Beginner question on motivation?

[Romez]

Hello,
So there comes a time when that little evil thing called laziness kicks in or we get really busy and we think we dont have time to practice anymore. I was wondering, what helps you guys get through those types of times, what keeps you motivated to keep going forward? What helps you to stay on track.
thank you so much for your time

[Shinichi]

Simple. I don't rely on motivation.



~:Shin:~

[Maya The Generator]

After years I am very sad I was not thought that discipline is much more potent that motivation. [tongue]

Now I am trying to change that. [thumbup]

Praise Teh Sun within Cloud [cool]

[Romez]

then what do you rely on?

[magari]

Sometimes the chaos of the universe is so intense all we can do is sit back and try to keep our eye on the prize.

When the waters calm we can start swimming again. Until then we might be wasting energy that will be needed elsewhere.

I imagine motivation isn't an issue for Shin because magick isn't anything like "work" for him. It's life, comes naturally, like breathing perhaps.

Edit: Magick can be work, but through development we slowly remember how to live with it.

[Shinichi]

There is a point where you can make a distinction between whether or not you practice magick and whether or not you are magick, but it most definitely takes "work."

Motivation isn't an issue for me in magical practice for the same reason that motivation isn't an issue for me in going to work. I like having money to pay my bills, buy books, and so on. So when it's time to go to work, whether I feel good that day or not, I get off my ass and I go to work. If I don't, then I don't get the reward.

Magick is the same. If you want the neat skills, if you want to talk to spirits and meet gods, then you get off your ass and go to work. If you don't, then you won't get the reward.



~:Shin:~

[Romez]

I am sorry for bothering you guys with these questions but maybe you can tell me a bit more how to go from that point of magick being work to it being just a natural part of life like breathing. Or how did the change happen in you, when did you realize it? I am just really struggling with it at this moment and any help would be greatly appreciated

[littledeadybear]

I would think that's a moment you recognize, and that it's only a moment you would personally be able to recognize.

Think of it like learning how to ice skate. Learning how to ice skate absolutely sucks, and the only way to learn it is to get on the ice actually go around the rink 4 times. The first time around the rink you're so focused on not losing your balance that you don't let go of the wall. Even if you had let go of the wall you wouldn't have gotten an inch or two without falling over. It's not fun, your legs hurt, your ankles hurt, and it's just more work than fun.

The 2nd time, you get a little brave. You can propel yourself off the wall long enough to glide a foot. That brisk break of air across your face felt good....


The 3rd time, you use the rail only if you're certain you're about to fall. Otherwise, you glide next to it. Wobbly, sore, but this time it doesn't hurt as much. Hmm.

The 4th time, you're able to go around without using the wall once. Several times you felt what it was like to /truly/ ice skate rather than shuffle.

The 5th time you get out there because you want to, not because you're practicing to be able to, but because you can do it, you know you can do it, and it's /fun/.

[Draco20]

So there comes a time when that little evil thing called laziness kicks in or we get really busy and we think we dont have time to practice anymore. I was wondering, what helps you guys get through those types of times, what keeps you motivated to keep going forward? What helps you to stay on track.

I think we all go through some ups and downs at some point but the key element here is passion. From there you find motivation and the willingless to learn more, to keep practicing and eventually improve. If you are passionate about the occult and truly wants to find out about aspects of the Universe and beyond, then you will manage to squeeze a regular dedicated practice time into your schedule.

I would suggest to go back to the basics and find your way up from there. 20-30 mins of meditation a day for a while should greatly help for mindfulness and discipline, and in the meantime going through a book on magick/occultism to gather more informations will be very useful.

[Sypheara]

So when it's time to go to work, whether I feel good that day or not, I get off my ass and I go to work. If I don't, then I don't get the reward.

This. If is entirely about discipline. You set yourself a schedule, and you stick to it, unless something utterly major comes up aka you are hospitalized or some other unavoidable situation presents itself which precludes it entirely.

As an example, every week, I change and present my offerings to the Gods at their altar. Not every week, after doing 10 hours of work, do i want to come up and then start the laborious process of ritually clearing down and replacing everything. But I do it - because it nourishes my connection with them, shows correct devotion, and fuels me in my daily life as the reward. By having the discipline to make sure it gets done regardless, im always keeping that connection strong.

Its the same with martial arts practice. Many days i dont want to go train in sword arts after ten hours of work. But i know if i do, ill get stronger both physically and mentally. So i FORCE myself to go, regardless of how unmotivated I feel, for those rewards.

Usually i find when i actually start something, i become motivated. Pure laziness is probably the greatest silent epidemic in the west. Combating that has nothing to do with the occult per se, but is a character flaw you have to polish off. I used to just be as similarly bad - you can only get rid of it by doing however, not by discussing.

[Hadit]

I rarely feel what I would call motivation. Life requires us to practice magic, and usually we are doing it with out any realization.

[Romez]

Thank you very much for all the answers, helped me clarify some things, much appreciated as always

[chris3]

You need to practice every day at first you might feel like it is a chore and you don't wanna do it. After some time those same practices feel rewarding and you feel bad if you don't do them. Try to include energy work into your practices. I personaly imagine I'm huge and am sitting on the earth while my head is touching the sun. Then you just let the energy flow through you from the sun into the earth. You should aim for 3 15 min of letting the energy flow through you a day. Additionaly you should imagine only the sun and let the energy flow into you and not into the earth for 1 minute. At first you migt need more than 3 sessions becouse the energy is to intense but that is normall.