Staying Motivated
Well surprise! Again for this Feature Friday, I’m the guest author. Today I look at keeping yourself motivated. It’s not always easy to do. Just like what’s happening with Feature Friday. Not that I haven’t tried to get more guest authors. When I first decided to do this, I invited a few other experts to write an article for The Smart Affiliate. I was met with both enthusiasm and positive feedback.
Since then, it hasn’t been the case. Not that the interest isn’t there, but it’s with the one’s whom I asked. If anything they are still growing their business and either don’t have the time or are simply not interested.
At first, I took this as a direct blow, and then a setback. However, I’ve had to keep myself motivated and focus on what I hope to accomplish with the smart affiliate. So the topic lend itself which is important if you want to succeed; keeping yourself motivated.
When things don’t work out as planned, what do you do?
Just as determination is an important factor for attaining success, sooner or later in time, frustration, disappointment, and the absence of motivation can prevent you from achieving your goals.
Therefore it ultimately falls on you, and you alone to develop the means that will help you to keep the desire alive.
It is worthwhile to not only plan your goals, but to actually visualize them. No matter what it is you are working to achieve, try forming a mental picture.
For example, it could be something as simple as the car of your dreams, or maybe a getaway you have been wanting to go on for a long time.
How can I visualize my dream, my goal?
To help you do this, find a picture of that car or scene of that getaway location and pin it up at an obvious location either at work or in your home where you can look at it all the time.
So whenever you begin to feel down, you can take a look at the picture to remind you of your dream and it will help you to keep it utmost in your mind.
Make a promise to yourself. According to motivational experts, individuals who diligently keep to-do-lists are much more likely to succeed in accomplishing their desired goals than individuals who just simply keep mental lists instead.
Write it down!
Whenever you put something down in writing, it becomes more effectively real for you. This may be the reason why so many cultures hold such a high regard in honoring written agreements.
In this agreement you write to yourself, you could jot down specific benefits that you will get once you have actually completed it. After all, who doesn’t like to be rewarded for doing a good job.
Consider that these are also vital for helping you to stay motivated, because it is up to you to find a way to get that encouragement that you need to feel that you can do it.
Who do you hang out with?
Have you ever been around abusive people? Those who like to bring you down and cripple your self-worth? If so, then get these negative people out of your life whenever you can.
Surround yourself with positive people instead. Imitate their example. Their influence can be infectious and will help to lift you back up.
By doing this, you will develop a brighter outlook and start seeing a clearer picture of what it is you really want to accomplish. With a fresh mind, it becomes easier to know what steps are needed to take you there.
Instead of waiting for things to happen, decide to become proactive and MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. By failing to take action, idles the brain and stagnates the ability for you to reach your goals.
Other motivational resources
Read whatever motivational books and literature you can get your hands on. They will help you improve your outlook and heal your mind. Likewise, a book about success stories can also be encouraging.
Not only will you learn from the experiences other, but also gain confidence boosting insights from them. You can then use the story as an instrument for motivating you to achieve your goal by moving ahead with your plans.
I can’t get started!
Many times, just not knowing how to start or where to begin can be very discouraging. Knowledge is power. By developing and having a clear understanding of what it is you want to accomplish will help direct the how and where to start.
Once this is done, it will give you the extra drive needed to hit the target you are focused on and help you follow through to completion.
It’s just too overwhelming for me!
If the task or goal becomes too overwhelming, then it is time to break it down into smaller manageable steps. Not only does this reduce your frustration, but as you complete each step and realize your results, it will further build upon your confidence that it will be accomplished.
Divide and conquer is the key.
What if none of this works?
Having mentioned all these ideas and techniques of keeping yourself motivated, if you still seem to feel a lack of motivation and desire for that much needed drive, then there is one last thing that you can attempt.
Whatever it is that you have been meaning to do, or wanting to achieve, JUST DO IT! Keep on aiming straight and go for it! By becoming directly involved and getting your hands dirty many times solves the problem of motivation.
By forcing yourself to just to it, you will find that you start to create momentum and that momentum will continue to pick up as you continue along. Before you know it, you will be surprised to find you have completed the task or achieve the goal.
Final thoughts.
Losing motivation happens to us all. But when you do not encourage yourself to accept challenges and see them as opportunities, no one else will. It is most important to stay focused on your goal, find ways of keeping yourself motivated. When you do, before you know it, you will reap its rewards.
In the beginning, if you were just doing it for a material reward, you will eventually come to realize to reach self-fulfillment, satisfaction and the achievement you had hoped for.
Seriously, it only happens when you continue working on reaching your goal. And when you do, it is a great feeling of accomplishment that will help you develop the drive within and keep it burning.
Is there times when you are not motivated? Or you have a method that gets you back on track and you would like to share? Maybe a method I missed? Let me know by leaving a comment below! 🙂
