How to Harness the Amazing Power of Motivation
Learn how to utilize the power of motivation to succeed
“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing that’s why we recommend it daily.”
Zig Ziglar
What is motivation?
Cambridge Dictionary — “Enthusiasm for doing something.”
Merriam-Webster — “The act or process of giving someone a reason for doing something.”
Motivation is the driving force that stimulates an individual to initiate and sustain a behavior.
Intrinsic motivation: It comes from inside and is inbuilt in the system.
These needs include the following:
- hunger
- Thirst
- Sleep
- Curiosity
- The desire for influence or dominance.
Extrinsic motivation: These stimuli come from outside the person.
Extrinsic needs include the following:
- Rewards
- Bonuses
- Prizes
- Recognition
- Appreciation
Do we need motivation?
We are all in need of motivation continually.
Abraham Maslow, a famous psychologist, has said that motivation is the result of a person attempting to fulfill 5 basic needs:
Psychological: These comprise of basic human needs like food, clothing, shelter, and sleep
Safety: Human beings have a desire to have security whether it be personal, financial, healthwise or any other form of security.
Social: Human beings are social animals and cannot live in a vacuum.
The need for acceptance and a sense of belonging is very strong in humans.
That is why we have communities, groups and tribes and many other ways that people stay together.
Esteem: Humans have the need to have esteem, respect, and appreciation from others.
It’s one of the characteristics of human nature, that it flourishes well in an atmosphere of esteem and respect.
Self Actualization: This need is to reach our full potential.
In order to achieve all these five human needs, motivation is needed- both internal and external.
“All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” — Walt Disney
15 ways to stay motivated
1. Just get started - motivation or no motivation
One secret of motivation is that you just get started where you are and with what you have. There is no need for you to wait for someone to motivate you. If there is no one else to motivate you, then you motivate yourself.
“The starting point of all achievement is desire.” Napoleon Hill
2. Start realistically- S.M.A.R.T. goals
Set yourself realistic goals also known as S.M.A.R.T. goals.
Smart is an acronym for
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Time-bound
Don’t set up such high goals that are impossible to accomplish.
Start small and then scale up as time goes by.
Well planned is half the work done.
3. Obtain motivation from people in your network
There are certain people in your network who are positive and very inspiring. Get in touch with those people and get your daily dose of motivation from them.
4. Obtain motivation from people whom you don't know personally
You can also motivate yourself by listening to people whom you don’t know but who are well-known motivators.
Listen to their messages on YouTube, on podcasts, read their books, articles, blog posts and get a lot of motivation by doing so.
This generation has been blessed which such outstanding motivators like Gary Vaynerchuk, Tony Robbins, Grant Cardone, Proctor Gallagher, Tony Robbins, Marshall Goldsmith, Les Brown and many others. Take full advantage of these inspiring people and get inspired yourself.
Motivation is like a perfume — its fragrance spreads everywhere.
5. Remain positive no matter what happens or does not happen
Maintain a positive attitude regardless of the circumstances you are facing. As the saying goes “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”
Don’t let negative circumstances affect you in a major way. Always look at the positive side of things even when things are not going right in your life and eventually you will come out victorious and triumphant.
If life throws lemons at you, make lemonade out of it.
6. Don’t be afraid of failing
Failures are inevitable so don’t be afraid of failing.
Winston Churchill is famous for his quote “Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm.”
Make failures your friend and make them stepping stones to success.
“Just when the caterpillar thought the world was ending, he turned into a butterfly.”
7. Remove all distractions from your life
Remove all unwanted distractions from your life and stay focused on your goals.
This will help you to be motivated all the time.
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” — Thomas A. Edison
8. Have a goal card with you all the time
Many inspirational speakers and motivators suggest that people keep goal cards with them always.
A goal card is a small card on which you write your goals in short.
These cards are kept in the wallet, they are stuck in places like the mirror or the refrigerator where we look every day.
The idea is to constantly remind ourselves about the goals that we have set.
“The whole secret of a successful life is to find out what is one’s destiny to do, and then do it.” — Henry Ford
9. Listen to upbeat music daily.
Music lifts up a sagging spirit
You may feel that this has no place here in motivation but it is very true that music can uplift our spirit when it’s down. It can be very therapeutic during moments of sadness when there is a sense of gloom and doom. I have experienced the power of music to lift up my spirit many times.
10. Be thankful for what you have
A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles.
Always be thankful for what you have and you will get more.
One man was complaining to God that he did not have new shoes. But he stopped complaining when he saw a man who had no legs.
Always have a thankful heart and that will be a great motivating factor for you.
11. Live minimalist
In this generation, people are so obsessed with THINGS.
Someone has said this is a generation that gets all that they can, and can all that they get. That’s the reality of today’s life.
Most people want to get more things and store them even if they don’t need about 80% of them. It will be good if you start living minimalist.
Then, you’ll understand that you don’t really need all those things and in fact, these things are distractions taking you away from the real goals that you have set for yourself.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
12. Take occasional breaks and time out for yourself
It’s of utmost importance to take occasional breaks to refresh and renew yourself for the task at hand.
The story is told of two woodcutters who went into the forest to cut down trees. At the end of the day, it was found that one woodcutter had cut more wood than the other woodcutter.
They found out what was the reason for that. The woodcutter who did not cut as much as the other was working continuously throughout the day without any break except for a little lunch break.
The woodcutter who was more productive, cut wood for 1 hour and then rested for 15 minutes and then resumed his wood cutting.
He was doing this throughout the day and at the end of the day, he was able to cut more wood than the other fellow.
The moral of the story is that when we take occasional breaks, we renew our power, refresh our mind and our body so that it is stronger and more productive.
“When you stop chasing the wrong things, you give the right things a chance to catch you.” — Lolly Daskal
13. Treat yourself for a job well done
When you do a good job, pat yourself on the back, treat yourself to ice cream or something like that. This will keep you motivated.
Become your own cheerleader.
14. Attend seminars, webinars on motivational and inspirational talks
One of the easiest ways to receive motivation is to attend seminars, webinars, and meetings where motivational speakers are speaking.
It is good sometimes to be in the company of like-minded people who are there with just one goal in mind that is to get motivated and inspired.
“The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”
15. Be your greatest motivator
Finally, the one person who can motivate you the best is the one you see in your mirror every day. No one else can motivate you better than you yourself. Think about yourself in terms of a successful man or woman.
Imagine yourself as a person who has already achieved all your goals, and it will turn into reality sooner or later.
“Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.” — Nathaniel Hawthorne
“We become what we think about most of the time, and that’s the strangest secret.” — Earl Nightingale
