How to Get Re-Motivated
By Michael Angier
The events of September 11th, 2001 aroused many emotions. In addition to the
feelings of fear, anger and confusion caused by the tragedy, many folk have lost
personal confidence, losing sight of personal direction and focus.
We must not forget and we must mourn the loss, but it's our moral duty as
citizens of the free world to get on with our lives ... not letting the
terrorists succeed by sidetracking our focus and negatively influencing our way
of life.
So how DO we get motivated again?
Perhaps it would be helpful to take a close look at motivation itself--what
it is, what it's not and how we can increase our personal motivation.
I do motivational speaking, but I've always had some resistance to being
called a motivational speaker. I don't even think it's possible to motivate
someone other than ourselves. Certainly we can present information, help others
to look at things in different ways, remind them of what's important to them,
tell inspiring stories and help to increase their belief.
All of these things help. But the truth is we can only motivate ourselves. We
might get pumped up by an inspiring speaker, a thought-provoking book or a
motivational tape. But in order to have sustained motivation--the kind that will
enable us to move past the inevitable roadblocks or challenges--we must dig
deeper.
We must have motivation FROM THE INSIDE OUT. It can't be pasted on the
surface. It must live powerfully and deeply within us.
We're either motivated to move toward something we want or away from
something we don't want. One might think they're motivated by something higher
or better than these two options, but if you examine your objectives carefully,
you'll find that they will fit into one or the other.
The REASON we want to achieve something is far more important than the HOW to
accomplish it. I often see people getting bogged down in the mechanics of
reaching a goal (the HOW) instead of getting clear and committed to the why.
If my child is on the other side of a door in a burning building, I don't
need to read a motivational book in order to psyche myself up to get through the
door. The DESIRE to save my child provides the motivation to do WHATEVER I must
do in order to achieve my purpose.
Assuming we're clear on what we want--and this can easily be an erroneous
assumption--it is our desire and commitment more than any other one thing that
determines our success.
Not long ago, a friend of mine shared with me that he always gets his
business and personal income taxes done on the first tax submission date.Not one
to do so myself, I asked him how he did that. He said that the satisfaction of
having this done and out of the way was stronger than any sense of dread he had
about doing the myriad tasks needed to get the job done.
His focus was on what he wanted where mine had usually been on the
distastefulness of the job. By focusing on the prize--what we want and WHY we
want it, we increase our determination and motivation to achieve our intended
outcome.
The root of the word motivation is motive and means "An emotion, desire,
physiological need, or similar impulse that acts as an incitement to
action." I interpret this as the REASON for doing something. Motivation
also denotes motion, action, doing something based upon a strong reason.
When I find myself less than enthusiastic about working toward an objective,
I find it helpful to refocus on what I want and especially WHY I want it. In
doing so, I regenerate the drive and dedication to make it happen and I place
myself in a position to enjoy the journey.
The motivation that comes from inside not only lasts longer it produces a
greater resolve and creates a passion that is not only powerful but infectious
as well.
I encourage you to revisit your values, your mission and dreams. Remind
yourself of why you have chosen to achieve your goals--why you are doing what
you're doing. Only you can motivate yourself to action. Only you can accomplish
your dreams.
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