motivation, goals. learning how to stay motivated

I’m Motivated By Financial Freedom:

 

Don’t take this the wrong way but I love money! Anyone who knows me can confirm that I’m motivated by money.  I enjoyed working at an early age so that I could be self-sufficient. Importantly, I don’t like that feeling of being broke or not having enough to get by. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not money hungry at all but I love to make a living. I love being able to have money to buy the things that I need and having some left over for bills and savings.

Money is needed for you to have a stable life. Meaning, you have to to be able to pay for your basic needs and have enough left over to do fun things. Now that I’m about to get married and have someone else to worry about (eventually we will have little mouths to feed), financial security is always in the back of my mind.

It doesn’t help that having access to money is a necessity. Even if you think you don’t need it to make you happy (I agree) it’s still needed to enjoy certain luxuries. There’s only so many free things you can do. Free won’t afford you trips and emergencies.

So, the idea of financial freedom and the possibility of financial insecurity motivates me to always find ways to make money. I didn’t grow up with access to money at my disposal. I definitely wasn’t lucky enough to get written into a will. So, when I read about how everyone can live an abundant life, I want that life too!

I’m Motivated by Love:

Good Love will change your heart and your perspective on life:

I LOVE love. Lately, I feel like I’ve been on this journey to find what love really is. Due to a history of trauma in my life that I will discuss more in my book, I struggled to know what love is. Consider that when things happen to you in your childhood you stay emotionally stuck there without even knowing.

You go throughout life thinking you have an idea of what things are because of how you experienced them. Then you learn as you get older (after a few mishaps) you were wrong.  This is usually after a few negative encounters and experiences.

No, it doesn’t mean you can’t be resilient because that was definitely my situation. My ability to always want better in life and always having an open mind about love is what keeps me motivated. You struggle emotionally and if you’re not lucky enough to find someone that actually shows you, unconditional love, you can struggle in life. It’s truly a wonderful thing when you can trust and believe that you made better choices and your life reflects that.

My partner Joey seems to get it all too well and it’s to the point that I feel like there’s another level to this love thing. I remember waiting for something bad to happen because this is what I expected. Eventually, I had to monitor my thinking by being appreciative and fortunate enough to have someone that is doing this life with me.

Motivated By Spontaneity:

I wasn’t much of a spontaneous person especially in my 20’s. As a young adult, I was easily accustomed to my routine.  I was happy and enjoyed knowing what I was doing before it was happening. Often times if you don’t change you’ll get stuck in your ways.

If I was invited anywhere, I almost always declined. This of course negatively impacted my social life. All those invites turned into no invites.

That was the old me. I always enjoyed my time alone and needed a week or two to plan most activities. The introvert in me needed to have control over that process. As I get older I realize that you can’t control every little detail that goes on in your life.

Sometimes it’s ok to take an unplanned road trip because you can. Now I’m down to do just about anything, especially if it’s something different or something I declined in the past. Either way, most of the time I’m happy I did something different. It’s all about creating memories. You won’t know unless you try it.

There are some things that should involve planning. So, do yourself a favor and do something out of the blue. If you had a plan to do something next week and can do it this week go do it. Save that planned activity for next week or the following week. You never know, you might just stumble upon something unexpected and worth your while.

I’m Motivated By Growth:

We can’t expect the world and people to change while we stay the same right?  Currently, I’m committed to being the best version of myself. Most of the time it’s a struggle but I keep doing whatever I can to evoke change.

Talk about the topic of change – I wasn’t for it. This was when I was too young to listen to anyone. You couldn’t tell me anything. I basically subscribed to my own views and I made no plans of changing. Fortunately, I am no longer a lifetime member of stagnation.

Always try to look for new opportunities to improve your self. Consider that when you’re not open to change, you may invite a lot of later regrets. Don’t let regret take over the chances of growth ahead.

Things may not always work. You may fail at multiple attempts.  Don’t give up.  Trying out different avenues is the only way you’ll discover yourself. You can’t live for other’s satisfaction. You have to live for yourself.

Just remember that others around you may grow differently. It’s important not to compare yourself because we all have our own journeys of growth. Just keep pushing yourself especially if it’s something that you really want.

I’m Motivated By Being Optimistic:

Despite all the bumps I encountered, I always attempted to be optimistic.  It’s beneficial to always see the good in situations because being negative can invite negative outcomes.

There’s that saying called the law of attraction. You can attract more things by having a positive outlook than a negative view. It’s important to think positively because you will attract positive things into your life.

Read ” The “Think and Grow Rich” and “The Secret” for more information. Keep in mind there are plenty of good books out there and you can a find a few good articles on the internet.

This wasn’t always the case. I won’t lie and say I was never sad or depressed but I always knew there was much more to life. How? Well, I watched a lot of television shows that portrayed if you work hard and make good decisions, you will reap the benefits. I always imagined that could happen for me too. I also had some positive role models in life that showed proof that if you make good choices there will be rewards.

I’m Motivated By Being Healthy:

Oh yes, I’m motivated to be healthy now more than ever because I’m getting older. It is true; when you’re in the 20’s you might be able to eat what you want, drink what you want and stay up all night. However, that becomes harder to do in your 30’s. I wish I found a healthy balance in my 20’s with eating what I wanted but being mindful of my health and practicing portion control.

Now, of course, we all know someone who can eat what they want and still remain the same size. Some people think all they have to do is exercise and believe it’s the answer for everyone else. That is not true. I believe there are some people with good genes, others that are lucky, and the rest of us that will gain 10 pounds by looking at a burger or ice cream.

I took my youth years for granted, thinking I could always depend on another winter or New Year’s resolution to save me. It is my opinion that if you’re not motivated to be healthy by actions it won’t work.

Just recently, I started being real about my health because I wasn’t enjoying how I felt. I didn’t feel right. I felt sick and that made me scared. So, now it’s not much of an effort for me to stay on track. The journey is becoming easier. I’m motivated by the positive results.

For those out there struggling to commit to a more healthy and responsible lifestyle, remember it won’t be easy but it’s definitely worth it. Try to find what keeps you motivated. Do this by trying out different things.  Just because a program works for someone else doesn’t mean it will work for you. Find your own path and stick with it. It will be guaranteed a unique and worthwhile journey.

Different Ways to Stay Motivated:

Again, motivation is only a word without actions. There are plenty of ways and resources out there to help you stay motivated.

Be Real and Break Down Your Goals:

I can remember having a goal of wanting to drop 60 pounds in 3 months. Yes, there are people that can do it but we all don’t have the same metabolism.  So be realistic about your goals. Don’t make them too hard. Now, I’m happy to drop 2 pounds a week :).

Write a list of priorities or goals:

Writing goals are always fun when you write them down.  It’s easier to remember and you can always go back to adjust them. Think of anything you need or want to do. Try to make sure it’s something you’re actually committed to. This way you can figure out some action steps to stay motivated to achieve said goals.

Don’t be Afraid Talk About It: 

This is still a hard one for me depending on the goal. If it’s health related I tend to keep it to myself. For others, it can be a great way to hold yourself accountable. Making it public makes it real. There’s nothing like telling people you’re going to do something but not following through. It’s even better if you share the same goal with someone you know.

Reevaluate Your Goals:

Look, I’ve been there and can still be there next week if I don’t remain consistent. Re-evaluate your goals when you feel like you are not getting anywhere. This is helpful if you’re no longer interested. It goes back to being real with your list. Perhaps you added something that is more of a want to-do over a goal.

In order for you to really stay motivated, you have to want to accomplish your goals. If it’s a matter of laziness or feeling you don’t have time, check how you spend your time. I can’t tell you enough how much time I wasted because I thought I was busy but busy wasting time.

Reward Your Self: 

Don’t forget that hard work pays off in different ways. Not only are you able to talk about it and hopefully help someone else, you’re helping yourself. So, don’t forget to pay yourself for following through. You can reward yourself weekly, monthly or whenever.  Of course, the biggest reward is when you fully accomplish your goal, but this will help keep you motivated especially if you have something to look forward to.

Learn How You Can Stay Motivated:

Learning how to be motivated is going to be different for everyone. It’s all about finding your “why” and your “what”. So, let’s say you want to become a doctor because you watched someone close to your heart expire due to a health condition. Then you set your life out on this journey of wishing to save others.

You know the pain of watching someone you love suffer. It becomes a possible reminder of why you’re going to school. You don’t want to see that happen to someone else. You feel strongly about it; there is nothing that can change your judgment on the matter.  Going back to school and sacrificing time and money will be your what.

Your “what” comes into play when you start sacrificing your time by going back to school. If your “why” is strong enough, your “what” is an easier challenge. For someone attempting to become a doctor, they will not only spend a lot of time in medical school but also a lot of money.

I was in training yesterday for my job. It was on how to effectively coach your staff. The trainer was excellent. He showed this video that I learned was on youtube. At first, I was confused but glad I got the message. I hope you will too.

 

So, have you figured out your “why” and “what”? Anyone willing to share their sources of motivation? Let’s talk about it!