We've all heard how crucial it is to set intentions, goals and targets.
Powerful goals electrify us. Clear intentions energize and pull us forward.
Without a clearcut intention, we're reactive and don't get around to doing the important things when we want them done. Instead, we spend our time fighting random fires.
Without clear intentions, anything might happen. And usually does.
Literally, intentions are like the steering wheel on your car. Their whole purpose is to give you control over where you're going. But when setting intentions or goals, keep in mind that if you can't measure it, you can't manage it.
Now, it's good to have intentions at more than one level. When we get up into the more conceptual intentions, such as "I will contribute to the wellbeing of those around me," these become like a mission statement.
But then, be sure you move on to decide specifically how you will go about implementing your mission in your daily life. Specifics are essential.
How -- specifically -- will you put your mission into action today? What will you actually DO about your highest intentions?
It's important to set intentions for yourself because this is where the rubber meets the road.
Just say "I'm going to do this and this." It should be nothing big and overpowering. Just some stuff you're meaning to do or achieve short-term.
Be sure to write them down on paper. When you list them out, you can clearly look over your results afterward and check yourself.
At the end of today or this time next week, did you do what you said you'd do? Expressed like that, it's clear that we're building a kind of internal integrity check within ourselves.
When you're first starting to build this new intention-setting skill (habit), it's important not to pile on too much. Sure, it's easy to get all excited about turning over a new leaf, but it's essential that you start where you are NOW, not where you think you SHOULD be.
There are things that, from experience, you already know you can do. Set your intentions to do those things (plus perhaps a little bit more) and achieve them. Then, when you're comfortable doing what you say you'll do, then you can begin to stretch your intention muscles a little more.
But as in any new regimin, begin easy. Begin with what you can actually do. And only after you get comfortable with the intention-setting process should you start going for real growth. Patience - taking small, measured steps - is more than a virtue here. It's the key to keeping yourself moving forward. (Notice I said patience, not procrastination.)
Attempt too much too soon, and the end result will be another round of demotivation and discouragement.
Instead, go about this logically and gradually: keep your eye on the level you want to reach next year, and let today's effort take you 1/365th of the way there. Do this, and you'll see real, measurable progress as well as achievements you'll truly be proud of.
It's all pretty simple stuff, really. Just training yourself to keep your word to yourself.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
How to Make Your Self-Help Really Help
Ray was on a tear.
"All that self-help stuff is okay, I guess, but it has never worked for me. Ever." He was starting to get excited, waving his arms and pacing around.
"In fact," he went on, "it usually makes things worse for me."
I asked Ray for examples.
"Well, like, I'm out of work -- you know that, right? -- and I've wasted the last two months trying to affirm myself a job." He sat down, dejected. "Heck, it would have worked better if I'd just gone and seen about all the jobs in the classified ads or visited the employment agencies."
"You didn't physically do anything to find a job?" I asked.
"Well no," he almost shouted. "I didn't want to drain my energy away from the affirmations. I mean, that'd show a lack of faith, right?"
Ray was running a pattern I'd seen him do before.
One time he had told me about the expensive new "good luck charm" he'd ordered. Paid a couple of hundred dollars for it, so it was sure to work. But it didn't -- at least not for Ray -- and the next time I saw him, he was complaining bitterly about how he'd been "taken."
Another time, he was attending a series of classes by a rising new teacher. This also bombed.
And now Ray was telling me that, other than doing his affirmations, he'd made no physical effort to receive the benefits he was programming for -- had avoided it, in fact.
Sooner or later, everything disappointed Ray. Nothing "worked" for him.
Ever had a little of that feeling?
Now, maybe most of us are not as extreme (nor as obvious) as Ray, but we've all had times when neither our best intentions nor our best efforts were rewarded. We got no results and we didn't know why.
Well, here's the short answer: for everything that happens (or doesn't happen) to us, all the causes are within ourselves.
That may sound a little too fuzzy-edged to grab hold of, or to do anything with, so let's break it down into smaller, simpler pieces.
PIECE ONE:
What you spend your time thinking about shows up in your life.
Buddha said it.
One way or another, all the religious teachers and philosophers have said it. And virtually every successful person who ever lived has told us this.
They all told us that the thoughts we think become real and happen to us.
PIECE TWO:
Positive thinking is not just repeating some phrases over and over.
Positive thinking -- ANY thinking -- is what you're expecting to happen to you this afternoon. It's how you feel about yourself, and about me, and about your neighbors and co-workers and family members.
Your thinking is more than just words. It's your feelings. It's your attitude toward yourself and others. It's what you expect to happen to you today and next week. And it's your determination never to give up when things get tough and don't go the way you had planned.
Your thinking is far, far more than just the words you repeat.
If you see somebody at your level or below and think they're not worthy of your notice, or if you see someone richer or more successful and you feel jealous of them, then that's not positive thinking. It's negative because it's expressing feelings of lack and limitation.
PIECE THREE:
If you don't know why events happen to you, then you don't know what you're thinking.
How can you control your life if you haven't yet learned to take control of what's going on in your own head? But the sad truth is, most of us are grossly unaware of what flits around in our skulls.
The enlightened being knows what's happening in their inner landscape, and can choose thoughts, select emotions and feelings, and direct their expectations with the same ease that you and I click buttons on the remote control. That's why they seem to have the events of their life under control.
And no matter how faraway that ideal may seem, you can learn to do some of that "enlightened" stuff too.
Here's a quick tip: Reverse engineer your life.
To find out exactly what thoughts, feelings and expectations are in your mind, look around at your physical life. Painful as it may be to admit, your life is solid evidence of what's emanating from your head.
Don't like what you see? That's good. In a moment we'll learn a way to use this to our advantage.
PIECE FOUR:
Accept yourself, warts, hiccups and all.
Ray was always looking for something or somebody to "save" him. He had no belief in his own power, so he constantly sought out some outside power to lean on. Something to make up for his own powerlessness. He was seeking a guru or savior when it would have been more profitable to find a mentor that he could imitate.
Of course, he unknowingly felt he was incapable of being saved, so that outside guru or lucky charm or new technique always failed him. Naturally it failed -- all of his natural, inherent power (of which he was completely unaware) was being directed by his belief in his powerlessness.
Ask Ray if he was ready to recognize his limitations, and he would talk all around the subject, telling you why this book or that amulet didn't perform as promised. It was always "their" fault, not his.
We've all done this -- every one of us -- and it's a big stumbling block. We simply hate to see ourselves as we really are.
But if you want to get past this stumbling block, you'll have to give up the concept of "fault." Their fault AND yours.
In its place, you'll need to start using "responsibility."
What's the difference? Mainly resentment and guilt.
When anybody talks about fault, don't they usually go directly from that subject to WHOSE fault it was? And how badly it inconvenienced them? There's no power in fault.
On the other hand, if you take responsibility for an event, this implies that some kind of control is possible. It's a description of who has the power and how they CHOSE to use it.
PIECE FIVE
Everyone has power, even though they don't know it.
As we saw with Ray, he was using his natural power to form his world in a backwards way, keeping himself blinded to what he was doing.
And he was doing this by assuming that the power was "out there" somewhere. He was desperately seeking something or someone to lend him that power. But it always remained out there, out of reach, outside himself.
Okay, now let's talk about getting your self-help to really start helping.
STEP 1
List what's not working. What are the things in your life that are not the way you want them? Make a list, on paper.
This is a word-map showing exactly where you're unable to feel or accept your own power.
STEP 2
Take all those items on your list and spend 5 or 10 minutes fantasizing. Imagine what it would be like if you COULD control them. What if they were working perfectly for you? How would that look and feel?
Yes, I know that life never works out that way, and this excuse or that excuse is always in the way. Never mind any of that. Just sit yourself down and do it anyway. I mean, little else is working for you, right? So what's to lose?
STEP 3
Keep doing this regularly. Don't stop at one tepid toe-in-the-water trial. Do it often and get some enthusiasm into it.
STEP 4
When you get a hunch or idea or intuition, write it down before you forget it. Then go do it. Immediately.
Again, you should ignore any fears that "this won't work either" and just go ahead and give it an honest try.
Whether one particular effort brings smashing success or turns out to be a dud, keep on doing this. It makes just as much sense to do things this way as to continue on with your other method (that wasn't working).
STEP 5
Anytime you get results, whether good, bad or indifferent - anytime anything happens - deliberately repeat to yourself, "I caused everything about this situation. Nobody else stood in my way. It was ALL my doing, from start to finish, and I'm the power here."
WILL THIS REALLY WORK?
I guarantee this method will work at least as well as what you've been doing up till now, and you may be surprised to find it working far better. Why? because you're starting to fill your mind with things you want, emotions that support you, and expectations that these good things might actually be for you.
Furthermore, you're starting to practice control over what goes careening around in your head.
And that's the biggest key of all.
"All that self-help stuff is okay, I guess, but it has never worked for me. Ever." He was starting to get excited, waving his arms and pacing around.
"In fact," he went on, "it usually makes things worse for me."
I asked Ray for examples.
"Well, like, I'm out of work -- you know that, right? -- and I've wasted the last two months trying to affirm myself a job." He sat down, dejected. "Heck, it would have worked better if I'd just gone and seen about all the jobs in the classified ads or visited the employment agencies."
"You didn't physically do anything to find a job?" I asked.
"Well no," he almost shouted. "I didn't want to drain my energy away from the affirmations. I mean, that'd show a lack of faith, right?"
Ray was running a pattern I'd seen him do before.
One time he had told me about the expensive new "good luck charm" he'd ordered. Paid a couple of hundred dollars for it, so it was sure to work. But it didn't -- at least not for Ray -- and the next time I saw him, he was complaining bitterly about how he'd been "taken."
Another time, he was attending a series of classes by a rising new teacher. This also bombed.
And now Ray was telling me that, other than doing his affirmations, he'd made no physical effort to receive the benefits he was programming for -- had avoided it, in fact.
Sooner or later, everything disappointed Ray. Nothing "worked" for him.
Ever had a little of that feeling?
Now, maybe most of us are not as extreme (nor as obvious) as Ray, but we've all had times when neither our best intentions nor our best efforts were rewarded. We got no results and we didn't know why.
Well, here's the short answer: for everything that happens (or doesn't happen) to us, all the causes are within ourselves.
That may sound a little too fuzzy-edged to grab hold of, or to do anything with, so let's break it down into smaller, simpler pieces.
PIECE ONE:
What you spend your time thinking about shows up in your life.
Buddha said it.
One way or another, all the religious teachers and philosophers have said it. And virtually every successful person who ever lived has told us this.
They all told us that the thoughts we think become real and happen to us.
PIECE TWO:
Positive thinking is not just repeating some phrases over and over.
Positive thinking -- ANY thinking -- is what you're expecting to happen to you this afternoon. It's how you feel about yourself, and about me, and about your neighbors and co-workers and family members.
Your thinking is more than just words. It's your feelings. It's your attitude toward yourself and others. It's what you expect to happen to you today and next week. And it's your determination never to give up when things get tough and don't go the way you had planned.
Your thinking is far, far more than just the words you repeat.
If you see somebody at your level or below and think they're not worthy of your notice, or if you see someone richer or more successful and you feel jealous of them, then that's not positive thinking. It's negative because it's expressing feelings of lack and limitation.
PIECE THREE:
If you don't know why events happen to you, then you don't know what you're thinking.
How can you control your life if you haven't yet learned to take control of what's going on in your own head? But the sad truth is, most of us are grossly unaware of what flits around in our skulls.
The enlightened being knows what's happening in their inner landscape, and can choose thoughts, select emotions and feelings, and direct their expectations with the same ease that you and I click buttons on the remote control. That's why they seem to have the events of their life under control.
And no matter how faraway that ideal may seem, you can learn to do some of that "enlightened" stuff too.
Here's a quick tip: Reverse engineer your life.
To find out exactly what thoughts, feelings and expectations are in your mind, look around at your physical life. Painful as it may be to admit, your life is solid evidence of what's emanating from your head.
Don't like what you see? That's good. In a moment we'll learn a way to use this to our advantage.
PIECE FOUR:
Accept yourself, warts, hiccups and all.
Ray was always looking for something or somebody to "save" him. He had no belief in his own power, so he constantly sought out some outside power to lean on. Something to make up for his own powerlessness. He was seeking a guru or savior when it would have been more profitable to find a mentor that he could imitate.
Of course, he unknowingly felt he was incapable of being saved, so that outside guru or lucky charm or new technique always failed him. Naturally it failed -- all of his natural, inherent power (of which he was completely unaware) was being directed by his belief in his powerlessness.
Ask Ray if he was ready to recognize his limitations, and he would talk all around the subject, telling you why this book or that amulet didn't perform as promised. It was always "their" fault, not his.
We've all done this -- every one of us -- and it's a big stumbling block. We simply hate to see ourselves as we really are.
But if you want to get past this stumbling block, you'll have to give up the concept of "fault." Their fault AND yours.
In its place, you'll need to start using "responsibility."
What's the difference? Mainly resentment and guilt.
When anybody talks about fault, don't they usually go directly from that subject to WHOSE fault it was? And how badly it inconvenienced them? There's no power in fault.
On the other hand, if you take responsibility for an event, this implies that some kind of control is possible. It's a description of who has the power and how they CHOSE to use it.
PIECE FIVE
Everyone has power, even though they don't know it.
As we saw with Ray, he was using his natural power to form his world in a backwards way, keeping himself blinded to what he was doing.
And he was doing this by assuming that the power was "out there" somewhere. He was desperately seeking something or someone to lend him that power. But it always remained out there, out of reach, outside himself.
Okay, now let's talk about getting your self-help to really start helping.
STEP 1
List what's not working. What are the things in your life that are not the way you want them? Make a list, on paper.
This is a word-map showing exactly where you're unable to feel or accept your own power.
STEP 2
Take all those items on your list and spend 5 or 10 minutes fantasizing. Imagine what it would be like if you COULD control them. What if they were working perfectly for you? How would that look and feel?
Yes, I know that life never works out that way, and this excuse or that excuse is always in the way. Never mind any of that. Just sit yourself down and do it anyway. I mean, little else is working for you, right? So what's to lose?
STEP 3
Keep doing this regularly. Don't stop at one tepid toe-in-the-water trial. Do it often and get some enthusiasm into it.
STEP 4
When you get a hunch or idea or intuition, write it down before you forget it. Then go do it. Immediately.
Again, you should ignore any fears that "this won't work either" and just go ahead and give it an honest try.
Whether one particular effort brings smashing success or turns out to be a dud, keep on doing this. It makes just as much sense to do things this way as to continue on with your other method (that wasn't working).
STEP 5
Anytime you get results, whether good, bad or indifferent - anytime anything happens - deliberately repeat to yourself, "I caused everything about this situation. Nobody else stood in my way. It was ALL my doing, from start to finish, and I'm the power here."
WILL THIS REALLY WORK?
I guarantee this method will work at least as well as what you've been doing up till now, and you may be surprised to find it working far better. Why? because you're starting to fill your mind with things you want, emotions that support you, and expectations that these good things might actually be for you.
Furthermore, you're starting to practice control over what goes careening around in your head.
And that's the biggest key of all.
How to Get Rid of Addiction and Abuse
Tell me, does this describe someone you know?
Some people who feel inferior use an addiction to try to overcome weaknesses, especially in times of increased stress or deep inner conflict. A person’s inner inferiority complex reveals itself in his or her actions such as addiction, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, child abuse, compulsive eating, blame and aggression among others.
No successful person desires a destructive addiction. What people who choose addiction or abuse really want is the power and ability to create better lives.
Fearing they do not have this power to improve their lives, you will hear these people use excuses and blame to justify their addiction and abuse and protect what little dignity they feel they have left.
If you find yourself or others dealing with addiction or abuse, instead of justifying or blaming, ask the following questions:
Do I really want healing and resolution for this addiction or abuse?
Am I willing to improve myself to achieve healing?
Do I realize I can’t control others? The only one I can control is me.
Am I willing to take the first step for myself and get rid of my addiction, abuse excuses, blame and other destructive habits to achieve peace and happiness?
Alcohol abuse and drug abuse are common crutches today. I have met many people who feel tongue-tied or awkward at social events. They find a few cocktails or beers “give them a lift” turning them from introvert to extrovert. There are many people who drink to feel better about themselves, even to the point of abuse or addiction.
For an article entitled Lori Prokop Interviews the Experts, one doctor said to me, “It’s sad but true. A seemingly innocent use of alcohol can quickly and easily become an addiction, especially if people perceive they are someway ‘improved’ when they drink.”
Alcohol abuse, drug abuse and any other addiction are serious forms of personal loss. The people, who depend on any exterior addiction or abuse rather than improving their perceived weaknesses and healing their pains, are beaten from the start.
Such a person can find healing. They must get rid of the addiction and abuse, find a healing system which works and resolve their fears and pains.
Some people who feel inferior use an addiction to try to overcome weaknesses, especially in times of increased stress or deep inner conflict. A person’s inner inferiority complex reveals itself in his or her actions such as addiction, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, child abuse, compulsive eating, blame and aggression among others.
No successful person desires a destructive addiction. What people who choose addiction or abuse really want is the power and ability to create better lives.
Fearing they do not have this power to improve their lives, you will hear these people use excuses and blame to justify their addiction and abuse and protect what little dignity they feel they have left.
If you find yourself or others dealing with addiction or abuse, instead of justifying or blaming, ask the following questions:
Do I really want healing and resolution for this addiction or abuse?
Am I willing to improve myself to achieve healing?
Do I realize I can’t control others? The only one I can control is me.
Am I willing to take the first step for myself and get rid of my addiction, abuse excuses, blame and other destructive habits to achieve peace and happiness?
Alcohol abuse and drug abuse are common crutches today. I have met many people who feel tongue-tied or awkward at social events. They find a few cocktails or beers “give them a lift” turning them from introvert to extrovert. There are many people who drink to feel better about themselves, even to the point of abuse or addiction.
For an article entitled Lori Prokop Interviews the Experts, one doctor said to me, “It’s sad but true. A seemingly innocent use of alcohol can quickly and easily become an addiction, especially if people perceive they are someway ‘improved’ when they drink.”
Alcohol abuse, drug abuse and any other addiction are serious forms of personal loss. The people, who depend on any exterior addiction or abuse rather than improving their perceived weaknesses and healing their pains, are beaten from the start.
Such a person can find healing. They must get rid of the addiction and abuse, find a healing system which works and resolve their fears and pains.
How To Get Motivated and STAY Motivated
The internet today has created unlimited money making opportunities for many online users, some starting with zero or limited knowledge soaring to success in making money online. There is a good number of internet companies today offering genuine online business opportunities. But why does only a handful succeed while the majority jump from opportunity to opportunity without success?
The missing link according to some of the online and offline businesses is in personal development, the motivation to identify, set and to systemically follow up your goals.
It’s said that everyday we choose what to do with our time. And that every little action that we are involved in, will produce results, whether desirable or otherwise. However, this is not news for most of the people who have been and are still trying to get out of the rat race by investing their time and money in businesses.
Most of us have been to seminars, have taken notes and have books and audios by the ‘gurus’ of self-improvement, all this without any long lasting favored outcomes. And we keep stacking up more ad more of the personal development materials as we continue to ‘buy hope’ that one day we will find the right program for us.
We also look for that business which promises us all the right products, the right tools, support and a chance to make a quick buck without lifting a finger. And then it all happens again. Nothing works and we jump to another ‘ground floor’ business opportunity.
So what is missing here, what happens to the inspirational buzz we get when we attend a motivational seminar? The possibilities, the vision we attain when we listen to that goal setting CD. Why procrastinating again?
Well, I will tell you what is missing. The one ingredient, the catalyst that you must have if you are to succeed is a daily dose of continuous motivation to enable you to consistently replenish your inspiration and vision.
For beginners it is important that you get this daily dose until you become disciplined or habituated enough to go on an autopilot. The only challenge is; this continuous kick on the back side does not come cheap.
However, there are ways to achieve this daily dose without coasting you an arm and a leg. You can have a coach who will give you a weekly coaching session and get a friend to do the daily butt kicking. The ‘best’ friend to do this for you is the loud mouthed one, who can embarrass you in front of everyone if you haven’t done what you said you would do.
Another way is to have a personal improvement program which is monitored by a group of people who have one goal in common. This way everybody mentors and inspire everybody else. This ‘co-mentoring’ can became unbelievably effective if there is an appropriate platform for this co-mentoring to happen.
The platform should consist of long and short term courses to maintain continuity and systematic personal-growth. The internet can provide such a platform whereas materials can be easily obtainable and individuals can communicate daily without breaking the bank. Wishing you all the BEST on your online business ventures.
Sal Al-Rawahi
To learn more visit http://personal-growth.successuniversity.com
The missing link according to some of the online and offline businesses is in personal development, the motivation to identify, set and to systemically follow up your goals.
It’s said that everyday we choose what to do with our time. And that every little action that we are involved in, will produce results, whether desirable or otherwise. However, this is not news for most of the people who have been and are still trying to get out of the rat race by investing their time and money in businesses.
Most of us have been to seminars, have taken notes and have books and audios by the ‘gurus’ of self-improvement, all this without any long lasting favored outcomes. And we keep stacking up more ad more of the personal development materials as we continue to ‘buy hope’ that one day we will find the right program for us.
We also look for that business which promises us all the right products, the right tools, support and a chance to make a quick buck without lifting a finger. And then it all happens again. Nothing works and we jump to another ‘ground floor’ business opportunity.
So what is missing here, what happens to the inspirational buzz we get when we attend a motivational seminar? The possibilities, the vision we attain when we listen to that goal setting CD. Why procrastinating again?
Well, I will tell you what is missing. The one ingredient, the catalyst that you must have if you are to succeed is a daily dose of continuous motivation to enable you to consistently replenish your inspiration and vision.
For beginners it is important that you get this daily dose until you become disciplined or habituated enough to go on an autopilot. The only challenge is; this continuous kick on the back side does not come cheap.
However, there are ways to achieve this daily dose without coasting you an arm and a leg. You can have a coach who will give you a weekly coaching session and get a friend to do the daily butt kicking. The ‘best’ friend to do this for you is the loud mouthed one, who can embarrass you in front of everyone if you haven’t done what you said you would do.
Another way is to have a personal improvement program which is monitored by a group of people who have one goal in common. This way everybody mentors and inspire everybody else. This ‘co-mentoring’ can became unbelievably effective if there is an appropriate platform for this co-mentoring to happen.
The platform should consist of long and short term courses to maintain continuity and systematic personal-growth. The internet can provide such a platform whereas materials can be easily obtainable and individuals can communicate daily without breaking the bank. Wishing you all the BEST on your online business ventures.
Sal Al-Rawahi
To learn more visit http://personal-growth.successuniversity.com
How To Develop A Motivated Mindset
From time to time, each of us will find ourselves in a rut of boredom and disinterest. We seem to lose our zest for life and feel tired, irritable and unmotivated. We want to hide under the covers rather than face the day. Perhaps you're feeling overwhelmed by work, or sad about the pain and suffering in the world, or just bored with the routine of your daily life.
You are not alone. We all go through periods like this at some point. The good news is that we can do something about it. Here are some tips to help break out of the rut and feel excited about life again:
1) Take a "Time Out" - Prolonged stress can wear us down and zap any enthusiasm we once had. Before doing anything else, take a few minutes to breathe and just BE. Empty your mind of all stress and worry. This takes practice, but don't give up! As thoughts come into your mind, gently push them back out and continue to keep your mind empty and calm. Take slow, deep breaths and let all of your muscles relax. Sit quietly and recharge your batteries. Try to do this daily, or even twice daily (morning and night). We need quiet time as much as we need anything else in life. Give yourself the gift of inner peace.
2) Get Inspired - Read something motivational, inspirational or uplifting. Look at some beautiful nature photos, or read something humorous. Consciously move your thoughts to a more positive place. Focusing on nothing but work and our daily tasks in life can leave us feeling pretty uninspired. It's easy to turn it around if we want to. We just have to seek out things that will lift our spirits and our moods. Make it a point to laugh, be happy, joyful and lighthearted each day. Don't wait for inspiration to come knocking on your door, go out and find it, or create it. Conjure up some funny or touching memories. Write them in a journal so you can go back and read them when you're feeling down.
3) Get Excited - Think about the things you have planned for the day, and rekindle the enthusiasm you once felt for them. When we first begin a new project, or start a new job, we are excited about the possibilities and eager to get moving! Over time, we can lose that enthusiasm for a variety of reasons. Travel back in time for a moment, and think about what got you so excited at the beginning. What made your heart beat a little faster? Recapture that feeling and hang onto it! Even if your tasks aren't anything to be really excited about, at least think of some positive benefits to doing them. For example, list the ways they will benefit your children, your spouse, yourself, your job or your home. Identify the payoff, and focus on that. Even mundane tasks have some benefits. Sometimes it's just a matter of switching our mindset to see the positive side.
4) Baby Steps - Sometimes the hardest part is actually getting started. A project seems so monstrous that we cringe at the thought of all that time and energy we'll have to expend. Instead of overwhelming yourself, start small. Set a timer for 15 minutes and just start working on it. Allow yourself to stop after 15 minutes if you really want to. But most often, once we actually start working on something, we won't want to stop. Don't focus on the big picture, look at the smaller details and take them on one at a time. Any large task seems manageable once we break it down into smaller steps.
5) Care of the Body - Sometimes our feelings of fatigue are caused by physical deficiencies, not mental. Be sure you are getting enough rest, eating food that nourishes your body, drinking enough water, getting enough exercise, etc. Especially when we're very busy, we tend to grab the quickest, easiest meals, which aren't always the best choice for our bodies. Eating a lot of highly processed foods and sugar is like putting watered-down gasoline into our cars. In order for our cars to run smoothly, we need to maintain them properly, and so it is with our bodies also. Remember, the body is the vehicle for the mind and soul! ;-)
Finally, remember to reward yourself from time to time, and be gentle with yourself! There will always be things that "need" to be done. But some of us take on way more than we can handle, and our lives turn into a pit of drudgery because of it. Try to eliminate the things that truly don't bring you joy, or at least minimize the time you spend on them. Do what you can, and let the rest go. Or ask for help. Don't feel you have to do everything yourself.
Remember that motivation, just like happiness, is something we CHOOSE. We may need to give ourselves a little push at the beginning, but once we get into the right mindset, it's simple to stay there if we choose to.
You are not alone. We all go through periods like this at some point. The good news is that we can do something about it. Here are some tips to help break out of the rut and feel excited about life again:
1) Take a "Time Out" - Prolonged stress can wear us down and zap any enthusiasm we once had. Before doing anything else, take a few minutes to breathe and just BE. Empty your mind of all stress and worry. This takes practice, but don't give up! As thoughts come into your mind, gently push them back out and continue to keep your mind empty and calm. Take slow, deep breaths and let all of your muscles relax. Sit quietly and recharge your batteries. Try to do this daily, or even twice daily (morning and night). We need quiet time as much as we need anything else in life. Give yourself the gift of inner peace.
2) Get Inspired - Read something motivational, inspirational or uplifting. Look at some beautiful nature photos, or read something humorous. Consciously move your thoughts to a more positive place. Focusing on nothing but work and our daily tasks in life can leave us feeling pretty uninspired. It's easy to turn it around if we want to. We just have to seek out things that will lift our spirits and our moods. Make it a point to laugh, be happy, joyful and lighthearted each day. Don't wait for inspiration to come knocking on your door, go out and find it, or create it. Conjure up some funny or touching memories. Write them in a journal so you can go back and read them when you're feeling down.
3) Get Excited - Think about the things you have planned for the day, and rekindle the enthusiasm you once felt for them. When we first begin a new project, or start a new job, we are excited about the possibilities and eager to get moving! Over time, we can lose that enthusiasm for a variety of reasons. Travel back in time for a moment, and think about what got you so excited at the beginning. What made your heart beat a little faster? Recapture that feeling and hang onto it! Even if your tasks aren't anything to be really excited about, at least think of some positive benefits to doing them. For example, list the ways they will benefit your children, your spouse, yourself, your job or your home. Identify the payoff, and focus on that. Even mundane tasks have some benefits. Sometimes it's just a matter of switching our mindset to see the positive side.
4) Baby Steps - Sometimes the hardest part is actually getting started. A project seems so monstrous that we cringe at the thought of all that time and energy we'll have to expend. Instead of overwhelming yourself, start small. Set a timer for 15 minutes and just start working on it. Allow yourself to stop after 15 minutes if you really want to. But most often, once we actually start working on something, we won't want to stop. Don't focus on the big picture, look at the smaller details and take them on one at a time. Any large task seems manageable once we break it down into smaller steps.
5) Care of the Body - Sometimes our feelings of fatigue are caused by physical deficiencies, not mental. Be sure you are getting enough rest, eating food that nourishes your body, drinking enough water, getting enough exercise, etc. Especially when we're very busy, we tend to grab the quickest, easiest meals, which aren't always the best choice for our bodies. Eating a lot of highly processed foods and sugar is like putting watered-down gasoline into our cars. In order for our cars to run smoothly, we need to maintain them properly, and so it is with our bodies also. Remember, the body is the vehicle for the mind and soul! ;-)
Finally, remember to reward yourself from time to time, and be gentle with yourself! There will always be things that "need" to be done. But some of us take on way more than we can handle, and our lives turn into a pit of drudgery because of it. Try to eliminate the things that truly don't bring you joy, or at least minimize the time you spend on them. Do what you can, and let the rest go. Or ask for help. Don't feel you have to do everything yourself.
Remember that motivation, just like happiness, is something we CHOOSE. We may need to give ourselves a little push at the beginning, but once we get into the right mindset, it's simple to stay there if we choose to.
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