How to own your motivation

"Let no one discourage your ambitious attitude. You don't need a fan club to achieve your goals. Be your own motivation." - Mama Zara  

Many times, when we talk about being motivated, we are relying on external sources to motivate us. Imagine all you could do if you made it a priority to motivate yourself. It will not only get you started faster, but self-motivation will also keep you on the ball longer.

In this post, we will explore ways to get motivated and continue being motivated as you achieve your goals.

When you are self-motivated, you are:
ambitious, self-directed, full of initiative, proactive, self-dependent, driven by oneself, a self-starter and a go-getter.

What is self-motivation?

• Ability to do what needs to be done, without influence from other people or situations. People with self-motivation can find a reason and strength to complete a task, even when challenging, without giving up or needing another to encourage them. (Source: Business Dictionary)
• driven by one's own desires and ambitions. (Source: Merriam Webster Dictionary)
• motivated or driven by oneself or one's own desires, without any external agency. (Source: Collins Dictionary)
• Motivated to do or achieve something because of one's own enthusiasm or interest, without needing pressure from others. (Source: Oxford Dictionary)

Benefits of being self-motivated

• You can go after what you want.
• You seize new opportunities.
• You find power from within yourself to continue working on things.
• You are not dependent on others to motivate you to get where you want to go.

Self-motivation questions
Let's evaluate your self- motivation with the help of some reflective questions.

What excites or drives you?
Being aware of the things that motivate you is crucial. With this knowledge, you unlock the ability to seek out those motivators and experiences. It will become like fuel for your motor to power through whatever situation you are in.

What are you good at?
Appreciating your unique strengths and identifying opportunities to apply your skills will motivate you. We focus so much on our weakness and what we are not good at, which demotivates us. Focus on your strengths and celebrate your achievements.

How do you continuously check your motivation level?
Being in touch with feelings and how motivated you are at all times is essential. You will feel more motivated at times more than other times, and that is perfectly normal. Have regular check-ins with yourself.

What do you do when you don't feel motivated?
Times will come when your motivation will drop. Think of ways to increase your motivation. Personally, I find that learning something new or sharing my knowledge helps motivate me. Fighting demotivation requires you taking action.

What are you looking forward to?
With all the seriousness and responsibilities we have, it is easy to forget to have a positive outlook on life and your future. There is a lot to be hopeful for. Positivity will increase your motivation throughout your journey.

Call to Action
How do you motivate yourself and stay motivated? Write your response down so you can read later on.

Final Thoughts

• Motivating yourself takes action and effort - it is definitely worth the investment.
• It is empowering to know that you can own your motivation.
• Motivation is essential to achieve your goals.

Great Resources

• [QUIZ] How Self-Motivated Are You?
• Struggling to Get Motivated? Don't Ask for Advice--Give It
• How to Motivate Yourself to Do Things You Don’t Want to Do
• How to Motivate Yourself: 3 Steps Backed By Science
• 17 Ways To Motivate Yourself To Do Great Things
• 8 Steps to Continuous Self Motivation Even During the Difficult Times
• How to Keep Working When You’re Just Not Feeling It
• How to Stay Insanely Self-Motivated, According to Science