Motivation: The Root To All Success

Whatever it may be, finding motivation and staying motivated can both be extremely difficult – you can easily find yourself inadvertently succumbing to your misfortunes, keeping you from progressing! If life is getting you down – you’ve received another rejection letter, or you are simply not in the right headspace to get yourself on track, remind yourself it’s only up from here! There is no saying it will be easy, but I can tell you that the first step is typically the hardest point in getting motivated, so it is positive that things will only get easier. Having curated a list of things I believe to be crucial for getting yourself back into the swing of things, below you can find a compact guide in helping you along the way. It is only onwards and upwards from here, folks!

1. Dream It, Be It! It may prove difficult to remember the reasons for starting something in the first place, which often leads to the downfall of many peoples’ commitment to their desires. You may not yet have reaped the rewards of your work and that’s okay; the best results are worth waiting for! Envision yourself in the future, thriving and successful – all because you never gave up. Imagine securing your well-deserved place at THE university of your dreams, since you chose to miss ‘the parties of the year’, so as to pull all-nighters at the library. Imagine being in awe of your body and how far you’ve changed for the better, because even though you finished work late, you never stopped working out! The point is this; no matter what you wish to achieve, look to the future and motivate yourself with the rewards of perseverance. You can accomplish so much if you simply stick with it.
2. Take A Walk In Someone Else’s Shoes. If looking to the future wasn’t enough to motivate you, find inspiration in an individual that has found themselves in the position you wish to be, celebrity or not. For example, if you wish to become a great entertainer, you may seek inspiration in the likes of Michael Jackson, or perhaps Ariana Grande. You may find it useful to determine mutual qualities in both artists that may have lead to their success. Try implementing these into your own life. Furthermore, ask yourself (and if possible, your chosen individual) questions about their journey that got them to where they are now – be prepared to do the research, as well. What plan did they conjure to reach their current situation? How did they manage to go from one success to the next? What obstacles did they face and how were these overcome? There are sure to be endless points for consideration and integration into your everyday life that are bound to kickstart your motivation, getting you to where you want to be.
3. In A Rut? Keep Pushing! People often find themselves at a dead-end, lacking inspiration and stuck in a seemingly endless, downwards spiral. The key to getting away from this is baby steps. Adventuring into the outside world is a great start in the endeavour of getting your MOJO back. No need for anything too crazy; a brisk walk may be enough to get your creative juices flowing, or to be inspired by something in your surroundings. If, however, a walk fails to spark some form of motivation, immersing yourself into your work should hopefully do the trick. This is not to say you should expect to write your greatest piece to date, or perfect that dance just yet but simply starting writing, or in regards to the latter, pop a move. Write mindlessly if that helps or dance carelessly! Maybe in your case, aim to read just one paragraph, or simply, change into your workout attire. These outsets instil the intentions of making progress. From here, you are bound to push past these starting points, gaining momentum in no time and with this, it is certain that motivation will follow.
4. Think Possible. Overwhelmed by your goals? Are they seeming to be unfeasible? Fortunately, optimism vouches otherwise! Although, I believe there are ways to help simplify matters. Breaking down your goals into smaller, easily attainable targets is an effective strategy in achieving your dreams. People frequently lose hope on their visions because their end-result is far too broad and seems almost impossible. By creating smaller targets that eventually lead to the same outcomes, mean that each smaller target is more easily fulfilled. That same feeling of checking off a to-do from a list is what will fuel your motivation to keep going, and later lead you to your greatest achievements. More steps and time may be involved, but surely your dreams are worth it?
5. Switch It Up! Commonly, individuals are hesitant to change methods, whether or not their current ways are helping their progress. With the trap of routine and fear of change, the dreams of many crumble at the mercy of peoples’ detrimental insistence to old ways. Note that something may not work for everything; there is not one solution for all. If that were the case, life would be far too boring. Instead, consider an alternative route to your success; one you have not yet explored. Think along the lines of trial and error. If nothing is working so far, what do you have to lose? The answer; not a whole lot.
6. No More Excuses. Truthfully, what is holding you back? What is truly keeping you from all you wish to fulfil? If other priorities take precedence, aim to complete them… now! There is no time like the present, so here comes the key question… what are you waiting for? Finish that assignment, start saving for equipment or simply, get the kids to bed! Whatever it is, get it done as soon as you can in order to make time for what will contribute to the best future version of you. Understandably, some priorities or concerns may prove to be harder to overcome than others. In other cases, perhaps self-care will prove beneficial. Your health should undoubtedly be the highest of priorities, so definitely work on this before getting out there and pouring one-hundred percent into your dreams!

Now, the rest is up to you. Get back out there and stay busy! Smash each day as they come, trust your instincts and never give up on yourself. There may be people along the way with malicious intentions of hindering you growth and in times like these, remember to believe in you.