5 Steps To Motivation

Have you ever felt like you needed motivation? Has anyone ever asked you to give them motivation?

The word “motivation” is something that we hear much, yet sometimes we may not understand it enough or may not know how to make it work for us.

While I have written two previous articles on motivation, this time I am writing to you about how you can apply (practically) motivation into your life. My point is this – it is one thing to be motivated to do something, it is another thing to take action and do that something!

Motivation not only has to be understood and gained, it has to be applied.

So, here are my 5 Steps To Motivation:

1. Look for a Motive – In an article that I wrote in February, 2010, I mentioned that the word “motivation” comes from the word “motive”. A motive is needed as a ‘reason’ for you to do something. For example, if your goal is to become a more confident person, your motive could be career progression. With the new found confidence, you will find it easier to progress in your career. In order to be motivated, the first wise step would be to get absolute clarity on your motive. Without a motive, motivation may be hard to come by.

2. Write it down (remind yourself of the motive daily) - Even if you are able to gain motivation, maintaining it is another thing. As the legendary Zig Ziglar said “People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.” By writing down your motive, and reading it aloud each day, you will be driven to maintain the motivation. There is a saying which I heard many years ago which reads something along the lines of “Getting to the top might be the easy part, staying there is the hard part.” So, if you are looking at gaining motivation, please also look at maintaining it. I have a ritual of writing down my goals every single morning, and reading them aloud. It is a good reminder of why I am to do, what I must do!

3. Take action - Motivation breeds motivation. Take action to maintain and create more motivation. Momentum is integral when it comes to motivation and being productive. It is much easier to keep going when you are in the ‘flow’ or in the ‘rhythm’. Even if you take a small action step in the direction of your goals, that action step will be a contributing factor in getting you to what/where you want to be. A question that I want you to think about is this – Is it motivation that creates action, or does action help create motivation as well? Please ponder that question for a moment.

4. Focus on your abilities, not your limitations – Sometimes certain limitations are self imposed. I was listening to a motivational webinar yesterday, and what really caught my attention was a statement “Limitations, like fears are only imaginary”. So, instead of focussing on what you may not be able to do, please focus on what you can do. Then turn that ‘can’ into a ‘will’. In other words, what you will do. Allow your abilities to create your actions. If we all focussed on our limitations, our productivity would’ve taken a nose dive. Oprah Winfrey was told that she was cosmetically challenged. Yet, she went on to became one of the most influential talk show hosts in history. In 2009, I was told that I should not become a public speaker because of my speech impediment. Did I allow that to stop me from becoming a speaker? You bet that I did not. I focussed on my passion when it comes to public speaking, my messages that I truly believed that the masses of the population will benefit from, and my role in creating a better world for one and all. If you focus on your abilities, you will be more likely to be motivated. If you focus on your limitations, you will be more likely to be de-motivated.

5. Remind yourself of the end result – Get emotionally engaged with your desired end result. Feel it and see it in your imagination. What do you want, and why do you want it? Read that question over and over again until you know that your desired end result is motivation enough for you to take action. Speaking from personal experience, I can tell you something interesting. I am much disciplined when it comes to fitness. In the past, there were times when I made excuses and become de-motivated. For example, I would look outside at 6:00 am during winter, and see that the ground was covered with frost. Then, I would not go for a run because it is freezing cold outside. The regret that I would feel a few hours later was a massive price to pay. So, I reminded myself that I prefer to face the elements and go for a run, than regret later. Getting emotionally engaged with what you really want can be a very potent tool in keeping you motivated.

These are my 5 steps to motivation. Please apply them into your daily life to see if they make a difference in getting more motivation in your life.

Please remember this, motivation is your responsibility. Not mine or not anyone else’s. If you are to create and maintain (more) motivation in your life, then you are the one who has to do something about it.

Quote: "Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” Jim Ryuh

I sincerely hope that my 5 steps to motivation will serve you in achieving your goals.

Inspiring you towards your excellence,
Ron Prasad (Author, Speaker, Life Coach & Executive Coach)