Saturday, April 12, 2014

Inspiration Saturday; helpful tips on how to reach your goals


There are a few things you can do if you want to learn how to get motivated to reach all your goals and fulfill all your dreams, no matter how crazy they might seem sometimes. Stephen R. Covey once said that, “Motivation is fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly,” and he couldn’t be more right! Your motivation is extremely important, since it’s the thing that drives you towards a goal and keeps you working through a task when things get tough. Staying motivated is not always easy, especially when things don’t go as planned. You shouldn’t lose hope though and you shouldn’t give up under any circumstances. Every little thing has its ups and downs, but if you manage to stay motivated, you will be able to overcome any obstacle that might appear in your path. Here are a few very helpful tips on how to get motivated to reach your goals that you should consider if you are determined to succeed in anything you want to do: 

1. SET CLEAR GOALS


One of the first things you should do if you want to learn how to get motivated to fulfill all your dreams is to set some clear goals that will give you a direction to focus on. Also, make sure your goals are measurable and that they have an end point because just like Milton Erickson, the famous hypnotherapist, said, “A goal without a date is just a dream.” Try to constantly remind yourself of your goals and always check your progress, because this will help you stay motivated and do everything in your power to pursue your dreams.

2. FIND INSPIRATION


In order to stay motivated to reach all your goals, try to find all kinds of things that will inspire you and help you stay on track. For example, you could read other people’s success stories and see what they did to become so successful. Focus on the positive aspects of your goals and work hard to achieve them! Surround yourself with people who inspire you and don’t be afraid to ask for their help if you’re feeling a little demotivated. I’m sure they will be more than happy to help you and you will manage to see things from a different perspective.

3. REWARD YOURSELF


Reward yourself each time you manage to complete one step or one task that will help you reach your bigger goal. Try to feel that reward, enjoy it, because when you associate positive feelings with a certain goal, you reinforce that feeling with your subconscious and the more positive those feeling are, the more motivated you will be to start working towards fulfilling your dream.

4. COMMIT PUBLICLY


Make your goal public because this way, you will be more willing to do everything in your power to achieve it, since no one likes to look bad in front of other people. Just tell your friends, your family members or your co-workers about your goals and commit to giving progress updates to each of them every week or so.

5. START SMALL


When you try to reach your goals, start small, really small. If you have a hard time getting started, then you could do small, baby steps each day and really commit to this habit. Soon, you will manage to increase those steps and you will surely be amazed by the progress you’ve made. Let’s say that, for example, your goal is to wake up early every morning; instead of waking up 3 hours earlier the next day, you could try waking up a half an hour earlier and then do that for an entire week. Just remember: baby steps!

6. ASK FOR SUPPORT


Don’t do this alone! When you feel demotivated, ask for help and get support from your loved ones. Also, you could find someone who has a similar goal and you could share different experiences. You could encourage each other when you’re feeling down and this way, you will find the energy to work hard enough to fulfill all your dreams.

7. SQUASH NEGATIVE THOUGHTS


In order to focus on reaching your goals, try to squash all negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. Recognize negative self-talk and try replacing it with corresponding positive thoughts. Don’t be too hard on yourself and don’t be afraid to fail because failure can actually be the best teacher you’ll ever have. 

It’s not easy staying motivated all the time, since there are a lot of things that might not go according to your plan. You shouldn’t let yourself be discouraged though; just work hard, have patience, do everything in your power to fulfill your dreams and you will be successful. Do you know any other tips on how to get motivated and achieve your goals? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section! 

Sources: forbes.comau.reachout.com,wikihow.comzenhabits.netpickthebrain.com