How to motivate yourself ?

How do you keep yourself motivated ? For anything ? Any projects ?

Is it money, is it some kind of gain that will motivate us, i doubt it after sometime Money or any materialistic gain seems too small to keep up to the project. Initially there is a rush, an excitement that lets you take the projects and start good but slowly it becomes tedious, a monotonous activity which if in worst case we do will be half hearted effort.

Take writing as an example, i have been trying to write on daily basis and find excuses to not do it in umpteen ways. How can i make myself do it, self control, disciplined myself and make a habit, but to come to these points you need some inertia, some flow…

I am able to point to two things that can help me motivated: Progress and Social acclaim. Lets say on daily basis i see some progress of my work, (Yes its a chicken and egg problem – you cannot see progress unless you start writing 🙂 ).

Secondly suddenly lot of friends and families, see the writing and appreciate it ! a social acceptance and acclaim. You will get very excited and feel confident and keep doing that activity continuously off course after sometime you need another doze but will keep you running for sometime.

Also i read kaizen methodology wherein you start small may be just put 2 min everyday to writing..but never tried it…

If we can figure out a permanent solution How to motivate ourselves? Imagine how powerful that can be …