Feeling sluggish and in a rut lately? It might be more than just the summer heat bogging you down. Whether you’re looking for a new job, starting a hobby, or shedding some pounds, it’s sometimes hard to find the motivation to even start. Every goal doesn’t require huge moves; it can begin with just a little step that may seem insignificant early on, but will build up to something great in the future. Check out some wise words from some of the most influential people in history and learn a few ways to get to where you want to be.
1. Keep goals manageable and do them every day.
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.” – Aristotle
It’s important to have dreams and a vision of your future, but starting off with large, unrealistic goals is a surefire way to set yourself up for some major disappointment. As the old adage goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Humans are a creature of habit, and unfortunately it takes a long time to build those habits with the need for a lot of self-encouragement. Instead of jumping the gun and signing up for a marathon when you haven’t been exercising at all, keep that end goal in mind, but make a list of smaller goals to achieve on the way. Build your way up from running a mile three times a week to training for a 5K, to a 10K, and so on. It’s much more rewarding to be proud of yourself for the little goals than to set yourself up for failure and give up before realizing your full potential.
2. Feel inspired about your goal(s).
“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” – Mark Twain
In order to keep up your momentum for change, it’s necessary to do a different combination of activities. Surround yourself with positive people who serve as your supportive cheerleaders as well as passionate folks who are inspirational. Read blogs and books about people trying to do the same thing you’re trying to accomplish. If you’re venturing into unchartered territory, learn from the ones who are successful mavericks or trendsetters. Keep happy while following your goals and reward yourself for your successes with something enjoyable such as going out for some dessert or taking a relaxing break.
3. Recognize your successes and hiccups.
“In any situation, the best thing you can do is the right thing; the next best thing you can do is the wrong thing; the worst thing you can do is nothing.” - Theodore Roosevelt
Human beings have a tendency to have selective memory when it comes to focusing on the negatives more than the positives. That’s why it’s important to take a moment to reflect on your successes (no matter how tiny they are) and also on the things went wrong. Keeping a journal is a good way to track these actions, to actually recognize your accomplishments, appreciate the strides you’ve made, and determine how much you have left to do. Taking some time to reflect on the entire process is a healthy way to motivate yourself to keep on swimming.
4. Stop the negative self-talk.
“I know for sure that what we dwell on is who we become.” - Oprah Winfrey
Failures aren’t something to beat yourself up for, but rather should be seen as a necessary link in the journey to success. If you’re not failing, then you’re not doing anything new. It’s much easier to say negative things to yourself instead of positive ones when the feeling of failure starts to sink in. But when did that ever help anyone? For every discouraging thought creeping up inside the old noggin’, think about four positive affirmations to counteract that. Treat yourself as you would a friend, because let’s face it: you’re stuck with yourself for the rest of your life, so might as well be nicer to yourself.