5 Steps To Boost Your Motivational Skills

Sometimes we get stuck and feel less motivated to move forward.  This is especially true for anyone set on living a life of fulfillment and achievement. Our experience tells us that motivation is a primary intrinsic factor responsible for moving us to action. 

Motivation is the one variable that allows us to push ourselves when those around us give up. It fires up our energy to  seek out and conquer one challenge after another. 

If you are currently experiencing a dry spell in the way of motivation or even if you have never thought of yourself as a driven individual, but would like to become one, continue reading. 

Here we will explore 5 helpful steps that, in no particular order, are an effective way to enhance your overall motivation and drive to achieve the goals you have set for yourself! 

Know Your Why

While it may seem obvious, knowing your reasoning and passion behind anything you pursue is critical. When you first set out on a goal or achievement, your “why” for doing so typically starts out pretty clear. However, somewhere in the daily grind of working towards this goal, this foundation can quickly become obscured. 

Make no mistake; any time you are tirelessly working towards something worthwhile, no matter how important, there WILL be days in which you feel less motivated than others. Remaining conscientious of why you started in this first place serves as your second (or third, or fourth) wind to get back up and keep pushing. 

Know Your Direction

Extreme motivation has a tendency to cause one to put their head down and work like a maniac. While there are times that this mindset is beneficial, some sense of direction must be maintained. Big goals rarely consist of going from point A to point B without detours in between. 

Always keep general overview of what you want to accomplish in mind as well as the specific steps toward your destination. So yes, while keeping your nose to the grindstone is a must, looking up every now and then to adjust and begin the next phase of your blueprint is the only way to continue heading in the right direction! 

Allow Small Victories

No matter how much (or little) motivation you have towards a goal, failing to enjoy small successes in pursuit of the finish line is a sure fire way to run out of gas before you get there. 

While resting on your laurels and settling for less than what you want must be avoided, depriving yourself of fulfillment along the way is also detrimental. In pursuit of your goals, take some time to reward yourself when you accomplish one of the (often many) small steps to get there.

And, don't forget to celebrate the mistakes along the way. They are the stuff that allows us to learn and improve.

It's really about You Versus You, Not You Versus Them 

This is a factor that most of us need to hear. Keep in mind that your goals are YOUR goals. Letting other people’s pursuits dictate what you strive for is a slippery slope. After all, you will never find the motivation required to achieve anything great without a personal conviction to do so. Whatever it is you want, the only comparison to be made is to the person you were the day before. 

Controlled Tunnel Vision

Consider this fact: whatever big goal or achievement you are after most likely involves only one facet of your life. Whether this goal is career, athletic or personally oriented, the rest of your life is not going to stop while you go after it. It is inevitable that much of your motivation and energy is going to be focused on the biggest victory in front of you at any given time. 

However, I can assure you that your sense of fulfillment will be diminished upon reaching the finish line and realizing you have neglected every other facet of who you are to get there. Balance is always key. Don’t let the rest of your life fall to the wayside while you chase one dream! ​

Thanks for Reading,
Richard Fontanie