Self-MotivationOftentimes, when trying to move forward, we feel overwhelming doubt, anxiety, and fear of failure. Our self-motivation evaporates. When faced with such opponents, it is easier to stay inert and motionless; to remain inactive rather than taking action. We use the excuse, "I don't have the time" in order to delay making real changes. Week after week, we waste time focusing on life's demands, rather than focusing on what we truly want. It can feel as though you are adrift in a sea of chores, duties, and routines. These things weigh down your self-motivation. It is easy to lose sight of what is truly important and to ignore your yearnings. In this predicament, motivating yourself is difficult. Spark your self-motivation with these tried and true tips for overcoming a lack of motivation: Get started, even if you don't have the end in mind. Looking back over my life, I can clearly see that almost everything in my life turned out differently than I thought it would. Things rarely go according to plan, so don't get stuck thinking that you need to have it all figured out. It is a good idea to have a clear picture, but don't expect it to go exactly as planned. If you want to write, then sit down and start writing; don't waste time creating a plan for how you will go about writing. Just write. Don't wait until you have enough money. If I waited until I "had enough money", I would have missed out on a lot. Waiting until you have enough money is a delay tactic. It is an excuse that keeps you stuck. If you yearn to travel, then start planning a trip. If you want to start a business, then file the necessary paper work and do free research at the public library. Attend free small business workshops, network, and dedicate a space in your home for your office. Don't let life pass you by as you wait for the money to show up. Don't get stuck in analysis paralysis. Too much analysis can get you stuck and defeat self-motivation. Don't over think things, otherwise you may get stuck thinking things through over and over again. Thoughts tumbling through your head will distract you from your ultimate goals. Don't confuse thinking with taking action. The same goes for reading, talking and daydreaming. It is good to think things through, but, taking action gets you results. It is easy to confuse thinking with doing, but I find that too much thinking is just a delay tactic. Normally, it means I am blocked on some level. Perhaps I am afraid of failing, or maybe I don't have a clear picture of goal in my head. With new endeavors, thinking can feel a lot like doing. When beginning a diet, a lot of time is spent planning what to eat, when to eat, and how much to eat. You have the thoughts of someone who is on a diet. However, how well did you execute your plans? Did you actually eat more fruits and vegetables, or did they rot in the fridge as you unconsciously ate a bag of chips? Action is the only way to actually create what you want in life. Action determines your reality. Don't worry about getting it right on the first try. Our society emphasizes doing something right the first time. It is implied that if you don't achieve perfection on the first try, then you won't ever get it right. To be honest, I can't remember the last time I did anything right on the first go around. If you find yourself worrying about always being perfect, yank that thought out of your head. It isn't helpful and certainly won't inspire you to be brave and take action. Expect failure. The devastation of failing can kill self-motivation. So, my advice is to expect to fail. One of my favorite quotes from Michael Jordan says it all: "I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." Take it easy. Don't try to go after too many goals at once. Spreading yourself thin will lead to burnout, unnecessary set backs, and a general lack of motivation. Don't attempt to run 3 miles on the same day that you quit smoking and start dieting. Setting too many challenges at once is overwhelming and it prohibits you from truly succeeding at any one thing. Slow down and focus on one goal at a time. Once each goal becomes a habit, you will do it automatically, freeing up your energy for something else. Over time, your life will change dramatically.
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