Tag Archives: goals

Monday Motivation: Don’t Be Afraid to Be Different

 

“Don’t be afraid of being different, be afraid of being the same as everyone else.” -unknown

 

It’s easy to compare yourself to others and worry about living up to society’s expectations. Sometimes it’s hard being different from family members, coworkers, school mates, or friends. Those that try to blend in with others are truly taking the easy route; they aren’t required to think their own thoughts, so they just end up going with the flow.

Being different by thinking outside of the box is what has helped many people become great leaders, inventors, entrepreneurs, and innovators.

 

Be an inspiration to others by forging a new path and staying true to yourself today!

Monday Motivation: Find A Way, Not An Excuse

Source: http://cooldigital.photography/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/ahead.jpg

 

“If you really want to do something you’ll find a way, if you don’t you’ll find an excuse.” -Jim Rohn

 

It’s easy to put off boring or tedious tasks, but if you want to be successful, you have to complete them. Many of us can easily procrastinate these menial duties (me included). Checking email, completing forms, and simply planning may seem unimportant at the time, but finishing every task without procrastination is a habit that will make you truly productive.

Completing long term goals, following your dreams, or just doing your job well will require that you finish small tasks daily. These tiny steps add up and can cause you to succeed or fail over time.

 

Choose to be productive today, so you will reach all your goals tomorrow!

Monday Motivation: It Only Seems Impossible

Source: https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/308426274467376178/

 

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” -Nelson Mandela

 

Your current to-do list might seem insurmountable at first, but once you start, you will realize that you will finish sooner than you think. Tasks that are never started will never be completed. So, don’t fear that you’ll never finish, begin and you’ll be closer to the end.

It’s also easy to become discouraged when you hear that your goals are unrealistic. The most innovative people are sometimes told that their dreams are impossible. This quote of Mandela’s is a reminder that what seems impossible now will become possible when your dreams are realized. Those that never give up are the ones who are able to actualize their aspirations. So, if anyone disparages you from following your passion, listen to your drive instead of their disheartening words.

 

Monday Motivation: Choose Positive People

 

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” -Mark Twain

 

There might be people in our life who dissuade us from chasing our dreams and accomplishing our goals, because they are simply too scared to attempt their own. Sometimes we can choose who we surround ourselves with, such as our friends. Others, such as family and coworkers, are more stationary, but we can decide who we will listen to.

Choosing to spend time with those who lift us up and encourage us to pursue achievement is essential to our growth and success. If we allow discouraging nay-sayers to plant seeds of doubt into our minds, we will not be motivated to take even the smallest step toward attaining our aspirations.

It would be nice to surround ourselves with talented entrepreneurs, inventors, writers, actors, and business people, but it’s not necessary. What is crucial is to choose friends who will encourage our endeavors. Even when we encounter setbacks and difficulties, they are the ones who will cheer us on. Even when our motivation is lacking, they are the ones who will keep us going. So, remember to ignore the doubters and amplify the believers!

 

Monday Motivation: Believe You Can

 

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt

 

This sounds like an exaggerated quote; like your belief will actually write half of your paper for school or physically wash half of a large pile of laundry. It’s not an exaggeration, because your belief in completing a task is what propels you forward. If you doubt, then you won’t even begin working on the project that lies before you. If you believe, then you will start a task and you will push through until it’s complete. Even if it becomes difficult, if you believe, then you won’t give up.

If I doubted that I would ever finish writing a book, then what would be the point in writing the first word? The confidence that I have in myself is what helps me to begin writing even when I know it is sometimes difficult to get down the next sentence, paragraph, or chapter. I continue writing, because I believe that I will complete the rough draft and, ultimately, the final draft at some point in the future.

Believe in yourself enough to know that you can successfully complete the task you’re working on right now. It might take a considerable amount of time, talent, patience, and perseverance; but you will finish in the future, because you believe now.

 

Monday Motivation: Find Your Destiny

 

“The whole secret of a successful life is to find out what is one’s destiny to do, and then do it.” – Henry Ford

 

Success can come in many different forms:  money, job title, popularity, number of social media followers, and more. But I think the best way to measure success is whether or not you have become who you are created to be. Of course having a job that provides for your needs is essential, but I believe that money will come after you’ve found what you’re meant to do and begin doing it.

Those who only chase fame and money are losing out on one of the key ingredients of success:  passion. If you find a way to use your talents in a way that you enjoy, then it will be easier to work hard. Once you discover what you’re destined to do to make the world a better place and follow your own unique path, then you will finally find success on your own terms. Yes, you will likely earn the money you need and perhaps even gain the popularity you want, but what is most important is that you will become the best version of yourself that you can be.

 

Monday Motivation: Keep Moving Forward

 

On this Martin Luther King Day, I am reminded that every small step forward is vital. It’s easy to think that what you do in one moment is not significant; but moments become days, days become weeks, weeks become years, and years quickly become a lifetime. Every decision we make is one that can propel us toward a life full of positive productivity or we can easily waste it. Sometimes it is easy to go through the motions of going to our jobs, procrastinating as much as possible and then mentally checking out as soon as we clock out.

The leaders who inspire us, like Martin Luther King, Jr., are those who find ways to make a difference. They don’t take the easy way out. They take the hard, rocky path, because they know they are moving in the right direction. They go against social norms, leaving behind a legacy of both love and success.

So, whether you’re attempting to change the morals and ideals of a nation, or you are simply trying to become a successful entrepreneur; remember that every step counts. And if you can’t take a step, then crawl. The world needs your talents and your courage. Don’t give up, because you have chosen a more difficult path. Make every moment meaningful and then you will live a life full of purpose.

 

Monday Motivation: You Can Do It

 

This iconic quote is full of optimism and imagination just like Mr. Disney himself. Some might disparage these words, arguing that it leads one to believe that all dreams are possible. I would reply that those who dream are more likely to achieve their goals than those who do not.

Dreaming and doing can not live separately. Dreams are what inspire and propel one into the process of actualization. It is a rocket to the moon before the first steps on lunar soil. It is the hot air that fills a balloon before lifting it off the ground. It is the fragrant smell of coffee that draws one to drink a mugful.

Dreams can only be fulfilled by working hard. While dreaming is the inspiration, hard work is the less glamorous, nitty-gritty process that usually includes mistakes and failure. These only contribute to the journey of success. This middle ground of learning and discovery is actually where creativity and problem solving cultivate.

No, not every dream is possible, but it is more likely to come true if it is combined with hard work, discovery, learning, and patience. So start dreaming and start doing!

 

Monday Motivation: Don’t Watch the Clock

clock2

 

This is a guest post by fellow writer, Stephen Graves. You can follow him on twitter at @SGraves612.

 

We live life one day after another, similar to the way a clock ticks from one second to another. We’ve all heard that old chestnut about how a watched clock never tells time, right? Well, if you stare at a clock, you’ll get a snapshot of time, but you won’t get a sense of its progression. That’s a small but important distinction for this metaphor.

I worry on a daily basis, throughout the day even, that I’m not close enough to my goals. I fear that my writing isn’t good enough in terms of quality and volume. I wish I were reading more. My saving’s aren’t where I want them to be. I’m not as physically fit as I hope to be. I have close friends, but it would be nice to have more. You get the picture. One of the defining qualities of humanity, for better or worse, is our inability to be satisfied.

It’s because, at any given moment, we’re only looking at a snapshot of our lives. We’re watching the clock tick, and that’s why it doesn’t tell time.

I don’t keep a journal, but in moments of high stress, I’ve been known to jot my thoughts as a form of meditation and stress relief. One day, I was feeling down about seemingly going nowhere in life, and I happened to stumble upon one of these old stress entries. It was amazing to see how much better my life was, in every area, than it had been when I wrote the entry. I was so concerned with the ups and downs of the snapshot that I’d been missing the upward trending progression.

Even knowing this, I still stress about my goals. You probably will, too. That’s human nature. It’s not a bad thing in itself, but any time you feel especially bogged down in the tick-by-tick slog, pull back and look at just how much progress you’ve made. Don’t sweat those small concerns.

 

You’re probably much further along than you realize.

 

Monday Motivation: Just Try

 

pw-every-accomplishment-starts-with-the-decision-to-try

 

“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.”

 

This quote by Olympic medal-winning runner, Gail Devers, seems simple enough, but is actually profound. As a perfectionist, I sometimes feel paralyzed, fearing I’ll do something completely wrong or won’t finish a task perfectly. I quickly jump into worry-mode instead of simply taking the first step.

In order be successful, you must complete your work. Instead of letting fear of failure hinder your progress, just do your best. If you do fail, then you will learn how to do better next time. If you don’t try, you will be filled with regret.

 

Try, learn, and then you will succeed!