The 5 Secrets of Self-Motivation
I’m a generally motivated person myself, but there are days when I feel less inclined to pursue my goals. What I’ve noticed is that when that one less-motivated-day begins, it tends to drag on a couple of days, sometimes weeks, affecting my personal growth. Here are 5 easy ways to motivate yourself and get back on your personal growth track!
1. Identify your motivators
Is it that swanky new house? That promotion or pay rise you are dying for? Sit down and make a list of everything you want to achieve and don't be afraid to dream big. If you’re unable to come up with that list, don’t worry. Try this out. Sit down, close your eyes, and fully relax your body. Visualize what would make you really happy. It does not have to be material or physical. It could be a smile on your parents’ face or spending more time with your partner. Imagine it, feel it, and write it down.
2. Keep it in sight
The problem with lists is that we often forget them.. and we're just a little too lazy to read through a list every day. So what you can do with that list is to make it easier for you to visualize your motivators. Want to save up for a vacation in Cancun? Get on Google and search for the most beautiful photo of the place you can find and tack it up on a wall or surface you see everyday. Do the same for everything on that list. Whether it’s in the form of a number, a few quick words, or a photo — put it somewhere you can see, and see often. You will find that it's more stimulating than staring at a list of words everyday.
3. Celebrate your achievements
Remember to celebrate each time you achieve a goal. It doesn’t matter if it was a small one, or a big one. Celebrating your achievements regardless of their size and impact leaves you with feel-good, positive feelings that positively reinforce yourself, making it easier for you to continue motivating yourself each time!
4. Mix with the right people
Your mom was right, she just wasn’t specific enough. Choose your friends wisely. Our time is precious. Be selective and spend it with like-minded individuals. If you’re looking for more motivation, hang out with motivated people. It’s infectious and soon, you will find yourself thinking like them too. What's more preferable is if you select friends who are not only internally motivated but extremely positive and happy individuals. Take them out for lunch, have a chat, party with them, invite them over for drinks — you are who you hang out with.
5. Share the love
Lastly, motivate others. You’ll find that sharing motivation is extremely helpful as it can provide you with the inspiration to stay motivated. That, and verbalizing motivation actually works both ways and you'll find that you're re-motivating yourself.
Flex those self-motivation muscles and put these tips to practice. You’ll find that once you get yourself surrounded with motivating factors, it’s more difficult to be derailed and your journey of personal growth becomes smoother!