by Kurt Mortensen
http://prewealth.com/mistakestoavoid
© 2006
We all have those days when we just don’t
feel like doing what we need to do. We intend to, but then it
still doesn’t happen.
Well, not only do we have “those days,” but we could
probably point to such a scenario every single day! Procrastination
is just part of the human condition—”Oh, I’ll get
to it…later….”
How do we muster the motivation to get things done and to stay
on track, even during those inevitable times when we just don’t
feel like it?
Basically, there are only two things that motivate
us in life:
inspiration and desperation.
We either move toward that which inspires us,
or we move away from something that fills us with despair or discomfort.
The majority of the world’s population uses desperation as
a motivator. Desperation is like a cattle prod forcing you to
move forward and take action. I can motivate anyone in the world
with desperation. The problem is that motivation that is spurred
by desperation doesn’t last. Think of that person you know
who is always lying on the couch. If you douse the couch with
gasoline and light a match, you’ll see instant motivation.
But once the fire is out, you will see her/him turn back into
a lazy person.
If you want motivation to last, you have to rely
on inspiration. The positive results that spring from using inspiration
as a motivator are obvious. Inspired people tend to be proactive,
passionate and driven. They are happier and enjoy greater life
fulfillment than those who are desperation-driven.
If you just check the help-wanted section of your newspaper, these
types of inspired people are always in demand. To be most effective,
inspiration needs to be internalized. Motivation becomes long-term
when the intended goal taps into one’s inner drive and emotion.
The key to finding success lies in being emotionally motivated
with a purpose.
The third obstacle to positive, lasting change
is lack of knowledge. Sometimes, people are immobilized from moving
ahead simply because they don’t know what to do or where
to begin. To bring change about in your life, you need the necessary
knowledge to make that change successful. Consider what you can
read, whom you can talk to, what seminar or workshop you can attend.
Who could be your coach? Discover all the resources that are available
to you. Remember, there is no challenge so unique that humanity
has never seen or heard of it before.
There are always going to be others who have been through what
you’re experiencing and who will know exactly what you’re
up against. It is much better to get as much information as you
can from those individuals who have gone before you than to try
to figure everything out on your own.
Think of acquiring knowledge in terms of your
own personal development program. Did you know that there is a
direct relationship between your personal development program
and your income? In the sales industry, we’ve found the more
CDs listened to, the more books read and the more seminars attended,
the higher the salesperson’s income. Brian Tracy tells people
that their income will double every year if they just read thirty
minutes a day. Lastly, consider that fact that most homes worth
over a quarter of a million dollars have a library. I’m not
saying that a huge income is your major goal—maybe it is,
maybe it isn’t—but the point is, increased knowledge
impacts your output, in whatever form it takes on.
The bottom line is, the more you learn, the more
you earn.
Anything you could possibly ever wonder about has most likely
already been written about, so invest in the books, the CDs, the
seminars and the professional advice that are going to give you
the knowledge you need to get ahead. As your knowledge increases,
you will experience a parallel increase in motivation and desire.
Researchers at Harvard University found that those who are learning
and growing every day are more optimistic about life. They are
more enthusiastic about where they’re going and what they’re
going to accomplish.
Conversely, those who aren’t learning and
growing every day become negative, pessimistic and doubtful about
themselves and their future.
The last major obstacle to positive, lasting
change is lack of vision. As we discussed earlier, being able
to visualize your success first is crucial to it actually playing
out in real life. If your mind can’t conceive it, you sure
won’t achieve it! Since belief dictates behavior, you’ve
got to believe first. And it is much easier to believe in something
if you can visualize it. So, take the time to vividly imagine
and play out in your mind exactly what your successes are. Let
your mind create all the details—it’s got to be as real
and authentic in your mind as possible. Taste it, touch it, feel
it, eat it, drink it, sleep it, breathe it. Some may find such
visualization a frivolous expenditure of time, but I cannot stress
its importance strongly enough: This activity is VERY worthwhile!
When I find people who have not tapped into this success skill,
I know they are broke. Again, beliefs and attitudes shape your
future!
Vision is a powerful tool in helping you to see
the big picture. Once you begin to have a grasp on where today
fits into the future, suddenly everything you do today matters.
Vision gives us energy, passion and a reason
for living, growing and working hard.
Knowing exactly where you want to go is the surest
way to end aimless “going through the motions.” Stephen
Covey said, “To begin with the end in mind means to start
with a clear understanding of your destination. It means to know
where you’re going so that you better understand where you
are now and so that the steps you take are always in the right
direction.”
When we have the necessary desire and plan to
change, it’s time to be brutally honest about the real reasons
behind the behaviors and situations we don’t like. For example,
you may say you’re overweight because your depression makes
you overeat. But why are you really depressed? Smoking, family
tensions—the list of bad-habit inducers goes on and on. You’ve
got to be ready to admit that your habits were formed for a reason.
If you can uncover that reason, you know what kind of battle you’re
up against. And the more you know about what you’re dealing
with, the more empowered you become to change the results. This
transformation mentality also involves changing your thinking.
You cannot defend or justify old habits. The more you can change
your point of reference, the more you will expedite change. Sometimes,
this change incentive is just a new outlook; other times, it means
changing your environment or even your friends.
