6. Steps to self motivate and keep momentum

I must admit starting your personal development journey is not an easy plight, but just tell yourself you are climbing a hill and once you get over the slope things will get better.  The real enjoyment is your goal which is at the top of the hill.  Focus on what is at the top of your hill.

You have to really want to change and you’ll find that it can become easier to find the strength to keep pushing.  

First and foremost you must know what is at the top of the hill that you must have then write it down and commit to it.  You will find setting a target date makes it very exciting and encourages you to do something everyday.  I personally recommend this..... If you want it badly enough you must make it time bound!

How do you self motivate while you are climbing the hill?  Here are my top 6 strategies.

1.  Always stay positive.  Having a positive mind sets you up to have a positive attitude to face your challenges and weather the storm.

2. Never stop learning.  Try to read at least one hour a day, if you can’t do one hour then at least start off with trying with 1/2hr a day. As you get going you will find how easy it is to read for an hour a day.  If you drive to work you could listen to self development audios.  If you take the train like myself, make use of the opportunity aboard to read something while travelling. 

You will gain confidence and learn to trust in your ability and makes it easier for you to find opportunities that helps you to achieve your goal.

3. KISS - Keep It Sweet and Simple,  use tiny little reminders of what your goals are, maybe  little stickers at your work desk or your bedside table. Just something to remind you daily of your dreams and goals that you are working towards.  I use the little reminder function on my iPhone. So everyday at different times of day my little goals pop up on my phone screen.

4. Monitor your progress

You should set a side sometime for yourself to simple just see how you are doing.  There is no point doing something and not having any idea if you are making an head way or not.  This gives you a chance to assess where you are and evaluate whether any changes should be made to your current actions.  You may choose do this one a week or once per month but in my opinion this is something that is required.

5. Try to help others, in helping others you end up learning more than the person your help. In other words the more you teach, the more you learn.

6. Do something different sometimes.  In climbing your hill sometimes the zeal  you had at the start of the journey begins to wear off.  Take some time out,  go with friends, take a day off, or a week off.  This down time can give you the energy you need to continue climbing the hill.  Take a look at some marathon runners, you will find mid distance they stop to get water to refresh, splash a dash of water on their face, cool down then keep going.

Oh well, maybe its actually 7!

7.  Just don’t lose sight of the top of hill. Take your goal(s) seriously, whatever that is!

It's Easier to Finish What You Start Than You Think

“Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” ~ Francis of Assisi

Our society is so goal-oriented that any unfinished task feels like a source of distress and shame. We tend to either avoid thinking about our incomplete projects, or, we feel tremendous guilt over them. Somehow, the option to allow it to lie there peacefully unattended doesn’t seem to be an option.

There is a rush of excitement and the allure of success when we first begin writing a manuscript, or taking singing lessons, or training for a marathon. However, the loftier the goals, the harder the work, and the greater the commitment. 

Sometimes, the amount of work involved in a big undertaking backfires into a standstill. The fantasies we have of success turn into the nitpicking voice of perfectionism. The promise of realization suddenly seems very far away, and we feel lazy or discouraged when we think about how much we could have done if only we’d known how to continue.

More than anything, we all want to avoid being the kind of person who flakes out on an endeavor. Give yourself some time to analyze your approach to a mission. If you take the time to see the broadest picture possible, you’ll have more realistic goals about achievement and then, you’ll more easily accomplish exactly what you set out to do:

1. Do your research. There will be some challenges. Learn how other people have faced them when trying to obtain the same results. You will want to be realistic about your working style and your abilities, so that you don’t get discouraged. Plan for the slow times. What will you do when you become challenged?

2. You have a pattern. Look for when you start, when you stop, and why you decide to stop. These are all crucial pieces of information, so look at a few other times you’ve come to a halt on a project, and try to plan for those plateaus. Don’t judge yourself; just make plans to combat your weaknesses. Remember that negativity is your enemy!

3. Base your timeline in reality. The old adage that good things take time is an unavoidable truth. Whittle your goal down into small steps you work on consistently. Write for three hours, run for seven miles, draw a first draft –whatever the task, be smart by making your timeline deceptively achievable, and ignore your ego’s pushes to do more.

4. Be honest about your incentive. If your motivation does not come from within, then when your work gets difficult, it will be easier to give up. You want to know in your heart that you are passionate about the results, and willing to commit to the work. Having an accountability partner can also help you to stay on track.

We spend a finite time on this earth, and we have a million brilliant ideas to carry out. It would be impossible to accomplish them all. This is why the idea of infinity should provide some consolation. Do yourself a favor and take a realistic look at your goals, so that the next time you begin something, it comes to fruition in a flourish of stunning results.

Article source: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/its-easier-to-finish-what-you-start-than-you-think