We all have those days when we just don’t feel like doing what we need to do. We intend to, but then it still doesn’t happen. Well, not only do we have “those days,” but we could probably point to such a scenario every single day! Procrastination is just part of the human condition—”Oh, I’ll get to it…later….” How do we muster the motivation to get things done and to stay on track, even during those inevitable times when we just don’t feel like it?

Basically, there are only two things that motivate us in life: inspiration and desperation.

We either move toward that which inspires us, or we move away from something that fills us with despair or discomfort. The majority of the world’s population uses desperation as a motivator. Desperation is like a cattle prod forcing you to move forward and take action. I can motivate anyone in the world with desperation. The problem is that motivation that is spurred by desperation doesn’t last. Think of that person you know who is always lying on the couch. If you douse the couch with gasoline and light a match, you’ll see instant motivation. But once the fire is out, you will see her/him turn back into a lazy person.

If you want motivation to last, you have to rely on inspiration. The positive results that spring from using inspiration as a motivator are obvious. Inspired people tend to be proactive, passionate and driven. They are happier and enjoy greater life fulfillment than those who are desperation-driven. If you just check the help-wanted section of your newspaper, these types of inspired people are always in demand. To be most effective, inspiration needs to be internalized. Motivation becomes long-term when the intended goal taps into one’s inner drive and emotion. The key to finding success lies in being emotionally motivated with a purpose.

The third obstacle to positive, lasting change is lack of knowledge. Sometimes, people are immobilized from moving ahead simply because they don’t know what to do or where to begin. To bring change about in your life, you need the necessary knowledge to make that change successful. Consider what you can read, whom you can talk to, what seminar or workshop you can attend. Who could be your coach? Discover all the resources that are available to you. Remember, there is no challenge so unique that humanity has never seen or heard of it before. There are always going to be others who have been through what you’re experiencing and who will know exactly what you’re up against. It is much better to get as much information as you can from those individuals who have gone before you than to try to figure everything out on your own.

Think of acquiring knowledge in terms of your own personal development program. Did you know that there is a direct relationship between your personal development program and your income? In the sales industry, we’ve found the more CDs listened to, the more books read and the more seminars attended, the higher the salesperson’s income. Brian Tracy tells people that their income will double every year if they just read thirty minutes a day. Lastly, consider that fact that most homes worth over a quarter of a million dollars have a library. I’m not saying that a huge income is your major goal—maybe it is, maybe it isn’t—but the point is, increased knowledge impacts your output, in whatever form it takes on.

The bottom line is, the more you learn, the more you earn. Anything you could possibly ever wonder about has most likely already been written about, so invest in the books, the CDs, the seminars and the professional advice that are going to give you the knowledge you need to get ahead. As your knowledge increases, you will experience a parallel increase in motivation and desire. Researchers at Harvard University found that those who are learning and growing every day are more optimistic about life. They are more enthusiastic about where they’re going and what they’re going to accomplish.

Conversely, those who aren’t learning and growing every day become negative, pessimistic and doubtful about themselves and their future.

The last major obstacle to positive, lasting change is lack of vision. As we discussed earlier, being able to visualize your success first is crucial to it actually playing out in real life. If your mind can’t conceive it, you sure won’t achieve it! Since belief dictates behavior, you’ve got to believe first. And it is much easier to believe in something if you can visualize it. So, take the time to vividly imagine and play out in your mind exactly what your successes are. Let your mind create all the details—it’s got to be as real and authentic in your mind as possible. Taste it, touch it, feel it, eat it, drink it, sleep it, breathe it. Some may find such visualization a frivolous expenditure of time, but I cannot stress its importance strongly enough: This activity is VERY worthwhile! When I find people who have not tapped into this success skill, I know they are broke. Again, beliefs and attitudes shape your future!

Vision is a powerful tool in helping you to see the big picture. Once you begin to have a grasp on where today fits into the future, suddenly everything you do today matters.

Vision gives us energy, passion and a reason for living, growing and working hard.

Knowing exactly where you want to go is the surest way to end aimless “going through the motions.” Stephen Covey said, “To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It means to know where you’re going so that you better understand where you are now and so that the steps you take are always in the right direction.”

When we have the necessary desire and plan to change, it’s time to be brutally honest about the real reasons behind the behaviors and situations we don’t like. For example, you may say you’re overweight because your depression makes you overeat. But why are you really depressed? Smoking, family tensions—the list of bad-habit inducers goes on and on. You’ve got to be ready to admit that your habits were formed for a reason. If you can uncover that reason, you know what kind of battle you’re up against. And the more you know about what you’re dealing with, the more empowered you become to change the results. This transformation mentality also involves changing your thinking. You cannot defend or justify old habits. The more you can change your point of reference, the more you will expedite change. Sometimes, this change incentive is just a new outlook; other times, it means changing your environment or even your friends.