Stay motivated:

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"EASY WAYS TO GET (AND STAY) MOTIVATED

-- Things you can do right now, today, to get what you want most in life.

(The author of this hot-pink-colored page is unknown. It is borrowed from my handout collection, gathered from workshops I attended over the years.) I quote:

No matter what your goal -- to get a better job, lose ten pounds, learn a new skill -- motivation usually makes the difference between success and failure. These tips will help you get started:

1. Surround yourself with friends who "think positive." The beliefs and attitudes of peers are contagious.
2. Learn from your mistakes. All things of value are created from experience -- and experience includes failure. Mistakes can give you insight, so never be afraid to try.
3. Have a "Plan B." What will you do if things don't fall into place? If others don't come through? With an alternative plan, you can relax in the knowledge that even in the worse case you'll be all right.
4. Write down good ideas the moment you think of them. Keep a notepad handy. We all get good ideas, but only a few of us save them and follow through.
5. Be realistic about your work habits and needs. Are you a morning person? Do you need quiet, or do you like to have music playing while you work? Do you prefer being part of a group or going solo? Try to make sure circumstances are conducive to getting the work done
6. Bribe yourself. Think of a reward you'll give yourself once you reach your goal. Don't skimp!
7. Use your dreams. Right before you go to sleep, think about your goal. Get a strong mental image in your mind. If you do this night after night, your dreams will offer insights.
8. Acknowledge your successes. Make a list of everything you've accomplished, bit or small, in the past day. Then do this for the past week. You'll realize you're a very motivated person who does hundreds of small things every day; you simply take them for granted. Realizing what a motivated person you already are will encourage you to take on bigger tasks.
9. At the end of the week, ad up how many hours you spent working, eating, exercising, taking care of kids, and so forth. How many hours are left to work on reaching your goal? Often it's more than you think. If not, it's time to set priorities.
10. Stop sabotaging yourself. If you don't feel motivated, maybe it's because you have an internal conflict. What would you lose if you reached your goal? For example, if you took a new job, would your friends be envious? If you slimmed down, would you lose an excuse for being unhappy? Be certain you really want everything that comes with your goals, and that there are no hidden "benefits" to failure.
11. Make it fun to get started. Do you like looking at a big picture first or the details? Do you like to start with what's familiar or do you prefer novelty? Do you want to read about it first or jump right in? Organize the task to fit your style.
12. Get rid of coffee mugs, notepads, etc. that say "Life's a bitch" or "TGIF." Be careful about the messages you give your brain. Try using things that say "I'm terrific" of "Go for it," etc.
13. Catch your kids' enthusiasm. Children are sometimes short on skill but always strong on excitement. This same kind of energy could help you reach your goals.
14. Tell a friend you're starting a new project; ask them to call periodically to see how you're doing? This kind of support can do wonders.
15. Insist on at least five minutes each day of downtime. Think about what you wanted to do that day, and what you actually did. Acknowledge your achievements, forgive your mistakes, and plan for a better tomorrow.
16. Get away from the problem thinking. Rather than ask, "Whose fault is it?" ask "How can we make things better?"
    

Blogs: My news and political blog is at South by Southwest. My general purpose/southwest focus blog is at Southwest Progressive. And Carol Gee - Online Universe is the all-in-one home page for my websites.

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