Eight Things That Steal Your Motivation
"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass away."
— Earl Nightingale
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No matter what we aspire to, we can't do it without motivation. Some days we even need the motivation to get out of bed in the morning. Coffee always works for me. But seriously, we need the motivation to keep moving ahead in life. Everything in life requires some motivation.
Motivation is essential, whether it be a project at work, home improvement projects, education goals, or a fitness regime. Whatever your goal, motivation is the only thing that will get you where you want to go.
Motivation is a tricky thing. One minute we have it. The next minute it is long gone.
If you are wondering why your motivation sometimes appears so elusive, it could be because of things you allow to steal your motivation.
"One part at a time, one day at a time, we can accomplish any goal we set for ourselves." Karen Casey
Eight things that can and will steal our motivation.
1. Not Setting Goals. No matter what you want to accomplish, setting goals is the first step. We have to know what it is that we want to achieve and just how we are going to achieve it. How can we succeed at reaching our goals if we don't have a clear picture of what they are?
Determine what it is you are trying to achieve, set some goals and outline the steps to achieving those goals. Then start working on those steps.
"Obstacles can't stop you. Problems can't stop you. Most of all, other people can't stop you. Only you can stop you."
Jeffrey Gitomer
2. Giving up too soon is a mistake a lot of people make. It would work better for you if you were realistic about how long it may take to achieve your goals. No one usually reaches their goals overnight. Remember the saying, 'Rome wasn't built in a day.' Anything worth having is worth putting in the time for.
And don't forget to take the time to celebrate and appreciate every little success along the way. You are so close. Don't quit now. Every day brings you closer to your goals. Don't give up. Focus!
3. Trying to accomplish too many things at once is the worse thing we can do. You cannot spread yourself too thin when trying to reach your goals. Remember the steps you planned out. Go step by step. Don't jump ahead. Slow and steady is the way to go. Keep your focus on the goal.
"Don't limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, you can achieve."
Mary Kay Ash
4. You lack confidence in yourself and your abilities. The first thing you should do is keep a list of your accomplishments as you achieve them. You did it! Think of it as a learning experience. You are learning as you go, and the more you know, the more confidence you have. Think positive.
5. Allowing yourself to be too easily distracted will put the brakes on your motivation. If you are jumping over to Twitter or Facebook instead of working on your goals, how much are you going to get accomplished? If you are reading a couple of chapters in that book, you're reading or chatting on the phone with a friend; you are not getting anything done. Try blocking an hour of your time specifically for whatever fun things you want to do. And also, block time for working on your goals. And stick with it.
6. Comparing yourself to others is a sure-fire way to never achieve your goals. Stop and think about how we are all different. We all have different strengths and different talents. Do you seriously believe that everything would be perfect if you were just like that person you are comparing yourself to? Do you think if you were like that person, you would have accomplished all your goals, and your life would be perfect? It isn't very likely. Would it surprise you know that person you are envious of is probably comparing herself to someone also? Have faith in yourself. You are good enough.
"Believe you can, and you're halfway there." Theodore Roosevelt
7. Making excuses for yourself is part of our nature. But it gets us nowhere. 'I didn't know how to do it, or I didn't have time' Those excuses are just that, excuses. Learn how to do whatever it is you need to do to reach your goals. We all have the same the same 24 hours a day. The time you spend making excuses could be better spent on accomplishing your goals.
8. Not taking care of yourself can affect your motivation. You need to get enough sleep, eat properly and exercise. Without those things, it's hard to stay focused.
So to sum it up. The key to accomplishing your goals is to guard your motivation. Don't give in to the temptations to let down your guard. Stay focused on your goals. Don't let outside forces or your insecurities get in your way.
