The Secret To Motivation

We all have goals and aspirations and we all want to be more motivated to chase after these things. Often times what we feel is preventing us from reaching our goals is a lack of motivation. We wait and wait and the motivation never seems to come; or if it does come, it is fleeting.

The reason for this is that we are thinking backwards. It is not motivation that inspires action. In truth, action inspires motivation.

The most difficult part of any task is the beginning. It is the hardest for us to START. We build it up in our heads and spend our energy thinking about it instead of doing it. But once we get going, it is simple to continue.

So how can we make it easier to start? Here are two practical techniques:

1. Give yourself a 5 second count. 1-2-3-4-5 GO. Don’t give yourself the time to think about the task, otherwise you’re leaving room for making excuses. Just START.

2. Only commit to a few minutes, or to the first step. This makes it appear less difficult and we’ll have an easier time starting an otherwise daunting task. Once you complete that small commitment, chances are you’ll keep going.

Using these two tactics will help to get past the hard part. You can use this for almost anything. Whether it is getting yourself to the gym, making that phone call you’ve been dreading, doing a chore around the house, or getting an assignment done. You’ll find yourself much happier and less stressed by being on top of these tasks and getting them done immediately. Stop thinking and start doing. There’s no time like the present.