Stop denying yourself - and I mean that literally and figuratively, and in all the ways you can imagine that it might be taken - in all its possible semantic iterations. Stop denying who you are, what you want, your anger (and other awesome, emotions) your likes dislikes and desires. Embrace your Bad (authentic) Self and stop denying yourself the activities, experiences and sustenance that are in alignment with who and where you are at the moment. We deny the truth because it feels scary and unmanageable. We deny ourself satisfying foods or general sloth like "unproductive" behavior because we think it's healthier or noble ...
It's a fine line sometimes - are we choosing based on personal experience or shoulds? Are we taking our cues from our habitual internal dialog and the dictates of our culture and society's most recent admonishments or our trustworthy intuition? Is it self care or self denial? Are we not eating the flavorful, steaming, rich lamb ragu with cheesy polenta because we won't feel good afterward or because we are trying to be virtuous?
The key to the motivation lies in whether the result feels like deprivation and loss. When we are listening to our inner guide, respecting our best interests and taking care of ourselves, we are happy with the outcome. Pay attention to whether your intellect or the collective intellect is in charge and dictating what's "right" and "good." Listen to your intuition, the feeling rather than the thought. Try things out, see how it feels and respect your reaction. Try, experience, learn, respect and enjoy. Fill your well! Or, as I like to say, Bill The Whale!