“Understanding that I have things to learn no matter what I go through. There is only winning and learning…”
So what does this mean for you? Difficulties are a normal part of life and we all have to face them daily, weekly and sometimes these problems seem very difficult to overcome. If you can change your attitude towards these “problems” and see them as “challenges” then you are half way to increased levels of self motivation.
What is a challenge? Well, it is a more positive word than problem and that will help you. A challenge is an opportunity. Life is a learning experience and an opportunity to learn and improve is something to overcome on your road to success. Think of it like a ladder and at the top is your goal. You need to climb the ladder with energy believing you can reach the top. As you go higher you find different challenges (each rung of the ladder) which you must overcome to move towards your goal. Stop or fall off and you can’t reach your goal. Your self motivation helps you keep hold and keep going. Focusing on your goal rather than the obstacles ahead and the difficulty of the climb keeps you motivated.
Just imagine what you will have learned when you reach the top, how will your life be better? How will you feel when you succeed?
The next step is to understand that you win by overcoming your challenges. They are not there to defeat you but to help you learn and become stronger. Motivation increases as you move closer to your goal and motivation falls as you move away or believe you cannot succeed. Stay focused on the goal and only go for that which you really want. Remind yourself what it will be like when you get there.
Another very important shift in your thinking happens when you enjoy the challenges or the journey to your goal. Steps along the way can be small and pleasant if you make them so. Your self motivation will also increase if you reward yourself when you succeed even with a small step.
You cannot lose if you keep trying your best. It is only a matter of time until you succeed. At any time you may change your goal or the steps you need to follow. This is not giving up but maybe you decide at some point there is something else you want to do or your goal no longer applies. You decide what you aim for and you decide when you are a success. Failure only means you haven’t succeeded yet.