How to move to action in absence of motivation or inspiration?
How to move to action, when you are feeling particularly destitute because of depression or something else?
When feelings like these cloud our minds we can employ our rational minds to find our next action, based on ones needs. Take for example, the idea that you want to become a professional guitar player, then the action you must take is to practise guitar.
If you do not have motivation to practise, ask yourself, do I want to become a guitar player? or is only the idea of being a guitar player interesting? It may take time before you can answer this honestly, partly because transforming into the person who is a guitar player is a transition into the unknown. Proceed with your guitar practise even when unsure, because inaction and indecision is worse than taking the wrong action.
There will be two voices within you, one will be the devil the other the angel, you will not be able to tell which is which. If one truly wants to play the guitar, but feels no motivation to practise, that lack of motivation can be explained by any number of things, depression, exhaustion, illusory and real obstacles, but these reasons do not necessarily stop you from practising, after all you can practise while depressed, you can practise when tired. In those moments we have to choose consciously, rather than letting a feeling of inspiration move us. For our rational mind is all we have in that moment. This is easier said than done, particularly depression is a seductive voice for inaction, one must learn to recognise the depressive voice and disregard its degrading and unhelpful words.
There is nothing more powerful than the feeling of inspiration, but we must not turn to inaction when that feeling has departed us. Rejoice and use it when it is there, but do not mistake it for determination, do not become dependent on it, for it is always fleeting. Once one starts to wait for inspiration, one will start waiting for life to happen to them.