How to Keep Yourself Motivated
One of the questions I am asked over and over by radio and TV interviewers and reporters is “How can a person motivate themselves?”
While there are no simple answers to this question – we all develop methods that work for us – we can use a powerful technique known as leverage. Archimedes said he could move the world if he had a big enough lever.
In the case of self-motivation, the leverage comes from having completed a commitment exercise. If you have not yet done this, it’s quite simple.
Choose the particular goal or area of your life in which you need motivation. Take a page in your journal and write down everything you will gain by taking the action.
In the case of building your business, your list might include financial freedom, more time with your family, freedom to live and work wherever you choose, the opportunity to work from home, the opportunity to do work that you love, being able to make a difference in people’s lives, and on and on.
Write down as many things as you can think of. List every benefit, reward and pleasure you will receive from reaching this goal. This is your carrot.
Next, write down everything you are presently giving up and missing out on by not already having reached this goal. Things like working at a job you dislike, being away from your family, not having enough money, not being able to give your family what they need, always being behind on your bills, and on and on.
Write as many negatives as you can. What is the pain you experience by not having already reached this goal? This is your stick.
You can use the power of the carrot and stick to motivate yourself to action. When you feel yourself slacking off or procrastinating, or even if you feel like giving up, take out your lists and reread them.
These whys will remind you why you are doing this in the first place. Tony Robbins taught us that everything we do is either to gain pleasure or avoid pain. You can use this pain and pleasure - carrot and stick - exercise to keep yourself on track.
Keep your eye on the goal and keep reminding yourself why you want it. Doing this will keep you taking the actions necessary to reach your goals and live your dreams. Remember, you can reach any goal if you have a big enough why.
As my friend, John DiLemme said with the title of his wonderful book, Find Your Why and Fly
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Tags: commitment, financial freedom, John DiLemme, Motivated, self motivation, tony robbinsPosted in
