Making good Mondays is like making coffee -


The week is before us - like the coffee pot - waiting to brew. Making it good is a matter of choice, luck, creativity, patience and acceptance of the outcome.

Currently at Making Good Mondays

Active elements on this page: Occasionally I will publish a new blog post, but I write mostly at other sites.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Stay motivated:

Pencils and Moleskines 04Image by Paul Worthington via Flickr

"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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2 comments:

Lisa Nanette Allender said...

Another great idea is to write a "done" list, instead of a "to-do"...when you must write down what you've accomplished every day, you're more likely to get stuff finished!

(Your list is so good, I'd like to SHARE it, via FACEBOOK--is that okay with you? Please let me know.)
Peace.
www.lisananetteallender.blogspot.com
At Facebook, you can find me under "Lisa Nanette Allender"

Carol Gee said...

Lisa, great ideas! As you read, I "borrowed" the list from an unknown author. So, if you would include that verbiage, I would appreciate it. I'll check out Facebook, too.
Thanks much!

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References on Spirituality -- Favorites from my old collection

  • "A Return To Love: Reflections On the Principles Of a Course In Miracles" by Marianne Williamson. Harper Collins, 1992
  • "A World Waiting To Be Born: Civility Rediscovered" by M. Scott Peck. Simon and Schuster, 1993
  • "Chicken Soup For the Unsinkable Soul" by Canfield, Hansen and McNamara. Health Communications, 1999
  • "Compassion in Action: Setting Out On the Path of Service" by Ram Dass and Mirabai Bush. Bell Tower Pub., 1992
  • "Creative Visualization" by Shakti Gawain. MIF Books, 1978
  • "Finding Values That Work: The Search For Fulfillment" by Brian O'Connell. Walker & Co., 1978
  • "Fire in the Soul" by Joan Borysenko. Warner Books, 1993
  • "Further Along the Road Less Traveled" by M. Scott Peck. Simon and Schuster, 1993
  • "Guilt Is the Teacher, Love Is the Lesson" by Joan Borysenko. Warner Books, 1990
  • "Inner Simplicity: 100 Ways To Regain Peace and Nourish the Soul" by Elaine St. James. Hyperion, 1995
  • "Insearch:Psychology and Religion" by James Hillman. Spring Pub. 1994
  • "Man's Search For Himself" by Rollo May. Signet Books, 1953
  • "Mythologies" by William Butler Yeats. Macmillan, 1959
  • "Myths, Dreams and Religion" by Joseph Campbell. Spring Pub. 1988
  • "Passion for Life: Psychology and the Human Spirit" by John and Muriel James. Penguin Books, 1991
  • "Peace Is Every Step" by Thich Nhat Hahn. Bantam Books , 1991
  • "The Heroine's Journey" by Mureen Murdock. Random House, 1990
  • "The Hope For Healing Human Evil" by M. Scott Peck. Simon and Schuster, 1983
  • "The House of Belonging" poems by David Whyte. Many Rivers Press, 2004
  • "The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth" by M.Scott Peck. Simon and Schuster, 1978
  • "The Soul's Code: In Search Of Character and Calling" by James Hillman. Random House, 1996
  • "The World Treasury of Modern Religious Thought" by Jaroslav Pelikan. Little, Brown & Co., 1990
  • "Unconditional Life" by Deepak Chopra. Bantam Books, 1992
  • "Wherever You Go There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation" by Jon Kabat-Zinn. Hyperion, 1994
  • "Zen Keys: A Guide to Zen Practice" by Thich Nhat Hahn. Doubleday Dell Pub. Group, 1974

About Me

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A retired counselor, I am equal parts Techie and Artist. I am a Democrat who came to the Southwest to attend college. I married, had kids and have lived here all my adult life.