Motivation Is the Key to Success

We all aim for success in life, but getting there is a hike – not a race. Motivation is the fuel that will keep you trekking towards the top of the mountain. But motivation can be an aloof creature. Not only is she hard to catch, but she’s hard to keep around.

Motivation is fed by two things:

• The desire to attain something
• The fear of losing something

When it comes to success, desire is the key to staying motivated. When we act of fear, we are in a reactive state. When we act out of desire, we can stay focused and follow a constructive path.

But how do we keep desire from fading? There are many ways to keep the fire and drive alive.

They say that we become like the people with which we spend the most time. Surrounding yourself around positive, motivating people will push you to do better and work towards reaching your goal. Seeing other people who are self-motivating will also teach you how to motivate yourself and fuel that desire to attain your goals.

Positivity can go a long way in helping you stay motivated. Negative communication – whether it’s in your own mind or with others – only fuels negative behavior. Communicating in a positive way will not only help you stay motivated, but also motivate others. Smile at others. Say positive things.

Working off of the positivity approach, positive affirmations can also help you stay focused on what’s important and give you a boost of confidence. In the same way, motivational quotes can help change your state of mind from “I don’t want to do this today,” to “I’m ready to take on whatever comes my way.”

While positivity goes a long way in helping you stay on track, I’ve found that it’s important to figure out exactly what motivates you. Why do you want to reach this goal? Is your goal to make more money? Do you want to help people? Staying focused on your reason for wanting to achieve your goal will fuel your motivation. Remind yourself of this purpose each time you feel like throwing in the towel.

In addition to positivity and purpose, it’s important to set realistic goals. There’s evidence that goal-setting is one of the most effective ways to create motivation. Goals give you a blueprint to success, and attaining those goals will push you to keep going.

While it’s important to set big goals (your end game), it’s equally (if not more) important to set smaller goals to reach along the way. Achieving these smaller goals will keep you going.

Let’s say you’ve surrounded yourself with positive people. You’ve transformed your thinking process to be more positive, and you’ve even set goals. If you don’t take action, all of your efforts will be for naught.

Success will never land in your lap – no matter how motivated you may be. When you set your goals, it’s important to also create a plan to reach those goals. How will you get there? What do you have to do to reach your end goal?