Motivation – Fuel for Change or Trap of Expectation?
Welcome back, steady rewiring warrior.
In our last article, we uncovered how emotional expression (or lack thereof) influences perception — how your feelings shape what you see, and how releasing stored emotions clears the lens through which you experience reality.
Now let’s talk about a topic that’s often misunderstood, misused, and — ironically — one of the biggest sources of stuckness: motivation.
Because sometimes what feels like a lack of motivation… is actually a clash between expectation and emotional energy.
Let’s unpack that.
What Is Motivation, Really?
In neuroscience, motivation is driven by the brain’s reward system — specifically the dopaminergic pathways. Dopamine isn’t just the “pleasure chemical” — it’s the anticipation molecule. It spikes not when you get the reward, but when you’re expecting it.
This means your brain is wired to chase what it believes will feel good — not necessarily what’s best for you.
So, motivation becomes a moving target.
According to the Neuroscience Coach Certification (Module 9: Motivation), true motivation isn’t about hype or hustle. It’s about creating internal congruence — aligning your goals with your values, emotional state, and sense of identity.
The Trap of “Should”
If your motivation is built on guilt, comparison, or external pressure, it’s not real drive — it’s a survival response. You’re using adrenaline instead of alignment.
Here’s how you know you’ve fallen into the trap:
- You say “I should” more than “I want.”
- You wait to feel inspired before taking action.
- You set goals that drain you rather than energize you.
Sound familiar? You’re not broken — you’re biologically overwhelmed. And that’s when motivation turns from fuel into fiction.
Joe Dispenza’s View: Motivation Starts with Identity
Joe Dispenza flips the script:
“Don’t wait for your life to change to feel inspired. Feel inspired, and your life will begin to change.”
He teaches that lasting change doesn’t start with what you do — it starts with who you’re becoming. When your identity shifts, behavior follows. When behavior repeats, motivation becomes momentum.
From Push to Pull: How to Create Real Drive
Instead of chasing motivation, build systems that pull you forward:
- Reconnect to your why. Ask: “Who am I becoming through this?”
- Start with feeling. Generate elevated emotions before you act.
- Simplify your goals. Clarity amplifies energy.
- Create a ritual, not a reward. Motivation thrives on rhythm.
Remember: you don’t need to feel ready. You need to feel aligned.
Try This: Micro-Motivation Booster
Each morning this week:
- Name one identity-based goal (e.g., “Today I show up as a focused creator.”)
- Feel into that version of you — visualize them in motion.
- Choose one tiny action that aligns with that identity.
- Celebrate completion — not outcome.
This retrains your brain to link action with satisfaction, not pressure. And over time? That creates intrinsic motivation.
Now that you understand motivation from the inside out, it’s time to bridge the final gap between thought and transformation: the body.
In the next article, we’ll explore the biology of belief — how your body stores emotional patterns, mirrors your thoughts, and how to get both brain and body working in harmony.
See you there.
Onward we rewire — with clarity, alignment, and unstoppable momentum.
