Motivation didn’t change for me until I realised my mind was tricking me (in convincing ways)

Assalamu alaikum - For a long time I blamed myself for lack of motivation, thinking I was just lazy or undisciplined. I kept waiting to “feel ready,” to be confident, to have enough drive to begin. Each time my mind offered a totally reasonable-sounding reason why right now wasn’t the right moment. I didn’t notice that those weren’t just excuses - they felt like facts. “You’re not ready yet.” “You’ll do it better later.” “Today isn’t the day.” They sounded responsible. Logical. Protective. Things changed when I started questioning those thoughts instead of following them on autopilot. It clicked for me reading a book about the ways our minds lie to keep us comfortable. It explained how our thoughts quietly feed us believable stories that maintain comfort, even when that comfort is what’s holding us back. What pushed me forward wasn’t hype or forcing more discipline - it was awareness. Once I stopped treating every passing thought as the absolute truth, taking action got easier. Beginning didn’t need a huge emotional surge anymore; I just stopped letting the internal commentary run the show. If motivation feels like an endless uphill climb, I recommend looking into how your thoughts influence you. For me, understanding those patterns and gently questioning them made the difference. Sometimes the most motivating thing isn’t forcing yourself to believe more in yourself. It’s learning to believe your thoughts a little less. Wa salaam.