How to take ownership of your motivation

In our lives, we experience many ups and downs. I have realized that it is very easy to stay motivated when things are going well. However, it is challenging to keep being motivated when unexpected things happen or when you feel stressed with everything going on in your life. To thrive and live our best lives, we need to develop strategies to maintain our motivation irrespective of what we are going through.
 
In this blog post, we will explore ways to motivate ourselves in all of life's circumstances.
 
Recognize the power you have over your motivation 
A lot of us look outside for people or things that motivate us. Being dependent on extrinsic motivators makes you give up the power you have. I believe that you can motivate yourself and do not need to wait for other people. The ability to notice when I am demotivated, discover the root cause, and then take action to restore my motivation makes me feel empowered.
 
Strategies to consider

• Reflect on what motivates and demotivates you
• Think about a time when you took charge of your motivation 

 
Remind yourself of the good that is happening in your life 
A recent conversation with a friend reminded me of this point. When you feel stuck and demotivated, you tend to focus on things that are not going well in your life. I have found that when I intentionally redirect my focus and think about positive things, it helps me feel motivated again. The exercise of reflecting on my accomplishments over a period of time helps shift my perspective. Writing them down helps me visualize and count my blessings.
 
Strategies to consider

• Write down ten things that you have accomplished this year
• Document 3 special moments in your life

 
Strategize and create a plan
One of the ways to renew your motivation is to mentally unblock yourself from your state of feeling stuck and demotivated. When you start planning for the future, your mind focuses on things that are to come, and you are filled with hope. It helps you look past whatever is not going well and helps you see your future clearer. Planning concrete action steps is a way to reclaim your power.
 
Strategies to consider

• Think about where you want to go next 
• Create a plan for the next six months 

 
Do something different
When you make changes in your routine, it allows you to explore new things. You might be feeling demotivated because life has become predictable. It might be time to try new things and change something in your life.
 
Strategies to consider

• Explore new things that excite you
• Commit to trying one new thing over the next month

 
Find inspiration 
We all need to find things that keep us excited and hopeful. I was talking to someone recently who had just attended a conference, and she spoke about the impact that the experience had on her day. She shared that she felt a new sense of excitement and motivation. Being inspired will definitely increase your motivation. 
 
Strategies to consider

• Listen to a great speaker or read a great book
• Talk to your mentors and people that inspire you 

 
Final Thoughts
Life is a lot more fun when we are motivated to do the things we need to accomplish our goals and live out our dreams. Let's do what we can to restore and maintain our motivation.
 
Time to reflect

• What motivates you?
• In what areas of your life are you currently feeling stuck or demotivated?
• What will you do to motivate yourself this week?