Vision to Action: Staying Motivated

Whether you are aware of it or not, your thoughts determine your action. In the previous post, I suggested that you become more conscientious of this process by articulating your vision of success, your thoughts on success. If you have not yet read Vision of Success, start there!

Once you have created your vision of success, you are ready to put it into action! The process of goal setting is a good way to create a plan of concrete steps to take toward your vision of success. Review Part I, Part II, and Part III of Goal Setting to create a blueprint of action steps.

Which finally brings us to motivation.You have an idea of where you want to go (vision), and you have a plan for getting there (goals), but how are you going to find the drive to act toward your success? And what fuel will keep you going, through the ups and the downs, until you reach your goals and realize your vision of success? In other words, how will you stay motivated?

To stay motivated, you must see value in what you are doing. That is, does what you are doing right now lead you to where you want to go? Is what you are doing important and relevant in terms of your vision of success?

Also, to stay motivated, you must believe that you can influence the outcomes of your life. Do you see yourself as a strong, hard working person that can take control of your life? Or do you believe that all of your success is do to luck and fate and things that you cannot control?

Strategies for creating motivation:

1. First things first, you must create a vision of success. Consider creating a vision board or write out your vision. Revisit your vision of success often.

2. Use goals to focus on the immediate action steps that you can take to control your outcomes. This will remind you of your ability to impact what happens in your life.

3. Instead of blaming or complaining, use proactive "I" language to address solutions to the challenges you face. Over time, such a mindset will make you feel powerful and in control.  

4. When times get tough, take a moment to think about the value of what you are doing. How does what you are doing right now lead you to a better place?

5. Hold yourself accountable to completing your goals. Reward yourself when you reach your short-term goals. Consider setting shared goals with a friend or partner to keep each other going!