What do you do to motivate yourself?

[Lovinglife]

I'm wondering what everyone does to motivate themselves. I have a good motivational wallpaper, but I can't think of anything else to do.

I guess it would depend on my goal, right?

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by Lovinglife

I'm wondering what everyone does to motivate themselves. I have a good motivational wallpaper, but I can't think of anything else to do.

I guess it would depend on my goal, right?

If you reflect on life a little... see how precious and fleeting it is... you won't want to miss out on anything... that should at least be a first step... if it does not work... set your pants on fire... then, you'll be motivated...

.

[shesaboutspirit]

I motivate myself with something that stirs any kind of passion within me. Ideally that is. Sometimes, the motivation is more painful...like when there is a bill to pay that is just no fun at all, but at least if feels good when it's been done. So when there is no fun involved, at least I can focus on the good feeling that I know is on the other side of the task.

Passion though...is my favorite motivator. Even if it's just a little bit. Gardening usually brings me back around if I'm out of sorts. I hear that nature absorbs negativity. Walking around my neighborhood and breathing with intention to clear myself is effective as well. Hey, maybe oxygen is the real motivator in some of these, now that I think of it. Much more difficult to stay upbeat and motivated while shallow breathing at ones computer.

So oxygen, and passion. Whatever feeds passion seems to build creativity and motivation is a byproduct of this.

blessings,

Pam

[norbert]

Do what you love. Whatever it takes.

Don't fall into the state of learned helplessness. Find ways to solve your problems most of the time doing what you love (which are self-motivating).

[ZenDude]

Get other people along for the ride.
Visualize having achieved the goal.
Set small goals and make sure you get those.
If you set 20 tiny goals for a day and you get them all, you'll feel great

[kyup]

I like to do yoga or dancing to motivate me. Even if I'm tired, I'll start doing the slack version, then I gradually get into it and become motivated to do other things.

[Neo Master]

My ways of getting motivated might be kind of silly! But they work for me!

Ok so when I wake up I do a kick out of bed and jump out. Then I head ot my stero and pop in the Hulk Hogan theme "Real American" and it gets me pumped.

Since I work at home I work out still I sweat to the music. Then I take a shower and get dressed. I then put on my relaxing music to think of my goals for the day and create what I would like to happen this day.

I write down and think of my goals in orders. And Also set a goal of how much money or how much work I want to get done. Then after that I think of what I will do for fun later on like play basketball or read, or play a video game.

THen late at night I light candels and put on music and meditate and visulize what I would like to happen around me in my life. I focus all of my mind and energy on it. And then I go to sleep.

I repeat this just abotu everyday.

[Ellesse]

I personally think motivation is a activity you'll need to nurture on a daily basis. For me, I
- do a 2km jog 2 times a week, eat breakfast & drink lots of water everyday to increase my energy levels
- post little post it notes (did a Vision Board recently as well) to remind myself of my goals
- listen to motivational audio programs and watch TSTN
- hoping to start a mastermind group of people with similar goals
- do visualization every night before I go to sleep

And it helps a lot that I've got a burning reason for accomplishing my goal. I think that's the most important thing that I focused on which makes sustaining motivation a much easier task.

[Cron]

Originally Posted by Lovinglife

I'm wondering what everyone does to motivate themselves. I have a good motivational wallpaper, but I can't think of anything else to do.

I guess it would depend on my goal, right?

I remind myself that it is a false idea that I need to wait until I feel motivated to enjoy doing an activity. Action generates motivation. The reverse is true, but happens much more rarely.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Shamou

If you reflect on life a little... see how precious and fleeting it is... you won't want to miss out on anything... that should at least be a first step... if it does not work... set your pants on fire... then, you'll be motivated...

.

I laughed when I saw your post! While delivered with humor it is so true. Ernie Larson in his book Stage Two Recovery describes a conversion experience as someone who comes to understand that he/she is about to loose something he/she is unwilling to loose if the person does not choose to change and from that place of loss and pain becomes willing to take positive action.

So, if my pants are on fire I would be having a conversion experience and be very motivated to put out the fire. I would be motivated to do whatever I needed to prevent the pants from being on fire again. I would be motivated to seek medical help for any burns, etc, etc.

<Grin>

I Have needed the pain and fear in my life to create enough motivation to make changes. At first it was the only motivation which could move me from being frozen in place.

As I took action on some things I was motivated to change with less pain and then even less pain. Eventually I was able to contemplate change with out the impetus of pain.

Pain can still be a motivator for change but more often I can make life choices before I reach intense fear and pain. The process of conscious choice and change in my life began with the small steps of taking action to avoid consequences that seemed terrible to me and progressed to action without the fear and pain.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by Gene
I Have needed the pain and fear in my life to create enough motivation to make changes. At first it was the only motivation which could move me from being frozen in place.

As I took action on some things I was motivated to change with less pain and then even less pain. Eventually I was able to contemplate change with out the impetus of pain.

Beautifully said Gene…

The more you practice anything… the more proficient you get to be at it…

And, let us not forget the hallmark of evolution is a greater degree of adaptability…

.

[alexyeo]

I always find my "WHY".
If I have a very strong reason, the reason itself will keep me motivated and keep going.

Of cos', I am still a human after all. Sometimes I really do feel like quitting. I always read this poem to help me get back up. I posted this poem in other threads before. But I really love it and hope I can share with you all again.

“When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you are trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
When you want to smile but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a little bit,
Rest, if you must - but don’t you quit!

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up, though the pace seems slow
You must succeed with another blow.

Success is a failure turned inside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you can never tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you are hardest hit
It’s when things get worse you mustn’t quit.”

written by Edgar Guest

Inspiring and motivating!

[Bruce Achterberg]

How do I get motivated?

Personally, I spend months of my time focusing on the topic (of motivation) in an attempt to learn what I can do to consistently be in a motivated state, dripping with enthusiasm. Although I'm still in the process of "getting motivated", since I haven't quite learnt exactly how to get motivated (to a degree that satisfies my crazy standards... I expect it's going to take me another 2 years or so to master it to a decent degree).

It sure has taken a while (lots of ready-aim-fire-Bzzzt! You fail! Try again! ), but I'm finally making some progress. Suffice to say it has something to do with your paradigm, your beliefs, your thoughts/focus, your emotions, your preferences, and desire. Although I believe it's also a very personal process that one has to go through, but that said, I do think there are many common "check points" that would be universally applicable to everyone and only different by degree, not essence.

When I have sufficiently tested my findings to a degree that satisfies me (which will mean lots of testing) and I am able to extract the essence of what I know and apply it to anyone and have them reap results from it, I’ll probably write a book or something because most of the resources/info available about motivation really suck (motivation is dependant on many highly interrelated things, not just one particular method).

But anyway, the point of my post is that, from my experience, getting to the point where you can consistently turn motivation on like a switch and move effortlessly and enjoyably towards results is really, really hard. I think if you’re interested in making progress with something like this you have to respect the magnitude of the challenge and be willing to invest enough energy into it until it eventually folds and says “ok, it looks like s/he’s serious... let him/her through”.

In other words, don't expect this to be a quick fix thing. Be prepared to throw lots of resources (time, money, people, etc) at it in order to win. Read 50 books on the subject, journal about your experiences, overhaul your belief system, but most of all, have patience with yourself, play to win (in all senses of the term, including Playing to Win: Not Playing to Win) and don't give up! (Those are all valid links to good articles, by the way.)

As a fellow participant in the process, I'm rooting for you!

[C.F. Jackson]

Originally Posted by Lovinglife

I'm wondering what everyone does to motivate themselves. I have a good motivational wallpaper, but I can't think of anything else to do.

I guess it would depend on my goal, right?

Lovinglife,

I have a dream board that's turning into
a dream wall. I place all of my successes
and dreams on my board.

As I've learned, I look over at my wall and
it reminds me to what's at stake. My reward
trip, my film, my Won't Be Denied Conference,
my senior resort and so on.

As well, I've placed pictures of my successes in
my iPod. I went on a cruise with some awesome
people this past December, I have a picture of
me and my coach John Di Lemme, the pics on
my dream board, also I just added pics of myself
with Coach Ken Carter (Coach Carter - the movie),
Vic Johnson, Nikki Stone - Olympian, and more.

And mainly, I make steps towards my life dreams
and purpose a daily action each day to achieve
successes.

It's all about Willingness - Belief - Determination!

Continue to make this an Awesome day!

Won't Be Denied!
C.F. Jackson

Lighting 1,000 Dreams Worldwide!

[Shamou]

I would have to say that the people that you hang out with has a lot to do with your level of motivation… and, there is also “personal values”…If excellence is one of your top priorities… you will have no problem in being motivated…

Bottom line, it is how you see yourself (self-image)… if you see yourself as a winner… being motivated is no problem… if not… TIME TO CHANGE THAT SELF-IMAGE… and get with the program…

.

[rene_stpierre]

In my opinion, the ultimate way to motivate someone is through the true desire of wanting something.

Nobody needs motivation to eat because it is vital. If someone's desire for something (a new job, more money, a spouse, or whatever else) is vital i.e is so important that he/she is willing to do anything to get it, that desire will be so important that there will be no need to other types of motivation.


René

[aabukar]

For me i have an ordered set of techniques that i use to motivate myself so if
the first failed i try the second and then the third and so on

1- talking with my friends and family so they can motivate me

2- Singing "I have a dream" for westlife ... especially the part "If you see the wonders of a fairytale ... you can make the future even if you fail ... i beleive in angels ... something good in everything i see
i beleive in angels , when i know the time is right for me
i will cross the stream i have a dream"
and i keep repeating the last sentence over and over again until i beleive in it "usually i do this while i am crying"

3- Reading Stephen Covey's books and stories about other people's struggle and life biography .... that can be very very helpful

4- Writing quotes that motivates me on a paper and paste it on the wall of my cupical at work just infront of my face so i can read them all the day

fortunately, i didnt have to search for a fifth technique