Build Unstoppable Motivation
By definition, motivation is the process of taking action in order to achieve a goal. But sometimes action can be hard to initiate, and even harder to maintain. The single best way to increase motivation is to make progress in meaningful work, no matter how small. Motivation leads to greater creativity and productivity. And making progress (being productive and creative) leads to motivation which leads to more work. This is the progress loop, where progress and motivation fuel each other in an upward spiral.” (neuroscienceschool.com)
Think of it like the energy required to get a giant boulder to budge even a few inches. Without initial sheer willpower, you won’t keep moving forward. Isn’t that like any worthy goal you have in fitness, diet or other lifestyle changes? That beginning effort is usually when we’re at our most motivated, but our output seems small at that beginning stage — the boulder barely moved. Full of adrenaline and inspiration, you push with all your might, but you begin to tire out almost immediately because you’re not used to the effort. You try again and again and eventually you stop pushing.
Once that boulder comes to a complete stop, you lose all motivation and your goals remain unchanged and uninspired. What if I could tell you how to keep pushing until you build momentum that brings you towards your goals? Here’s how.
Plan Ahead
A goal without a detailed plan is only a dream. You need to know how you are going to achieve the things you desire, especially if you have to push through hard times. To do so you have to plan it out ahead and then follow through no matter the distractions that come your way.
Write your goals down and make them big to push limits. If your goals don’t motivate you, you won't feel compelled to take action. This is called defining your “WHY.” Without a why, there is no reason to keep going.
But you still have to plan AHEAD and this is where most people fail. They create a beautiful plan, become motivated, take action, make progress and then…become distracted by a temptation, opportunity, or choice that doesn’t lend itself to the achievement of the plan. (probrilliance.com)
Write down all of the potential distractions standing in the way of your goal. Success is less about being disciplined and more about removing the distractions that make progress difficult.
Motivation is fueled by progress, even if only incrementally successful. Let me state that another way:
The single best predictor of motivation is progress in meaningful work, no matter how small. (neuroscienceschool.com)
You make meaningful progress by breaking down your plans into actions, both small and big. Each large action can divided into 5-20 small actions. Write them down and cross them off when completed. When you see small, incremental progress, it will continually fuel your motivation. (Twitter: @LongevLifestyle)