How to Get Motivated When You’ve Already Run Out of Motivation

[Sam]

Have you ever noticed that sometimes it can be incredibly difficult to stay positive and motivated? Perhaps you’re not getting the results you expected for your goals. Or maybe you’re getting results, just not the celebratory kind or magnitude you expected. Perhaps you’ve been trying to achieve a certain goal for a while now and everything is simply taking longer than you thought it would. Under these common circumstances it’s perfectly understandable that your patience might be beginning to wear a bit thin And surely you won’t give up on your goals (after all, quitters never win). But, again, it’s definitely understandable if the roaring enthusiasm you once had for them is slowly dwindling. Well, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Because the truth is that almost ALL worthy goals and dreams take longer to bring into fruition than we initially expect (which means everyone experiences dwindling motivation after sustained work, at some point or another). But, as long as you stick with your plans and goals - and remain true to yourself – your dreams WILL come into fruition. That’s why it’s so important that you don’t give up. But to actually stick with it you’re going to need to keep yourself motivated. So, the question becomes: How on earth do you stay motivated after you’ve been working toward your goals for a while, yet still haven’t actually achieved them? Here are 3 surefire ways to keep your motivation high, even during those dreadful slump periods where you’re ready to call it quits: 1. Be honest with yourself Now’s the time to take stock of your efforts so far. Ask yourself: What has actually worked up until now? What’s giving good results? What’s giving no results? What’s giving results that you’re not really happy with because you think these results are too small? What can be done to improve or increase currently working results? What are some new methods or approaches for achieving your desired goals that you haven’t tried yet? Write down the answers to these questions. Doing so will give you some much-needed clarity (and some surprising, newly invigorated motivation). More importantly, taking stock of your efforts so far will show you what you should do more of, what you should stop doing for now (or do less of), and what new, unchartered approaches are available to you moving forward. 2. Switch it up If motivation’s dwindling, one thing you can do is step back and take some time away from what you’ve been doing for a while. Often, the clarity we need is obscured by constant action…meaning that sometimes, the only way to get the clarity you need to move forward is by doing the counterintuitive thing: Taking a break. And while you’re at it, during your break do something you know you’re really good at and always successful at. This will give you the confidence boost (and motivation boost) you crave when it comes time to revisit your long-term goals. 3. Remember, everything happens for your benefit Often, when things aren’t going exactly as we planned (meaning our way) we feel frustrated, angry, sad, or hurt and motivation decreases accordingly. That’s why it’s key to remember during these times that everything that happens in our lives usually serves an ultimately positive purpose. The world is not out to get you…if anything the world is fully supportive of your desire to succeed. And the fact that you have that desire to succeed means something (because a lot of people don’t have it at all). So, take it easy. Just because things are panning out differently than we might expect doesn’t mean they’re worse (often they’re actually better). Keeping this in mind will give you the strength, courage, and creativity you need as you go for your goals and dreams…whatever they may be. Now it’s your turn: What often deflates your motivation and what do you do to regain it when that happens? Share in the comments below!