Whether you’re trying to reach personal or professional goals, you need to have a certain degree of ambition. Unfortunately, plenty of people struggle when it comes to finding proper motivation. This is especially apparent as the year begins, and people all over the world give up on their resolutions before even making a real attempt at them. If you’re someone who wants to learn how to stay motivated and keep it when you need it most, there are a few basic points to review.
Motivation Follows Action
The biggest misconception people have about motivation is that it is needed to begin something. If you’re a musician, for example, you may leave your instrument in the case for weeks at a time when you’re not “in the mood” to play. Typically, a person does this when he or she is struggling with a specific activity. In this example, a musician might stop playing for short spurts of time when he or she feels like the work being created is lackluster or does not match the intention.
In reality, motivation always follows action. Whether or not you feel up for the task, the simple act of working on a particular project or goal can start to create a sense of motivation within you. The more you commit to a practice, the more you will realize that you control motivation. Engagement is always the best solution.
Remember the “Why”
Losing steam is normal for a person who has put a lot of time or effort into a particular goal. While the start of the year might bring about some new objectives, you’re likely also going to be working on plans you carried over from the previous year. When you feel completely unmotivated to tackle these projects, it can be helpful to remember the “why” of it all. Remind yourself why you are going after this particular goal in the first place. It might be difficult, but try to connect to the initial feeling you had about the idea.
As you focus on the why, you will start to gain more perspective. In some cases, reviewing the impetus for your action can help to revitalize your efforts and provide more focus. However, you may also learn that you have no solid reason for continuing a project. If this is the case, there is absolutely nothing wrong with walking away from it and putting your time into other ideas. Sometimes, failing to complete a task can teach you far more about yourself than immediately succeeding could.
Focus on Your Best Self
Plenty of people focus on goals that will help bring them closer to being a better version of themselves. If you’re having a difficult time figuring out how to stay motivated, you might find it useful to constantly remind yourself of the person you are trying to become. Maybe you made a resolution to drink less in the coming months. After reminding yourself of why you’re doing this, try and think about what your life will be like when you start to achieve the goal. Imagining the finish line can make the journey to reach it more bearable.
There are plenty of reasons you may feel your motivation levels drop. Though this is natural, you should take action to reverse the process; figure out how to stay motivated. Think about what will help you stay on track, and put together a plan that allows you the chance to see the success you’re after.