conscious decision to just start moving.

We don’t have to leap; we just need to take baby steps. We have to work on our mindset little by little.

How many times do we tell ourselves, “I’d like to go for a 10-minute walk,” or “I want to do 10 push-ups”?

We might hesitate, but could we actually do it? The answer is always yes.

Yet, we often let the comfort of the couch, a snack, and a TV show hold us back. We say we want to learn more and try to pick up a book, but we quickly turn back to social media because it requires no effort.

True motivation isn’t a magical feeling that just happens to us; it is a conscious, focused effort to accomplish something.

Practical Ways to Spark Motivation

To get moving, we have to set clear goals and constantly remind ourselves how a specific task will benefit us. We need to focus on the end result.

How do we do this practically? Here are a few ways to build the habit of self-reminder:

• Focus on the physical benefit: Remind yourself, “Walking 20 minutes a day will eventually result in weight loss, lower stress, and a healthier heart.”
• Focus on the mental benefit: Remind yourself, “Reading this book will result in an eventual increase in my comprehension and knowledge.”
• Focus on the nutritional benefit: Remind yourself, “Eating a salad before lunch will help reduce cholesterol and improve my digestion.”

The Bottom Line

Motivation might feel incredibly tough at the starting line. But the next time you find yourself stuck, remember the root of the word itself.

Motivation means to move. If you want to accomplish something, you can’t wait for the feeling. You just have to take that first step.

E.Luna