Giving yourself rewards is a great way to help you stay motivated. It may seem artificial to tell yourself that you don’t get to enjoy the new episode of your favorite television show until you do the dishes and write in your journal, but it can really work. Yes, you can break the rule. More of than not, though, you want. You will get things done so that you can enjoy that item without feeling a single pang of guilt. The hostage scenario is a good example of how motivation exercises can tap into the power of extrinsic motivation.

Intrinsic motivation exercises can also make a difference. Train yourself to ask a “filtering question” when confronting situations that directly impact your goals. For instance, if you are involved with a weight loss program, you will want to approach food situations by asking yourself a question like, “Will this food make me healthier or happier?” By forcing yourself to directly confront the important issues involved with your decision to live a healthier life, you will often find yourself making wiser choices or avoiding risky situations altogether. This method focuses upon the internal motivations you have for your goals and, by reminding you of them, helps you to reach your goals. Read more

We have all had that feeling.  We know that we have things we simply must do, but we just can’t muster the energy or motivation to get the job done.  The tasks might be work-related, a part of operating your household or intensely personal.  It doesn’t seem to matter.  Sometimes, we just don’t feel like we can do it.  At times like that, we wait for a lightning bolt of motivation to hit us and get us working again.

Sometimes, it strikes.  The deadline might be too close.  A good night’s sleep might have left us energized.  Something may just “click” within us, spurring us to action.

Sometimes, that lightning bolt doesn’t come. Things pile up. Our “to do” list gets longer.  We begin to abandon goals and plans in the face of a seemingly insurmountable stack of responsibilities.

When you start to feel that lag in inspiration, you can opt to gamble that something will finally push you to overcome inertia.  Of course, you might lose that bet.  Do you feel lucky enough to wager the quality of your life on some ephemeral, intangible motivational force that may or may not make an appearance?  Or, would you prefer to take the proverbial bull by the horns and get yourself going? Read more

We all want a better life for ourselves and for our families.  We all have a goals that haven’t been realized and dreams that we have too long deferred.  Most of us, on some level, are working on developing future goals and trying to find ways to make things better.

We often come up with great plans for success, only to find them ignored or abandoned after a few days of serious effort.  They are cast aside as the grind of our daily lives intrudes upon our vision of a better future.  If only we could stay “on track” and see those plans through! Read more