Have you ever faced a challenge head-on only to see those efforts slow down or stop altogether? There are real reasons why you’re not getting what you want.
It’s likely that you need to reframe the ideas that motivate you to get to the goal, as well as the methods you use. Here are a few myths about motivation. Are any of these mistakes draining your willpower too quickly?
The end result is a reward.
“Power through, it’ll be worth it in the end!” Is what you want actually a reward for doing really hard things? For instance, working double shifts every day for a higher paycheck. Think about what you are sacrificing along the way - it’s just not worth it to everyone.
If the goal is supposed to be a reward for sacrificing happiness - free time, relationships, sleep, mental health - then of course you might give up along the way. The goal doesn’t seem as shiny and exciting if you make yourself miserable trying to get it.
Great goals you stay motivated to meet come with little reward milestones along the way. You can be proud of your progress as it comes - not haggard, disempowered, and struggling to keep up.
You must visualize the end result.
Visualization is a wonderful technique. So are vision/dream boards and focusing your intent on the feeling of accomplishing what you want. But the best way to empower yourself and meet the goal is to visualize the process as well.
Think critically about all of the milestones you will need to reach to meet the goal. Envisioning yourself completing a series of smaller steps is a better way to use visualization. That way, you stay on track.
It’s easier to sustain the motivation if you aren’t only picturing one big, ultimate outcome. It will seem impossible on days where you’re feeling low-energy, which can kill your will to get it done at all.
You only have to try your “best.”
Having a big dream seems to indicate you have the confidence to make it happen. But deep down inside, people underestimate themselves. In fact, a lot of us aren’t really setting goals in proportion to what we’re capable of, even if those goals seem ambitious to us.
So yes, dream big. That is highly motivating; much more motivating than playing small because you underrate what your “best” is. Instead of throwing in the towel and saying, “I did my best,” come back and say, “It’s time to do better.”
Feed your motivation muscle and watch your willpower grow. Don’t stunt its growth with puny estimations of your ability.
You need natural ability to succeed.
On your journey to meeting a goal, you see someone else doing it, and doing it better than you. They’re practically a natural at it! Why should you even bother? You obviously weren’t cut out for it. They’re innately gifted and chosen for this, and you were not.
And poof! There goes your motivation. This is the ultimate disempowering mind trap. Instead, you should see people who seem to have a natural talent as even MORE motivation. The entire reason you are setting and attacking a goal is because you believe you and your circumstances can grow and change.
Plus, if it happens that you do have to work harder to accomplish what that “naturally talented” person did, wouldn’t that mean you have some special talents of your own? Persistence, ambition, and courage.
Playing a Silent Mind singing bowl doesn’t require any natural ability. All you need is the desire to heal and empower yourself through mindfulness practices, mindfulness practices that include the awesome power of sound therapy.
Tell us - what is your biggest goal, and how do you plan to keep your motivation up? Have you fallen victim to any of these myths about motivation? Let us know in the comments.