By Lea Bullen -
It’s easy to turn a desire into a goal, achieving the goal is another story. For some of us it’s as simple as assigning the goal and setting a deadline for completion. The need to complete the goal before time runs out is motivation enough. Unfortunately that’s not the case for all of us. Even if we set a time frame and it passes we push it back or put the goal on hold.
If the latter resonates with you or you just want to increase your motivation in general, there are ways to help.
If you’re serious about enhancing your motivation and drive, consider these tips:
Start now – Begin immediately. Develop a plan for achievement as soon as your goal is set. Don’t just say you are going to do something then move on to another idea. We tend to let our goals turn into passing thoughts. Start while the goal is still fresh in your mind.
- Action can be motivating in itself. Once you make some progress you can inspire yourself to do more.
Use the process of elimination – If you are looking to reduce your debt situation, brainstorm ways to do this then eliminate the ineffective methods. For instance, if you want to pay down on your credit cards you may consider reducing expenses or increasing your income. Commit to the idea of not increasing the amount of your debt until you’ve cut the debt by a certain amount. So if you’re looking to make a purchase in the coming months, don’t until you’ve reduced your balance by a fraction.
- Don’t allow yourself to give up easily or continue down the same path you are trying to avoid. It’s important to move forward instead of backward.
Increase your daily positive intake – Find educational or inspirational articles or books surrounding your goal. By reading them you can discover tips and tricks that you otherwise may not have known about. It’s important to review them every day. Think of it as throwing more wood on the fire, it keeps the flame going. Reading these stories can spark ideas and maintain motivation, keeping you moving toward your goal.
- Set aside time each day, even if you have to break up your allocated time throughout the day. You can always bookmark it and circle back later.
Get support from the positive people in your life – If you can’t think of too many positive people around you, make sure to build relationships with people who have encouraging traits. Share your goals with these kinds of people.
- Build and maintain relationships with people who have achieved what you are trying to accomplish or just may be further on that path. They can be helpful in providing advice and inspiration.
- Keep a good distance between yourself and negativity. If you have people in your life who don’t stand behind you in support, it may be a good time to take inventory and do some spring cleaning.
Play the part – Act as you believe a person would to complete the task. If you are trying to save money, do you think a person who is trying to cut corners is able to do so by buying lunch every day? Probably not, so consider bringing your lunches to work more often.
- Whenever possible, your actions should be in alignment with your goal. This will keep you motivated and on the road of progress.
Committing to your goal is essential to seeing it thru and maintaining motivation. Working towards your goals daily will allow you to develop a behavior of progress and break down destructive barriers that previously stood in your way.
Lea is a conscious living advocate and personal development coach. She enjoys helping others reach their potential and achieve true happiness. You can get your free copy of Designing a Plan for Your Life eBook at http://www.leadingedgeadvocate.com. Connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.
