? You stop seeing yourself as just an inevitable failure.
? You start seeing your own potential and possibility.
? You are able to see where there is possibility for improvement.
? Tasks no longer seem insurmountable.
? You are able to see where you can make a difference.
? You are able to make achievable goals, instead of impossible ones.
? You can see where you are able to make a difference.
? Your goal is no longer perfection, but attainable improvement.

Let's work through this connection between rational thinking and greater motivation piece by piece, beginning with the effects of low confidence on your ability to be motivated in the various spheres of your life.

Low confidence, perfection, and that inevitable sense of failure

If you have low confidence, before you start any project or task, or set any goal, you see the end of it already. And that end is, in almost all cases failure.

Low confidence means that you are focusing only on what you see as your weaknesses. You're not a forceful enough personality, you're not good looking enough, you're not talented enough, you're not smart enough, you're not wealthy enough, you're not organized enough, and so on and so on. With low confidence, you can extend that list to eternity.

Because you see yourself as not good enough, it's difficult for you to start any project or be motivated to start anything new. It's totally understandable why-you see yourself as failing inevitably in everything that you do now, so why start something new? It's all going to fall apart anyway.

One way that we begin to develop low confidence is because we set irrational goals for ourselves and impossible demands. In short: we demand absolute perfection. We believe that we have to be Superman or Superwoman: perfect boss, perfect house, perfect kids, perfect lawn, perfect boss, etc. There's no way that you can do all of this-you're only human! But expecting perfection means that you'll only feel like a failure, and then you will never be able to break out of a vicious cycle.

Confidence in yourself = seeing your abilities = greater motivation = greater satisfaction

If you develop confidence in yourself, instead of just seeing weakness and failure, you can see your potential. You know where you are weak, but you also know where you are strong.

If you know that you are capable of doing things, then you will want to try to do them. You'll know that you will be able to achieve your goals, so you want to set them.

Thinking rationally means that you see yourself as a human, with both strengths and weaknesses. This clarity of vision helps you zone in on your strengths so that you can capitalize on them. It also helps you see where you can improve your weaknesses.

Rational thinking also means that you will see what constitutes a reasonable goal. Setting goals that are actually achievable means that you will be able to accomplish them. The more you accomplish, the more motivated you become, and the more satisfied you are with your life.

This isn't because you're perfect, but rather because you see yourself as human, and are okay with mistakes, missteps, mess-ups, and success. You don't knock yourself down, but you don't expect yourself to be perfect, either.