Willpower – this is an essential factor in achieving success.

Discouragement and lack of motivation may hinder you from reaching your objectives. You alone can devise techniques that will help keep the fire within.

It is helpful to have visual goals. It may be something material like a car or a vacation you have been looking forward to for the longest time.

Cut out a picture of it and post it at a conspicuous place at work or at home where you can see it often, on the bathroom mirror, on the fridge door wherever. When you feel discouraged, this will remind you of your goal and will help you keep your focus.

Make a contract with your self. According to researches, people who write down to-do-lists are far more triumphant in achieving their intended goals than those people who just keep mental lists.

Psychologically speaking, putting something in writing somehow makes it more powerful. In fact, certain cultures put premium in honoring contracts. In the contract, you may also include a certain reward that you receive once you have accomplished the task. After all, everyone likes to be rewarded for completing a good job.

In the workplace, a simple pat on the back, “good job”, or “thank you” may do the trick to give the person the additional push to carry on. Unfortunately, these may not always be readily available. Considering that these are also essential in keeping oneself motivated, you must learn to find a way to get that encouragement on your own by rewarding yourself.

Abusive people lower your self-esteem and bring you down. Get these negative people out of your life. Surround yourself with positive people. Imitate their examples. Smile and think happy thoughts.

Rather than wait for things to happen, try to be proactive and MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. Inactivity leads to idleness and stagnation. It hinders your potential to reach your goals.

Read inspirational books and literature all the time. As these will help improve your attitude and heal your mind. A book of success stories also proves to be encouraging. You will not only learn from the experiences of others and derive confidence. These stories will be instrumental in motivating you to go for your goal and move ahead with your plans.

If this still seems to falter, get training or education. Oftentimes, not knowing how or where to start is frustrating. Knowledge is power. You should know how and where to start. It will provide the extra drive needed to hit the mark.

Having enumerated all these tips and tricks to attain self-motivation, there is one last thing that you must try.

Whatever it is that you have been meaning to do or wanting to achieve, JUST DO IT!

Aim high and go for it! Actually getting your hands dirty best solves the problem of lack of motivation. By “forcing” yourself to just do it, your momentum will pick up gradually. Before you know it, you have finished the task. Divide and conquer is the key.

Break down the apparently unattainable activity to small doable steps. Not only does it become less overwhelming, but seeing partial results will boost your confidence.

Lack of motivation happens to all. You must encourage or challenge your self for no one else will. It is most important to keep your eye on the goal, find ways to keep going, and in no time, you shall reap its benefits.

Initially, you may be just doing it just for the material reward. Eventually, you will realize that the fulfillment, satisfaction, and self-achievement to be derived from reaching your goal is more important. These provide an enjoyable high that will keep the drive within constantly burning.

Alan Searing
http://www.creating-better-habits.com/