Without a doubt, there are dreams we wish with all our heart that we can make a reality. The question is how to sustain the commitment to make it happen. John Maxwell said that what motivates us is a choice. I agree and in following this line of thought, it stands to reason that what motivates us is as unique as the life of every individual.
So, if you’re wondering what keeps your desire to improve burning, keep asking what means the most to you in your future success and make certain you incorporate that into the foundation of your goals.
Here’s what I’ve learned from not taking time to be prepared in chasing my dreams.
- Motivation for me will fall off fast if I don’t take the time to get crystal clear on what my accomplishment will do for my life and what changes I believe it’ll bring. If I don’t take time to get clear, it’s nearly impossible to create a plan to get “there”. I can’t draw a map if I don’t know where “there” is.
- Not having a plan makes it impossible for me to break the goal down into smaller, more reasonable mini-goals that help my forward progress.
- If I don’t adjust my surroundings to support my mission, I’ll be swimming against the current. I’ll give in to exhaustion too-soon, and falsely believe it wasn’t meant to be.
The truth is, there are plenty of ideas and helpful motivational lists you can find in books, at conferences, and on the internet, but I found these approaches to be the most helpful at the beginning stages of reaching my goals. I learned to stop and take time to become prepared for the changes I needed to make mentally, emotionally and in my environment before I took a single step. I use these simple tips because I want to have more say in making life happen “for me” rather than just “to me”.
I hope some of the following suggestions will help you continue your march towards making your dreams come true! You can do it. All you need is to find what works magic for you.
- Get Clarity.
Imagine your dream in the most vivid detail possible. Why this goal will be good for you. How it looks, sounds, smells. What it feels like to be that person you’ve imagined. Take time to write down your dreams. That’s right, no digital notes. Experts suggest recording your dreams by hand is more powerful because there it establishes more of a mental connection, and this helps further your belief that you are going to be that person.
- Create a plan.
NO expedition, exploration, or innovation makes it much farther than the front gate without a good plan. You need to take the time, and don’t be surprised at the amount of time required, to create a solid plan with the most effective strategy to get to your first benchmark goal. Your plan is your set of actions you believe will lead you to your desired results.
- Break down your goal into smaller, achievable units and reward yourself.
The old saying, “You can’t eat an elephant in one bite”, is one of the most powerful pieces of advice. If you start off expecting too much, too soon, you create unnecessary stress, and practically insure failure – not the good kind, it’s the kind where you start to believe you’re out of our league to ever think you could achieve your goal. Break down your big dream into smaller, more manageable goals. They’re easier to learn and perform with more proficiency. This builds competency and confidence – a real game changer!
Be sure to reward yourself with treats appropriate to the commitment and effort of the task. A coffee break at your favorite cafe? A candle? A dessert reserved for special occasions? A piece of clothing or accessory you’re been wanting to splurge on but didn’t feel you deserved? You decide the reward based on the effort.
- Create a positive environment.
Surround yourself with an environment where you feel inspired. Good music, scented candle, essential oil vaporizer? Also, fortify your support group. Perhaps a mentor you respect. A fellow entrepreneur, a local networking group, or a good friend who knows you best and totally gets your dream and will talk you through your confusion or frustrations.
Bottom line. It’s important to be enjoying your journey to create change in your life because it helps reduce the stress and negativity of becoming isolated and unbalanced. It you fail to nurture and maintain a healthy, balance life, there will be nothing or no one to celebrate and enjoy the fruits of your labors when you finally reach your goals.
Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men! Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for power equal to your tasks.
Phillips Brooks
Of course, there are an abundance of suggestions, tips and strategies for achieving our goals available, but I’ve found the beginning stages are the most fragile in maintaining the commitment to continue, and these basic suggestions I’ve offered are some of the easier tactics we can activate to fuel our motivation to see our plan through to the end.
See it. Believe it. Plan it. Do it. Good luck!
Keep it Simple,
Just Teri
jtjustteri.wordpress.com 