It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. Confucius.
How motivated are you?
You will never always be motivated, so you must learn to be disciplined.
Motivation can be very elusive, but when it strikes- you have gold. Some days you wake up and cannot wait to get going- you have boundless energy and determination. The hours seem to stretch, and you easily achieve your goals, nothing feels like too much. But other days, you wake up and simply cannot bring together the potential of the day. It is a day bound for procrastination, day dreaming and general laziness. And that’s the key- each of these types of days come from YOU. Motivation doesn’t come from the outside, it is something already inside of us- a dream, an ambition, a desire. And it is within all of us, all the time.
Sometimes finding your motivation can be hard, but once you have found it – committing and constantly moving in the direction of those dreams can be even more difficult.
So, what happens when the path to our dreams seems too bumpy, too disjointed and just a little too far to travel down? Especially when you are still juggling all the other moving parts of your life; job, family, children, partners. That’s when we need to really dig deep and allow ourselves in part to feel ‘un-motivated’ … it is all about balance. Some days there will be too many blocks in your way. But, know that while some days end up lacking, some days are gold- and it is ok to experience both types of days. When you do, the most important thing to harness is discipline.
Discipline will keep your dreams alive and attainable when you lack the active desire to do so. We all need to allow ourselves, the down time. Maybe taking a breather is OK. It is OK to not be achieving all day, every day – it is perfectly OK to take a step back and have a chilled day.
Try and see inaction and lack of motivation as sensations that allow our mind and bodies to reset and give us the essential space to relax. Instead of viewing them as “nothing, wasted” days and opportunities, I try to see them as days of calm, peace, relaxation- a break with time. These days are absolutely essential in terms of your long-term motivation and dreams.
You can fill these days however you choose, with walks, watching movies, writing, reading- enjoying your own company or the company of others.
These days in their own way, can also be gold.
However, you still have to bring yourself back to a more productive, motivated and disciplined state. But sometimes when you fall out of exercise, or routine it is so hard to get back to it again. You are bound to make excuses and so finding your motivation again can get harder and harder.
Here are my top five ways to get re-energised- so you can get back to your goals!
Find inspiration.
Inspiration comes in many forms. Look to others and allow inspiration to naturally find its way to the surface. People can be so inspiring, and it is in allowing yourself to truly dream that you will start to see your motivation soar again.
Get excited.
This sounds obvious, but most people don’t see the value of excitement: if you want to break out of a slump, get yourself excited and re-energised about your goals. But how can you do that when you don’t feel motivated? Well, it starts with inspiration from others (see above), but you have to take that excitement and build on it.
Think about it daily.
If you think and add to the making of your goals every day, they are much more likely to come true. Start small, and don’t bite off more than you can chew. In doing so, it will slowly become a part of your day, your life – your routine, and it is in this commitment that your motivation will start to feel more confident.
Stick with it.
Whatever you do, don’t give up. Even if you aren’t feeling any motivation today, or this week- don’t give up. Your motivation will come back, and you have to allow yourself the ‘ebb and flow’ of creativity. Think of your goals as long term objectives, some goals will never reach their conclusion but grow and grow with time and others are met with more ease. It is the inclusion of them in your everyday that will enrich your motivation. So, don’t give up, every bump in the road is just part of your journey.
Think about the benefits, not the difficulties.
One common problem is that we are programmed to firstly think about how hard something could be. Instead of thinking about how hard something is, think about what you will get out of it, the positivity that could enter your life as a result. Rid yourself of negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. Of course, this one- takes practice!
For reasons outside of our control, we are often left lacking in motivation, but in focussing on these five steps you can help pull yourself out of it and get yourself back on the path to success.
It is important to allow yourself the quiet times and not berate yourself for having days where your lack of motivation stops you in your tracks. We must always ‘back ourselves’, be our own cheerleaders- there is enough negativity out there and we should not cast it upon ourselves.
Find out how to restore your own power when you feel you are lacking it, trust yourself to know and allow yourself the time to feel good again. Once you have found the happiness within you, you are far more capable to motivate yourself and keep working towards your goals.
Remember the motivation is inside you all the time.
This isn’t always easy, but allowing yourself some time away from it- really does help. Have faith in your discipline to guide you through and re-find your personal glow of motivation even after a period of inactiveness.
Always remember above all else, who you are doing this for… do it for you… not ‘them’.
Then the motivation will come, and a lot more easily.
