I’ve been thinking about motivation over the last few days. It’s been on my mind a lot for some time now, actually. And not so much motivation itself, but the lack thereof.

It’s been a tricky year for most — myself included — for obvious reasons and others more personal.

With everything going on, the travel website is on hold, as are any hopes of travelling again soon. Toss in an already struggling economy here at home, and finding decent work has become an unfamiliar endeavour.

Needless to say, these last few weeks I’ve really struggled to stay motivated, though I haven’t been able to put my finger on exactly why.

Then a friend made a very interesting point. She said, at least in her situation, that it’s not so much a lack of motivation, but the lack of something to find motivation in.

Looking at it from that perspective, it all made a lot more sense to me.

Moments of motivation loss happen to the best of us from time to time; regardless of what goal we’re working towards. It’s one of those quirky flaws of being human.

But losing sight of a goal, or not having one at all, gives us no reason to feel motivated — for anything.

Goals inspire us, it’s where motivation is bred. Without goals, we’re without motivation.

So what do you do if you can’t find a goal? Better yourself for the unknown.

I don’t have a concrete thesis on this just yet, and I’m only now trying to implement this in my own life, but hear me out:

What if instead of a set goal or goals, we find inspiration in whatever may come?

Maybe it’s a new job opportunity, a new relationship, or an invitation to do something challenging; something different that you’ve never experienced. Imagine any and all possibilities, and expect that they could come at any time.

(God, I sound like some trashy self-help book… I apologize.)

Inspirational cheese aside, you don’t want to be caught off-guard when an opportunity arises.

Whether that means changing habits, exercising, eating healthier, honing a skill, or simply becoming a better person — try to find motivation in the untold.

Photo: Mural at the University of Alberta, Edmonton.