How to Get Motivated When You Don't Feel Enthusiastic

MOTIVATION WHEN SETTING GOALS

Whenever you set a goal, you need to identify the reasons why you want to achieve it. What do you hope to gain? What pain do you hope to avoid? It's well worth taking the trouble to do this because otherwise you can spend a lot of time and effort on something that really isn't that important to you. What's driving you to do this? Money? Happiness? A sense of freedom? You need to find out.

Not only that, but with any long term goal, you know that there will be some days when your natural enthusiasm dips. Whenever these days come about, you must be able to remember - and gain support from - the original reasons why you started down this path.

Another important point is to ensure that you set realistic goals. It's easy to set yourself up to fail by setting too many goals or creating impossibly long 'to do lists'.

HOW TO GET MOTIVATED WHEN YOU DON'T FEEL ENTHUSIASTIC

The first point to recognize is that, if you want to achieve a goal, you need to take the right action whether or not you feel enthused. Action is the key!

Think of a top marathon runner. Does it hurt after running 23 miles? I guess it does. Would it be easier to stop? Yes, it probably would. But stopping doesn't come into the mind of a championship performer. Why? Because they have already made the decision - at the start when they set the goal - to carry on even when the going gets tough. That's what it's all about: the decisions you make. The Latin root of the word decision is to cut off all other possibilities.

At the time you set your goal, it's helpful to consider what will happen if you lose your enthusiasm. One strategy is to think of a top performer in sport or business or life in general. You can even keep a photograph of them. When you lack enthusiasm, you can visualise this person and draw strength from their example.

HOW TO GET MOTIVATED - SUPPORT STRATEGIES

Sometimes you may also be able to play some music that you know you will find inspiring or energising. Another idea is to bring to mind a reason that is greater than you. For example, maybe you have to carry out this task for the sake of your family. Another technique is to have certain tasks you know you can do quite easily, and you know you WILL do, regardless of low motivation. That way, you can keep on making forward progress in your home based business - a key strategy that Jeff Olson writes about in The Slight Edge.

Even if you can find no such inspirations to help, you can generate your own enthusiasm. There's a great story about this in Chapter 1 of Frank Bettger's book How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling - an excellent book on life, not just business. The basis of Bettger's advice is that if you start acting with enthusiasm you will start feeling more enthusiastic. So get up, jump up and down, get your body moving! I've tried it and it does work.

However, what should you do if you find yourself searching for answers on 'how to get motivated' day after day? There's a judgement call to make. If you really are lacking enthusiasm and if you have been doggedly pursuing your goals day after day, maybe it's time to reconsider your goal and your reasons why. Is this really want you want in your life? Just don't give up too easily.

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