Setting goals is important in our lives but do we achieve them. Achieving our goals is the challenge most of us face. And while we give various reasons for failing to achieve them, it all comes down to a lack of self-motivation. Self-motivation is a key requirement in achieving our goals in life.
What is self-motivation?
According to the Cambridge dictionary,
Self-motivation is the ability and willingness to work without being told what to do.
This willingness is driven by the desire to achieve something. So you encourage yourself to continue working towards it even amidst the obstacles that come along the way.
Why is self-motivation important?
It's important for people around you for example friends, family, bosses, mentors to show support in your journey towards your goals but you don't have to depend on them to push yourself, they might not show up at one point. You need to motivate yourself.
Self-motivation gives you the best chance of achieving your goals. It taps into your inner strength for example the desire to achieve to keep you focussed on the goals.
Self-motivation tips:
Finding your why; It's important to have a purpose, a strong reason why your doing what your doing or what you want to do. Is it to be the best at it, the money, to give your family a good life. Find your reason. The times when you feel your heart is not into what your doing, doubting yourself, turn to these reasons to motivate you.
Adopt a positive attitude; There are many negative situations that will happen to you or around you in your journey that can distract you from focusing on your goals. Always think positively, there will always be something to learn from these negative situations so that they motivate you and not hold you back.
Put a timeframe on your goals; It's important to include a timeframe when setting your goal and it has to be realistic. This timeframe keeps you motivated to beat it and also helps in evaluating your progress.
Break down tasks; Goals can sometimes overwhelm us that sometimes we end up doubting our ability to achieve them. To overcome this, break your goals down to tasks you can complete in a shorter time or what I can call sub-goals. Write down every single task you'll need to work on to take you towards your goal and start working on one task at ago. Step by step you'll move closer to your goals until you achieve them.
Reward yourself for every win; Acknowledge every win, whether big or small, celebrate them. Because of this, you'll always look forward to achieving your next task. This boosts your interest and motivation.
Remember, you can only depend on one source of motivation and that is yourself.
Cheers