What motivates and inspires you? Are you motivated by encouragement from other people? Are you inspired by seeing that someone else has achieved a dream like yours? Is it easy for you to feel motivated at the beginning of a project only to get thrown off course when problems arise? Or are you someone who stays motivated all the way through to the end, no matter what?
It’s important to know what kinds of things motivate you and what kinds of things stop you in your tracks. Do you need to have a clear vision of what you want? Or are you more of a “fly by the seat of your pants” person? Neither path is right or wrong. When you know what motivates you and what hinders you it is easier for you to reach your goal.
If you get stuck and the usual motivators aren’t working maybe it’s because the project falls into the realm of a “should” rather than something you really want. That is something to consider so you can determine if the project is worth continuing. Sometimes we get stuck because we don’t have a clear picture about what we really want. It’s difficult to achieve it when your vision is foggy and steeped in wishing and hoping that all things will work out.
There are no magic motivators that fit for everyone. It’s something for you to figure out for you. I, personally, am motivated when I am working collaboratively with a group. I find that the interplay of ideas and of a group working to the same end goal helps me keep my energy for the project, especially when the unforeseen obstacles arise. I am also inspired by reading or listening to people who share what has worked for them. I find that I struggle when I don’t have a clear vision about what it is that I want to achieve. I feel confused and lose my focus. Once I have clarity and have even a loose plan, I am ready to move forward.
The key is for you to find out what motivates you. One thing that I have found in conversations with people who are stuck is that they think something should motivate them and it really doesn’t. For instance, some people find it motivating to read positive affirmations. For others, positive affirmations not only don’t work, but they actually de-energize them. Then the spiral occurs because they think that there must be something wrong with them since affirmations seem to work for everyone else. And, they simply don’t work for them – there is no judgment necessary. Find what actually works for you.
So, bottom line is this. What motivates and inspires you? Do more of that!
Comments are closed.