Self Motivation Skills

to

Improve Your Life

Self motivation skills are essential to your success, health, and wellness. Motivational speakers, books, and recordings are very helpful to keep us motivated in life.

As we hone these skills, we are able to move forward more quickly and reach higher and higher goals.

• Take responsibility. Don’t blame others for your lack of motivation. If you aren’t motivated on your job, don’t blame your boss. It is your responsibility to stay motivated. Don’t let others’ actions or words have an impact.

• Stop procrastinating. Continual procrastination does not build self motivation. This can become a very destructive habit.

• Take action. When you stop procrastinating, take positive action to move forward. Don’t stay in neutral. Don’t get paralyzed in the decision-making process.

  Taking action even if you aren’t completely sure of yourself is one of the most important self motivation skills. Action brings motivation with it.

• Don’t compare yourself with others. This can kill your self motivation faster than anything. Focus on being the best you can be.
  
  
  
  
• Eliminate negative input. Negative people, media, places, events, and thoughts have no place in the life of a person who wants to stay motivated.

  This skill takes extra effort but pays great dividends. Don’t underestimate the power of negativity to rob your motivation.

• Set realistic goals. Constantly setting goals that are just too far out of reach can be extremely discouraging. You need to be setting some goals that will stretch you but also some goals that can be attained in the short term.

  For example, don’t set a goal to lose 10 lbs. in one or two weeks. That isn’t reasonable and when you fail to reach it you will be tempted to give up entirely.

• Make reasonable plans. Failing to plan is planning to fail. There is much truth in this old saying. Take the time to formulate a plan that can be executed to reach your goals. Following a well-devised plan is very motivating.

• Reward yourself. This skill is often overlooked. We just keep pressing on toward newer and higher goals without ever celebrating our successes. Take time to celebrate. Include those who helped you along the way.

• Expect adversity. Coming upon adversity is like coming upon a fork in the road. We have to make a choice. It can drain our last ounce of motivation or it can refuel us with fresh levels of motivation.

  One of the keys in how we will respond is our expectations. If we are expecting challenges, troubles, and adversity, we are much more likely to benefit from them.