Well, there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation.

Welcome to the Innercise on motivation! Here’s where we use proven psychology and the latest advancements in neuroscience to help motivate you to put your ideas into action and, with practice, keep the motivation part of your brain alive and active.

Have you ever written a step-by-step plan in full detail for a goal you wanted to accomplish but then never took any action steps toward it?

The problem you may be facing is a lack of motivation within the parts of your brain called the insula and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC).

If you want to maintain motivation, it’s important to exercise the insula and the ACC. Practices like self-reflection and mindfulness also help stimulate the pathways for motivation in your brain.

You see, your deepest motivation starts in your brain.

Neurotransmitters spark chemical messages to keep you alert and on task. The pathways these neurotransmitters take—as you contemplate decisions and actions—place a value on your ideas. If you don’t have an emotional, burning desire to accomplish something . . . then you probably won’t.

When you can articulate the reason why you want to take action, you will complete your ideas and deeds with more purpose and meaning.

You will have the drive and emotional fuel you need to travel outside your comfort zone. And most importantly, you’ll have the motive for action to make the transition from aspiration to achievement in your personal, professional, and spiritual life.

We call this Innercise, “The Big Why.” It will help you gain clarity to identify and understand the ideas or goals that hold the deepest meaning to you.

Do this Innercise to gain clarity and the motivation you need to achieve your goals.

1. Take a few moments to get settled in a comfortable, seated position, close your eyes, or keep a soft gaze . . . and breathe in through your nostrils and out through your mouth.

Without judgment, notice any thoughts that enter . . . and as thoughts arise, keep bringing your awareness back to your inhalation and exhalation.

Once you are aware of the stillness within, ask yourself: What big idea or desire of mine holds the deepest meaning, purpose, and value to me? 

Listen for the answer . . . and move on to step two when you’re ready.

2. Take out a piece of paper and write down your answer to the above question. And on that same piece of paper, write down a few action steps you’ll need to take to achieve your big goal.

This step is taking your most meaningful idea or desire, and setting a goal for it. 

3. Now take some time in mindfulness meditation or through writing in a journal to dig deep and find the intrinsic value that aligns with attaining that goal. This process will drive your motivation to succeed.

Why do you want to attain this goal? Why is it you want to bring your idea to fruition? Why do you want to complete this project?

Write your answer(s) on that same piece of paper and review the reason why you want to achieve your goal at least twice a day.

After you try this Innercise, let us know how it worked for you or share one of your reasons why you must achieve your goal in the comments below. And please share this terrific, scientific information with your friends on social media.