How do you Motivate yourself everyday?

By Somali K Chakrabarti

 

People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” – Zig Ziglar

This quote by Zig Ziglar sounds funny for sure, but, hey read it again and you’ll not only find yourself agreeing with it, but may also follow up with the question ‘How do we motivate ourselves?‘

Motivation

External factors such as recognition or rewards are a great source of motivation, but unfortunately we cannot always depend upon external triggers to find motivation. As a matter of fact, we have to face setbacks, deal with rejections, and yet we need to keep going.

So, how do we motivate ourselves in the absence of external triggers?

Needless to say that we need to find motivation within. That being said, it is not so easy to train our minds to seek motivation; for we need to spend time conditioning ourselves.

“It is not so easy to find happiness with ourselves and it is not possible to find it elsewhere” ~ Anais Nin    [Tweet this]

Here are a few ways for developing a mind-set that allows you to rewire your brain to seek motivation within:

 

1. Develop a To-Be Vision

While it is not possible for us to have a definite picture of how the future would shape up, or where we would be say 3 – 5 years down the line, yet, we all have our idea of a best life, depending upon what we want from life and our potential to achieve that.

The concept of a To-Be vision is like a compass that sets the direction for your choices and actions that lead you towards your idea of a best life. Doing something every day that takes you nearer to your To-Be vision sends affirmative signals to the brain.

Footprint Motivation

You can begin by deliberating upon questions such as:

  • What is my idea of an ideal day? How sustainable it is?
  • What do I foresee myself doing in the next 3, 5 or 10 years?
  • What do I value most in life?
  • What would I hate losing?
  • What footprints will I like to leave behind?

Even, without a To-Be vision, doing something that helps us to grow intellectually, emotionally, or spiritually adds on to our confidence and serves as a means of self-reinforcement.

 

2. Know your strengths 

Making a list of your strengths that you have developed from all your previous roles, makes you conscious of them and gives you the confidence that while you may not have all the answers but you’ll be able to find them by putting your strengths to use.

Your previous successes convince your brain that you are capable of doing great things and that the probability of great things coming in future is very likely.

“Nothing can dim the light which shines from within ~ Maya Angelou [Tweet this]

Inner strength

 

3. Re-frame your self talk

This is not the same as denying the problems, but looking at them as opportunities or challenges to be overcome.

“Talk to yourself at least once in a Day. Otherwise you may miss a meeting with an EXCELLENT person in this World.’ ~ Swami Vivekananda

Self talk

 

Unlike birds that are powered by their sense of direction (Compass), we need to rewire our brain to find and set our direction, and move towards it.

Finally, it pays to remember that

“Motivation will almost always beat mere talent.” ~ Norman Ralph Augustine

How do you find your motivation?

 

 

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92 thoughts on “How do you Motivate yourself everyday?”

  10. Wow Somali.. Very motivating… Very well written.. External triggers are hard to come nowadays, so internal triggers are the best way to motivate ourselves. Just to do what we love without any second thought. And the quotes are very inspiring..

    Liked by 2 people

  15. great post Somali ji , very inspiring and motivational one. But I mentioned it in other way , it is lubrication of my mind and I always said my students that if you want to be success you should open your mind windows slowly slowly . and I think to motivate our self is to do the things you like most !!

    Liked by 2 people

            1. Yes I understand that situation that is why I am a work at home Mom 🙂 But I guess reading inspirational quotes and staying connected with love ones and thinking that you are doing that for your family helps us be motivated. It is such a drag still I think.

              Liked by 1 person

  22. Brilliant points here. Self-talk and knowing one’s forte help a person to find the required spark within. External motivation, as you’ve said, is hard to find sometimes and, it’s our duty to make ourselves moving. Motivation beats mere talent- I loved this quote for it is absolutely true! I’ve seen such instances in my life.

    You’ve really made it a nice and inspirational post by using the three-in-one method 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Maniparna. True its our own responsibility to keep ourselves motivated to get moving . If we don’t, how can we expect others to motivate us on a regular basis?
      3 – in 1 method – that’s a nice way of putting it. 🙂

      Like

  31. I believe in self-motivation, training yourself despite all those modern distractions and developing concentration is the key to remain motivated. Reading good literature also helps. Since we do all good things under compulsion, redefine your goals and set your priorities. Then follow them religiously. A day comes when others start taking inspiration from your motivated self.

    Liked by 1 person

  32. Intrinsic motivation works better. But to fuel that motivation one does need some external TLC too. Some days when you are feeling down, it is your loved ones who give you a boost and get you going. Other days, you may just be feeling on top of the world. It is important to set goals and also keep re-aligning them.

    Liked by 1 person

  34. Nice post Somali. I love that quote by Zig Zaglar. Both internal and external motivation play a long and strong role in shaping a person and his internal strength. The internal motivation provides a great sense of completion while the external one provides a great surge of energy for immediate action. The balance between the two promises an extraordinary life in the making.

    Liked by 1 person

  37. Very valid points, neatly and succinctly explained. I have always found this specific quote about talking to oneself by Vivekananda, extremely relevant esp to the modern age.

    I was in fact discussing today with a colleague that for thousands of years Indic thought has stressed the need to look within ourselves for answers. When we strip away everything only That one truth remains, and that one truth is the Source of Infinite motivation.

    Unfortunately modern day focus is external – ostentatious display of wealth, belligerence when it comes to displaying one’s faith externally with facial markers or color coded cloths and caps etc etc.

    All this is driving us farther and farther away from discovering our true self and talking to it. Great souls like Shankaracharya, Ramakrishna, Vivekananda had discovered through deep introspection the true nature of Self, the import of “aham brahmasmi” and “tat tvam asi”. That’s why they were such great motivators and within themselves they discovered an unending fountain of motivation.

    Great post! Makes one think.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks for this wonderful insight Subhodeep. We average humans need a social fabric for support, so while it may be natural to find external morivators, however even in absence of external morivators we need to seek motivation internally to be truly resilient.

      Like

    1. Thank you Lata. You’re so right. A sense of responsibility gives meaning and purpose to life and keeps us going. That’s why perhaps as soon as a major responsibility is discharged, we often sense a vacuum till we develop some other sense of responsibility or engage ourselves in a hobby.

      Like

    1. Thanks Indu. Sense of responsibility is an intrinsic motivator that inspires you/us to discharge the responsibilities. May be that is the reason why after a major responsibility gets done, some sort of a vacuum comes in till we again involve ourselves in something else.

      Like

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