Our emotions are a driving force behind many of our decision we make. We tend to pursue action that will provide positive emotional experiences and avoid actions that provide negative emotional experiences.

If we are stuck in the same habits of inactivity, lack of enthusiasm, low levels of motivation this could be because we are emotionally ambivalent towards a situation. If however, we ask ourselves questions that get us connecting emotionally to a situation, and ask further questions to intensify this emotion it can be the equivalent of switching on the engine and pressing the acceleration to get us moving.

Work can sometimes be a useful place to start. If you are either counting down the clock or finding ways to distract yourself at work then this could work for you. Firstly, write down what work currently is to you and why. An example is as follows:

Work is important – I need to have financial income

Work is challenging – I have to do things I don’t know how to do

Work is a means to an end – I don’t love my job but I need one

It is possible to see here that these are fairly uninspired connections to your job. Now take a moment to play with the power of language and find a more energetic, exciting, creative or passionate way to describe work as it is or how you would like it be. An example is as follows:

Work is interesting

Work is fun

Work is educational

Work is growth

Using these new descriptions, think about the day you are going have tomorrow and ask yourself where you will find these qualities in your day. For example: In what way is work going to be interesting? Where in the working day will you find the fun? What will offer you a learning opportunity? Where will you find growth?

With these new questions, we anticipate a positive emotional experience, which will help provide the energy to get us moving towards it. Ask yourself these questions in the morning before you go into work every day for a week and see if it makes a difference. I would be interested to hear how you get on!