I just need a little push . . .

Blogging is writing. How do teachers get students to write? Prompts.
Faced with the blank page/screen/whatsit, I face the same obstacle that my students will. If I can write anything at all, then I don't know what to write. As an art teacher, I see the same problem. If someone is sitting around doing nothing, they may think of something and draw it, but if I say, "Take this 12 x 18 piece of paper and draw something." then the immediate response is: "What should I draw? I don't know what to draw."
So, I give drawing prompts. Draw the city of the future. Combine an animal with a mechanical object. Represent the concept "The End is Near." Invariably I get a huge range of different responses, despite the fact that everyone is following the same instruction. The one thing that I have learned NOT to do is provide an example. If I do one, student work looks like mine.
Blogging ought to work the same way, both for them and for me. I found blog prompts at:
http://www.creativity-portal.com/howto/writing/writing.prompts.html
http://www.successful-blog.com/1/10-prompts-to-start-a-blog-post-when-your-screen-is-blank/
http://www.chrisbrogan.com/100-blog-topics-i-hope-you-write/
All of these are intended to break "bloggers block."

Pulling teeth

I seem to be immune to the traditional means of self-motivation, so I continue to look for a solution. I have a degree in psychology, and am familiar with the "scholarly" viewpoints on motivation. I can't help but remember that my professor for "Psychology of Motivation" was so uninteresting that I can't conjure up his name or face 20 years later ( I can remember others, so it isn't just my fading memory.) I want a good answer, because I face this problem all the time, not just as an individual but also as a teacher. Often I have wanted to pursue a project, but couldn't keep myself going until the end. In the same way, I often have students who can't get going on work, even on projects that they are interested in. Where is the disconnect?
Obviously, other people see the problem. The number of motivational speakers, sites, books, articles, etc. seems limitless. It seems equally obvious that none of these people have the answer, or there would be no need for so many voices. If these self-styled experts could get us going, we wouldn't need so many. They remind me of weight-loss experts, cashing in on individuals' inability to successfully drop pounds.
Maybe that's where the answer lies. The secret to weight loss is no secret (for most people). Eat less, exercise more. The hard part is doing that and there is no money in it for experts. Unfortunately, if the key to self-motivation is just doing it, then the problem defeats its own solution.
So far the only thing that seems to work for me (and my students) is to complete one small task at a time. Turning big projects into lots of little projects helps to counter the urge to procrastinate.

And suddenly I remember that I have a painting that I have to finish . . .

I don't wanna . . .

I have never been able to motivate myself to blog.
Faced with the requirement, I find myself again staring at a blank box and unable to start.
And then I think, if I have this problem, surely others must. I mean, I can't be the only one who doesn't want to keep a journal, write a blog, update my status regularly etc. If blogging is going to work in an educational setting, then all students are going to have to participate, not just the ones who like doing it. How to get the IDon'tWannas (like me) to blog?
Daily Blog Tips suggests blogging about something that one is passionate about. This makes sense for personal use, but if students are assigned to blog for a class, they aren't necessarily going to be passionate about the subject matter. He (Daniel Scocco) also says that when I don't want to do it, I should force myself. Thanks.

http://www.dailyblogtips.com/what-if-i-am-not-motivated-to-update-my-blog-anymore/

Pick the brains says I need to focus on the positive things in my life, focus on a positive goal, and direct my energy toward success. I think I just hit the fortune cookie trifecta.

http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-motivate-yourself/

So, I'll just go with the fortune cookies. Lets see . . .
1. You will travel to many places.
2. You will find a treasure at this web site.
3. The great joy in life is doing what people say you cannot do.
Uh, OK. Thanks.

http://www.wisdomportal.com/JS/RandomFortunes.html