3 Myths About Staying Motivated!
This week’s Motivation and Mind Check revolves around a blog post I found interesting on Psychology Today’s website. It shares three (3) seemingly motivational statements we make, to ourselves and others, which are counterproductive to achieving success. Disappointed when things go wrong, we spend more unnecessary time beating ourselves up. There must be a better way to stay motivated enough to accomplish what we want, right? While I agree with Dr. Halvorson’s tips, can we take things a few steps farther? Here’s a breakdown of why 3 specific myths are wreaking havoc on your ability to stay motivated, and what you can do about them.
1. Just Write Down Your Goals, and Success is Guaranteed!
Nope! Success is not guaranteed because you write down your goals. Writing your goals is not enough; it is simply the first step towards achieving your goals. The important part that follows writing is “the doing.”
- Write your goals and be specific. Clarifying exactly what you want makes it easier to create your action plan.
- Create a plan with the actionable steps you will take. Include resources you will need and a timeline for getting there.
- Achieving goals take follow-through on the action steps you commit to doing. Set milestones to measure your steps along the way and keep you on track.
- Have an accountability partner that supports your follow-through. Let them know your goal and steps and arrange “check-in” times.
- Work on your goals every day. Post them where you can see them regularly. Remember, out of sight out of mind.
When writing your goals, be sure to include what is important to you about achieving the goal and what the accomplishment will mean for you and those you care about. Understanding your goal’s importance will help you stay motivated when you feel frustrated and want to quit. Challenges will come to hinder you. Identify potential obstacles and be specific in how you will overcome them.
2. Just Try to Do Your Best!
The word “try” feels like an escape clause for when you do not get the results you want. How often have you said, “Oh well, I tried my best,” yet knowing you did not. Try makes it easier to give up when you hit a roadblock. Instead of “trying” to do it, do it. Push yourself beyond your best efforts and try again. Check your plan for additional resources you can tap. Connect with people who will challenge you and support you in working smarter toward your goals. Keep pushing the limits of your thinking and capabilities until the vision of achieving your goal becomes clearer, vivid, and closer than ever.
3. Just Visualize Success!
Visualization can be a catch-22. You must be more specific than just visualizing success. Define success, specifically. What does it look like? What does it feel like? How will you know that you have achieved success? Most people spend precious time dreaming about success, creating lofty ideas then do nothing with the ideas. They may not believe they can have what they dream or may struggle with an element of fear and doubt. Fear stops many people from dreaming, so instead of giving in to fear, couple your vision with a plan. Dream big: visualize yourself on the other side of achieving your goal. Set goals that are S.M.A.R.T (Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, and Time-bound). Take action and do the work. Believe that you can/will have <insert your definition of success here>. Stay focused, consistent, and diligent in making your dreams a reality.
Heidi Grant Halvorson, Ph.D., is the Associate Director of the Motivation Science Center and Columbia Business School, and Director of the Diversity & Bias Practice at the NeuroLeadership Institute. To read her blog, click here: Psychology Today. Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.
