Whenever you want to accomplish in life, talent and skill will play a big role in your success or failure. But playing an equal role is your motivation. Nothing of value can be achieved or accomplished without being properly motivated to reach your goals. Without motivation, you are destined to fall short. That's why in this world, staying motivated is half the battle.
So what exactly motivates us?
There are many different possible answers to that question. Different people are motivated in different ways. Some by tangible rewards, others by recognition, and others still by power. A large number of people out there are also motivated by fear. There are an almost endless number of motivating factors in the world. It doesn't really matter what it is at the end of the day, as long as you know what motivates you!
Unfortunately, finding your motivation is just the beginning of your success journey. As it turns out, motivation is a fragile thing. There are so many things that can kill your motivation dead in its tracks. The biggest killer of motivation is negativity, which can come in all kinds of forms. A lack of support from the people around you can make you doubt yourself. The same can be said about a lack of progress, which can frustrate you to the point of thinking that you'll never accomplish your goals.
Studies show that a consistently negative thought pattern can lead to all sorts of health problems and illnesses. Finding yourself regularly in a bad mood can cause your adrenal glands to produce less of the hormones that keep you going and keep you motivated.
Thus, it's important that you find a way to avoid negative thoughts and find ways to stay optimistic in the face of adversity. Having a reason to be motivated is one thing, but being able to sustain that motivation is another. If you can stay motivated, you will feel as though you are always in control, meaning that you will be able to conquer new challenges that arise and overcome any set backs that you may experience.
This brings us to the crux of the matter: how do you stay motivated? This is easier said than done, but there are a few things you can do to ensure you don't lose your motivation. The first is not losing sight of your goal. Always remember what you're doing and why you're doing it; reminding yourself on a regular basis will help you stay motivated. It's also important to break your goal into sections. Any goal you have is a step-by-step process, and you're not going to do it all at once, so take things one step at a time and it'll be easier to stay motivated because you'll be focused solely on the next step.
If you know your goals, know your reasons for wanting to achieve those goals, and take things one step at a time, you can prevent yourself from losing your motivation, which can be the difference between achieving something important and coming up short. Remember, saying motivated is half the battle.