It’s no secret that life can be tough and there’s also no doubt these past few years have been exceptionally challenging and hard. However, for those seeking a life of fulfillment and achievement, motivation is one of the variables that gives them the edge.
Motivation is the magic sauce that allows you to push yourself when others around you are giving up.
If you’re currently experiencing a lack of motivation or even if you have never thought of yourself as a driven individual but would like to become one, this article is a must read.
Here are five useful steps that, in no particular order, are an effective way to enhance your overall motivation and drive so you achieve the goals you set for yourself!
Know Your Why
So, so important! Why are you doing your ‘thing’? Do you know why you’re getting out of bed each day? Do you know what lights your fire?
While it may seem obvious, knowing your reasoning and passion behind anything you do is critical. Often, when you first set a goal, your ‘why’ for doing so typically starts out pretty clear. You’re enthusiastic and happily find your way through things. However, somewhere in the grind of working towards this goal, you begin to lose focus and this foundation quickly becomes obscured.
It’s important to remember though that any time you are tirelessly working towards something worthwhile, no matter how important, there WILL be days when you feel less motivated than others. Reminding yourself why you started in the first place serves as your second (or third, or fourth) push to get back up and keep working away at your dream.
Know Your Direction
There are many times where you are so busy working on your dream – you have your head down and you’re working all the spare hours you can – that you forget what direction you should be heading. Mindset is important but, remember, big goals rarely consist of point A and point B. It very rarely goes in a straight line.
It’s important to have a general idea and outline in mind of each specific step towards your destination. So yes, while keeping your nose to the grindstone is a must, looking up every now and then to adjust your direction is critical. Look at your blueprint, your ultimate goal, and ensure you are still heading in the right direction!
Allow Small Victories
How often do you overlook or play down your small victories? And when something goes wrong, that’s where you put your focus. No matter how much motivation you initially have towards a goal, failing to enjoy small successes in your pursuit of the finish line is a sure fire way to run out of gas before you even get there.
While resting on your laurels and settling for less than what you want must be avoided, depriving yourself of fulfillment along the way is also detrimental. In pursuit of your goals, take some time to reward yourself when you accomplish one of the many small steps to get there. That way, you’ll be encouraged to continue.
You Versus You, Not You Versus Them
This is a step that almost all of us need to hear. Too often we compare ourselves to people who are way, way ahead of us and then feel demotivated and uncertain. Your goals are YOUR goals. Letting other people’s pursuits dictate what you strive for is a slippery slope. After all, you will never find the motivation required to achieve anything great without a personal conviction to do so. Whatever it is you want, the only comparison to be made is to the person you were the day before. Aim to be better than the day before. It’s your race so stop comparing yourself to others and run your own race.
Controlled Tunnel Vision
Consider this fact: whatever big goal or achievement you are after most likely involves only one facet of your life. This goal could be your career, an athletic accomplishment or it might even be personally oriented. The rest of your life doesn’t stop while you pursue your goals.
However, I can assure you, once you reach the finish line and step back, you’ll realise that your sense of fulfillment will be diminished because you neglected every other facet of who you are to get there. Balance is always key. Pursue your goals with passion and focus but don’t let the rest of your life fall to the wayside while you chase one dream!