How to Stay motivated

 Motivation is one of those vague catchall words that mean completely different things to different people. We often hear these phrases,

"If only I was more motivated, I'd get a lot more done."
"I get completely demotivated when I'm not appreciated."

And many wonder what is it that keeps people motivated? Like it or not, there are are human needs that scream out to be addressed-  like the need to be appreciated, admired, contribution, being heard, doing something useful, receiving praise and acknowledgement, having their skills developed, having personal satisfaction of a job well done, or having competed and achieved a goal.

Here are some tips to keep yourself motivated AND address these nagging needs..

1. Dream big dreams.

According to Brian Tracy, there is nothing more important, and nothing that works better for you than to begin dreaming and fantasizing about the wonderful things you can be, have and do. In the words of a wise man, " You must dream big dreams, for only big dreams have the power to move the minds of men." When you dream big dreams, your level of self esteem and self-confidence will go up immediately. You will feel more powerful about yourself and your ability to deal with what happens to you.

2. Have a vision for your life

The root word of motivation is "motive." The definition of motive is, "A reason to act." This is the cognitive or rational side of motivation. It is your vision. You have to have a vision that is big enough to motivate you. It could be in any dimension of your life- spiritual, mental, physical, financial. The vision and strategy should be realistic. Have a plan and work the plan.

3. Renew that vision and dream every day

It is true that motivation doesn't last. We have to renew it and remind ourselves of that vision and dream each and every day. Being creatures of habit, we have to realize that if we want to stay motivated over the long term, it is something we will have to develop in order to stay motivated. Keep a vision and mental picture of the ideal life and the good that can be achieved if all vision and dream were fulfilled.

4. Fuel your passion

Emotion is a powerful force in getting us going. Passion is strong emotion, so fuel your passion. Logic is good, but passion for a great cause is even better. Set yourself on a course to have a consuming desire for your goals. Do whatever you can to fuel the emotion and use it to fulfil your goals.

5. Fill your mind with good materials from great minds

Listen, read and imbine the minds of those that have achieved their visions, dreams and have been successful. Listen to tapes, those that encourage that bring the best in you. Their successes will motivate you to get your own successes! Read good books, those that will teach you new ideas and skills. Books that tell the stories of successful people. Buy, read, and get motivated. Buy great music and listen to it. A great song can move you to great action and passion!

6. Work hard to get results

Action is the key to further motivation. Motivation builds itself when it gets results. The harder you work, the more results you will get and the more results you get, the more you will be motivated to get more.

7. Enjoy the process, but remember to take a break !

It is natural not to feel motivated at all times. Taking a break will mean different things to different people and you need to determine what this break will be. Perhaps you may want to take a few days off the task or decide to go for a brisk walk at the park. After the break, you will feel refreshed and your enthusiasm and inspiration will return naturally.

Try out these simple principles and see if they will not work for you.

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