Archive for April, 2008
Who do you think is the best person to get you motivated? Think about it for a moment… The answer’s is quite simple. It’s YOU. Getting yourself to stop dreaming and start achieving ultimately comes down to you. Other people can give you advice, encouragement, and motivation but none of that will matter until you change yourself and take that first step towards a goal.
There are many ways you can get yourself fired up to accomplish a goal. Most are very simple and easy things that you can do every day. Each will feed your desire until it grows into a monster that can’t be tamed.
Read your list of goals
You probably have written a list of goals that you want to accomplish or perhaps a bucket list. You should go through it every morning and each night, or at least once a week. As you do so, visualize what it’ll be like when you achieve each goal. If one of your goals is to vacation on a tropical island, imagine yourself sitting in the sand with the turquoise water splashing in front of you and the sun warming your face.
View pictures and watch videos
If your imagination isn’t that good, look through old photos from your favorite vacations or search online for images of the things you desire. You can also go to YouTube or other video sites and look up videos that relate to your dreams. Use these images to create slide shows or to use the images as your computer background.
Think of what you dislike about yourself
Perhaps you don’t like how you’re shy or always stressed out. Each of us has something about ourselves that we want to change. Think of what yours is and turn it into something you want to tackle.
Get jealous
This may seem strange but a great way to motivate yourself is to be jealous. Look to successful people that you know or don’t personally know. Then ask yourself, “why not me?” Jealousy can force people to perform terrible actions but it can also lead people to great accomplishments.
Think of the naysayers
Think back to your past and perhaps think about your present. Remember the naysayers and what they said about your aspirations. Morph those words into motivation for yourself to achieve and prove them wrong.
Remember why
Think of why you want to accomplish your goals. Is it because you can’t afford a car or a house or is it because you can’t stand another day at your workplace.
All these simple strategies will keep you from getting comfortable with mediocrity. If we get too comfortable with where we currently are, there will seem to be no reason to change.
“One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon–instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.”
Dale Carnegie
You may think you know everything about yourself, including all your abilities and talents. But you don’t. You can amaze yourself with the tasks and achievements you can accomplish. A majority the time people underestimate and limit themselves. I know I always used to do it.
I decided to compile a list of 7 things you may not known about yourself. Maybe you did know some of these already or maybe you don’t believe any of these, but I guarantee that at least one is true.
1. You can change lives
Besides changing your own life, you can change the lives of hundreds, thousands, or possibly millions of people. Quite easily too. Just by doing simple gestures like smiling or kind things like holding a door for someone. Doing so will start a positive chain reaction that is difficult to break.
2. You can change the world
One person had the power to change the world. You also possess that power. You don’t have to be rich and famous to make a difference. Even the smallest actions can leave the biggest impacts on the world.
3. You have a sixth sense
I’m not talking about seeing dead people. I believe that each of us possess an extra “power” besides the five senses we were born with. Animals have extra abilities to sense weather, fear, and danger. So why wouldn’t we have an extra sense or maybe two?
4. You can have what you desire
One of my greatest pet peeves is when an individual seems something expensive like a car or a mansion, and says, “I’ll never be able to afford that in my lifetime”. Well with an attitude like that, obviously not. If you get your mind sent on something, and your desire grows more and more each day, you’ll be able to relax until you achieve what you desire.
5. You can be charitable
You don’t have to donate a million dollars to make a difference in a charity. Even $5 can help. If you don’t have money to donate, then give your time, ideas, blood, or whatever you can.
6. You can be famous
Andy Warhol said that everyone gets their 15 minutes of fame. Maybe you’ll get 15 minutes or much more than that. However, with the internet and new media, it has become much easier.
7. You have various talents and gifts
I believe that everyone is born with multiple talents and gifts. People just focus on one of their talents and are ignorant to the rest of the gifts they posses.
“Dreaming is not an accident. It is not a wistful idea you hope will come true. 
Dreaming is not the stuff of long-haired hippies wistfully running along a beach. No! Dreaming is a sophisticated tool used by the elite of our society to make themselves and this world a better place. People like Millard Fuller, founder of Habitat for Humanity, Warren Buffet, Col. Sanders and Walt Disney all started with a dream. The dreams started small, but like the trickle of water that eventually formed the great Grand Canyon, DREAMS ARE POWERFUL!”
Conway Stone
Has someone ever told you to “get a life”? My sister and I used to say it to each other all the time, even though we were joking around. However, there is an underlying meaning behind “get a life”. It expresses a desire to find your purpose in life and also to escape a rut that you’re stuck in. So maybe someone telling you to “get a life” isn’t that bad. If that person is serious, perhaps it’s time for reflection on what you’re doing with your life and where you really want to be.
If you do think it’s time to get yourself a “life” here are 8 ways that’ll help you do so.
1. Don’t waste time
We all have limited time on this earth, so don’t waste it. Skip the partying, skip the drugs, and the skip pointless drama. Way too many people, especially young people get caught up in events and things that lead to nowhere. You can be doing so much more with yourself.
2. Turn your passion or hobby into a career
Sometimes people tell you to “get a life” because they think you’re wasting time with a hobby or passion that’ll lead to nothing. Prove them wrong by turning your passion or hobby into a business or career.
3. Help others
This is a pretty straight-forward way of getting a life. Help people with their lives. Work at a charitable organization or just perform random acts of kindness. You won’t be wasting a second of your time. It’ll change lives, including yours.
4. Help the wildlife and the environment
This is similar to helping people. But if you aren’t a people person, then help those who don’t have a voice. Be their voice.
5. Find a job or career that you enjoy
This is difficult for some people to do, especially for those who don’t like to work at all. Find something that you really enjoy doing and you’ve got yourself a life.
6. Hang around with better people
Your friends might be preventing you from having the life you want. If they are always partying and doing negative things, they’re wasting your time. Hang around with people who are positive, productive, and are living the way you desire to. Their traits will rub off on you.
7. Follow your dreams NOW
Maybe you don’t have a “life” right now because you keep deferring your dreams and waiting for the right moment. That’s never going to come, NOW is the time. Perhaps you’ll have to quit your job to pursue your dreams. Then go for it. You can find a way to make ends meet, especially when desperation kicks in.
8. Get healthy
Getting fit and healthy can be an excellent way to get you out and about. You’ll be able to create many new positive habits. And you’ll have a reason to get up in the morning and a reason to feel good.
