I know we have discussed before that each of us is our own greatest asset (and worst enemy) in achieving our dreams. That concept has never been more apparent to me than it has been recently since I have had some time off. Our progress in life, and specifically our progress to achieving the goals we set for ourselves, is in direct relation to our ability to stay motivated.
The problem with staying motivated is that you really need a balance of two other feelings to make it effective. In order for motivation to manifest itself into action you have to be both challenged and excited about the challenge. For instance, you could be motivated to work harder in your current job to get ahead, but if you are not being challenged in your job, it lulls you into doing the same old thing that you are used to. Alternatively, you could have been given a position with more responsibilities than you can handle, and you may feel differently. The weight of the stress can make that challenge unmanageable, and make you lose focus on your goal. The key is to have a nice balance between being challenged, and being able to see tangible results in your progress that keeps you excited about what you are doing and the possibilities that are ahead.
Personally, I struggle with these motivational issues all the time. It’s hard to find that right balance sometimes, and it seems that more often than not it fluctuates into chunks of time when you have that spark, and others when you don’t. What I have learned over time is to use the fears and ambitions that touch me the deepest to get over those unmotivated chunks of time, and manage to push myself forward. For me, one of my biggest fears is that I won’t accomplish my goals and have a lot of regret later in life. For me, regrets are the absolute worse thing I can do to myself. The way my personally is and how my brain works, regrets are something that I concentrate on and weigh heavily on my mind. Anytime I focus on that fear, it gets me motivated to get back to work on whatever my current project is. The urge to work toward my goals becomes my primary focus again and I’m able to progress that much further. It is important that you find your motivational button as well, so that you can utilize it whenever you need to get yourself in gear.
It’s human nature to lose your focus at times, even if you are doing what you love and have all the self motivation in the world. Why do you think people need personal trainers? Why do you think people say you must surround yourself with people who share your same dreams? Even the most motivated person will falter at times and it’s essential to have a good support system in place (ie, someone who can motivate you when you are not motivating yourself) to ensure you are continuously working on your goals.
In the end, the extra work and pain almost always pays off. Take some time to analyze your ambitions and what you could be doing better to achieve them. At the same time, make sure you are surrounding yourself with positive people that are helping push you to your dreams on a consistent basis. Each little improvement you make in your life will eventually add up to make a big difference.
