So...in this first week of March I need a little something, some extra something... something, to help me push through. With a jam-packed calendar of booked quizzes, mid-terms, assignments and…not to be overlooked, job hunting, cooking, cleaning, dog walking, sleeping – that “stuff”, I need a little pick me up. Many of you are doing the same thing this week. In lifting myself up to get started and keep going, I decided to share what works for me. I hope it does the same for you. Here we go!
Begin. Do. Lead by example. Build trust. Motivate yourself and others. You’ll be rewarded when you do. Self-motivation is triggered because we need something. Sometimes the hardest part is to identify what it is that we need. Sometimes we don’t know until we begin to act. The process is different for everyone. You need to discover what drives you, what fulfills you, and as you do, each small success feeds the next one.
With self-mastery, balance and success in your personal schedule at home, work and play, one of the happy side benefits is that in addition to your own inner glow -- all that positivity begins rubbing off and it will infect people around you in the best way possible – and then, ultimately, back to you!
Motivation can’t be forced. If you disagree with me, perhaps you are actually thinking about action. Actions can be forced. If you are the boss, you make the rules; you assign the work; but, do you notice if people are very happy when you do? Your goal as leader is to create an environment where people are self-motivated to initiate and achieve the target outcome of tasks set by you because they trust you.
Now, back to you – how to motivate self?
Peter Urs Bender leads us to the how, many, many times in his writing as you will discover if you borrow one of his books from the library or buy a copy of one of the titles that speaks to you. From Motivate Others: Motivate Yourself, from Peter’s web site*, be inspired to step outside your comfort zone to achieve every goal on your list!
Set sensible goals – write them down – keep that list with you—check in often.
Read good books – a book written by Peter Urs Bender, for certain…but do some research. Talk to friends and your local librarian and read what interests you and catches your attention. There are great books out there!
Watch good movies, TV and Online – you’ll be surprised where you get your motivation! I know, you may be asking, “What is she thinking to recommend television or the internet, for that matter?” It’s not all dark, violence and junk. Be selective. I happily discovered the TED: Ideas worth Spreading website via this project assignment. You too, may be inspired!
Look after your body. Good health and fitness is an obvious motivator. When you feel great – you can get to great, and then you get out and do things. The process is self-perpetuating!
Work at rewarding projects. Do things you enjoy doing. If you are not working in a job right now that totally excites you – although, it may give you what you need materially (that’s the compromise you choose, by the way), make sure to include a project that allows you to feed your passion. Volunteer! Coach a sport team! Work with your hands. My sister-in-law makes her own greeting cards and sews beautiful quilts that she raffles off for charity. C’s creativity is respected and celebrated. She is approached often to contribute a project for an event. She also loves her job – in part, because she has created the time for play.
Last but not least, realize that you cannot always be UP! There are going to be days when it is hard to stay positive. Life can blindside us from time to time. That’s life. But don’t take anyone else with you, and don’t stay there after you’ve taken your self-approved short side trip to lick your wounds – begin preparing for the next positive moment immediately- it will happen before you know it! The system that is working for you, the one you set up last week by following Peter Urs Bender’s sage advice, does work!
KG
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