Feeling inexperienced with life/example of motivation method

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Hi
Well this is just something on my mind at the moment... it bothers me a bit.
I don't find motivation the easiest thing in the world... fortunately I have now as of recent times worked out a motivation method that is working well for me... this kind of cognitive type approach? I'm not sure if it could be described as that, but I could show an example: -

When I think of meditation, I think: -
It’s such an effort
What if the results aren’t effective and it was all for nothing?
It’s boring

To neutralize these thoughts, I want to think: -
It’s an effort but it’s worth it
The results will be in some way positive even if not amazingly
It requires patience but it’s not boring

For positivity, I want to think: -
Effort? It’s a driving passion and I will do it now!
Meditation becomes me… positive results ensue
It’s fun and awesome

Basically what I am doing is typing down three reasons why I find a task difficult, typing down three things on the same line of thought that neutralize the thoughts, and then typing down three things on the same line of thought that are positive.
I try to give myself self talks to affirm positive thinking... by acknowledging what I feel about a task, then trying to affirm neutralizing type thoughts, then eventually when I feel up for a task, going one further for positive thinking, then engaging in a task - it's working well... I also apply body relaxaion and "letting go" meditations, and also sometimes just general trying not to think type meditations during a day.

THE POINT I was making about this thread though, is that I feel inexperienced about life... I never had a particularly good education and I was extremely confused... it wasn't that the teachers didn't try exactly, and they did try to help in the ways that they knew how, which didn't turn out to be very effective for me... also I got depressed I think during my last year in school... even so - it doesn't really matter to me that I didn't learn much academically because I did learn the guitar, but it does bother me that I don't have much in the way of general knowledge... I don't know much about the world around me... couple that with the fact that I struggle with motivation, and it becomes rather difficult...
I like what I can do musically, although I won't pretend to be an amazing musician; I am quite good, though.

Sorry if this post seems a bit inconsistent with the point... the motivation method I am now using kind of ties in with how I've been feeling about life and is connected with the point of me having motivation issues.

I don't think there's a thing wrong with my intelligence or awareness, and I enjoy my music when I adjust my motivation methods and meditations to it, but I feel a bit hollow somehow.

I think it's great that you've identified an area with your life you're struggling with and are being proactive int trying to remedy it. I have very poor motivation at the moment as well, so I know how frustrating it can be. I'm working through a CBT book at the moment and the turning thoughts around into neutral/more positive statements is part of it. I was thinking of maybe making a little notebook of them or sticking them on a wall near my bed so I can see them when I first wake up.

Maybe it's time for you to look at education again once you're motivation levels start to increase a bit, if it's something you want to do? Even if it's something just for the fun of it like a short songwriting course or something you would enjoy. Lots of people struggle with school for various reasons and people learn information differently. Personally I hated the classroom environment in secondary school but found sitting in lectures taking notes at uni a lot easier and less stressful. Even if you didn't want to study for a course, you could perhaps devote a little bit of time to reading online newspapers or general knowledge books.