You have your goals set, but maybe now you’re starting to worry that you’ve bitten off more than you can chew. Or maybe a few weeks in, you start to lose steam and consider giving up on your goals. That’s where motivation comes in!
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” Walt Disney
People use positive and negative motivation to encourage action. Fear, for example, is a powerful motivator, but that’s not an effective long term method and will end up with negative results on your mental health even if you succeed in reaching the goal.
Instead, positive motivation is the best way to drive yourself (or others) to action. If you’ve been following the previous days of our 10 Day to Your Best Year Ever, your goals outlined in yesterday’s exercise should be things you’re passionate and excited about. When your goals are something you truly believe in achieving, it’s much easier to get motivated to complete them.
Motivation comes to us externally. The first goal for you today is to identify what you want to “test drive.” A great way to get motivated is to test drive what you want to be in life. This can be very literal, you might want a beautiful new house, shiny new car, new furniture - or it can be an experience.
The second goal for today is to consider who you need that will motivate you to go after your best year. Is it a trainer, coach, support group, mastermind, reading/study group, book club, networking group, online community, exercise group, or accountability partner? Identify the Who that will motivate you.
Getting motivated is one thing, but staying motivated to continue working on your goals throughout the year can be even harder.
Here are a few tips to help keep your motivation up over time:
Chat with your accountability partner for a little pep talk
Read a book or article about the subject of your goal
Read success stories from someone who has done it before
Look back at the progress you’ve already made to see how far you’ve come
Remember that your motivation is going to come and go. You’ll naturally be more enthusiastic in the beginning, but don’t get discouraged when you lose motivation over time. Take a step back and remind yourself why you’re doing this in the first place.
If you slip on your journey toward your goals, don’t give in to the urge to give up or beat yourself up. You’re only human and negative self-talk won’t help. Dust yourself off and get back to work the next day.
“Don’t quit. Never give up trying to build the world you can see, even if others can’t see it.” Simon Sinek
Setting goals yesterday was only the first step. Now it’s time to step up and make those goals a reality. Use your motivation worksheet to help you on days when your goals seem far away.
We’re nearing the end of the 10 Days to Your Best Year Ever. Be sure to come back tomorrow for Day 9 - Inspiration.