regal

The motivating power of ideals and illusions are well known.  Why do these motivate better than realities?  Answer: when they are stark, realities motivate just as well as ideas, but realities are rarely stark.  Artifices may be made simple and stark.  That is one why self-projection has value.  One may make one's self motivating by simplified projection.  Others may do the same with their image of you, and this is what your loved ones do - they simplify you into lovability - but most will not love you until you are idealized, and this is likely only if you take the first steps yourself.