Scrolling through my news feed on Facebook, a picture of my friend Andrea caught my eye! In the past year she has transformed her body and looks amazing!!! It’s been fun to watch my friend’s journey for the past year or so as she melted away a substantial part of her figure! Whoa! Getting in shape and eating clean was a huge goal for Andrea and it’s worth noting how she set her goals and maintained her focus. Using social media, she created a Facebook group of friends to join her journey, catalog her “wins,” encourage others, and become a role model for those in cyberspace!
In order to reach any goal you need to be properly motivated. So how do you get there and stay there? Staying there is the big question. Sometimes motivating yourself is difficult when life throws you for a loop. Even the simplest obstacle – like a friend’s words – can throw you off your game…Unless you stay properly motivated.
Staying motivated takes some effort. John Maxwell made an interesting observation:
“Successful and unsuccessful people do not vary greatly in their abilities. They vary in their desires to reach their potential.”
So how do we stay motivated? That’s the million-dollar question! Setting a goal is the easy part. It’s pursuing the goal and staying on track that provides the real challenge for each of us.
Once you have your goals in place, your focus will need to be on keeping your motivation high. Here are some simple steps to help you stay focused and continue trekking thru until you reach that goal:
1. Break down your goal into doable actions–
- This helps to create “wins.” Wins are necessary to build confidence and spur you on
2. Motivate Yourself –
- Listen to motivational speakers, search for motivational quotes to spark that drive and keep your gas tank filled.
3. Follow good role models –
- Find others who have been successful in similar fields and “follow” them. This can be done through social media or developing one on one relationships
4. Work Hard!
- Nothing is a substitute for hard work. Accomplishing any goal requires pushing past the obstacles with a persistence and determination that exposes if we really want what we say we want.
Let’s talk about each of those tips just a little bit more….
Break down your goal into doable action steps –
What can you do today to eek towards your goal? Don’t let the little voice in your head tell you “One little slip doesn’t matter.” It does!! Every baby step towards your goal is a baby step closer to your dream. Wins are necessary to build confidence and spur you on!
Motivate Yourself –
When my determination is waning I realize that I have gone too long without listening to speakers who motivate me. I love listening to podcasts and some of the names I listen to regularly are Joel Osteen, Brian Buffini, and Zig Ziglar. I start with these podcasts and then branch off and listen to the amazing men and women they interview that spark my interest. Or sometimes I search the internet for motivational quotes and pin them in my Pinterest boards.
Follow good role models –
Find others who have been successful in similar fields and “follow” them. This can be done through social media or developing one on one relationships. When you find someone worth following, take a risk and reach out to develop a relationship with them. We all love to be liked and mentoring is very rewarding part of each of our lives. It’s wonderful to be a part of building and encouraging someone else. So dare to step out and meet someone you admire, offer them a little help or encouragement and see what comes of it! I’ve been richly blessed with friendships as I’ve dared to cross over into that scary realm!
Work Hard!
Do you really WANT your goal? Really? Want? It? Are you willing to pay the price to get what you say you want? No one says is better than Calvin Coolidge:
“Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘Press On’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”–Calvin Coolidge
Finally, fight discouragement. It will come in all forms and try to get you off track. Look for it and be ready when it comes a knockin! That way you won’t be thrown off your game.
Oh, and one last tip:[bctt tweet=”Don’t have a Plan B. Plan B’s are fallback plans!” username=”https://twitter.com/TrekkingChar”]
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Hello Friendly Bloggers, if you’d like to linkup your articles please click on the blue button below and follow the prompts. Have a great week!!
Michele Morin says
This is good, and speaking from present efforts here, I would add, when you fail, don’t bail. It’s so easy to say, “Well, I blew it. I guess I’ll never achieve that goal.” I’m trusting for grace these days to persevere — but when I have a set back, I don’t get the “luxury” of giving up.
Char says
I love that Michele! When you fail, don’t bail!!! Perfect.
You reminded me of another quote that I didn’t use in my article about the importance of failure by Thomas Watson: “Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It’s quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure. You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn’t at all. You can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it, So go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because remember that’s where you will find success.”–– Thomas J. Watson
Marilyn Lesniak says
Thank you for hosting. I would love for you to party with me at #WonderfulWednesday, #ThursdayFavoriteThings, or #OverTheMoon (Sunday). Enjoy your week!
Char says
Okay Marilyn, I will definitely join your party!! Thanks for the invite. I get a little discombobulated with all the blogs, sites and parties. It’s a wonderful time to be blogging as there is so much opportunity to connect and meet new friends!!
Ravi says
whenever i feel demotivate .. i follow all these things and push myself because no one can push you you untill you do..
Thanks for this amazing and inspiring post.
Char says
You are so right Ravi – it has to start with us!
Lisa notes says
The first step is one of my favorites: breaking things down in doable goals. Sometimes my baby steps are SO small that they’re almost not noticeable. 🙂 But if I do them, at least I’m still moving in the right direction and eventually I get there. Thanks for the encouragement, Char!
Char says
You’re so right – the baby steps are a great encouragement that we are moving in the right direction.
Sue Donaldson says
You are a natural coach and cheerleader and mentor – it’s easy to give up when things don’t measure up and it’s best to have someone alongside to encourage and discern. Great post, Char.
Char says
Hi Sue. You’re a natural encourager too!! Thanks for stopping by. Have a blessed week!
Cheryl Blinston says
Thank you, Char! This is my first time linking up and I loved your post today. I have been attempting to teach my children the idea of long term goals. When no one responded, I got out some ice cream and asked: “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” When the first child did not answer, I moved on to the second without scooping ice cream. The second caught on quickly and replied with educational goals and how she was going to achieve them. We talked that night (after everyone caught on and started to set goals) about how we have long term goals and how we break them down into baby steps. Thanks for the link-up!
Char says
Thanks Cheryl! It’s nice to meet you. I love your lesson with your children! Thanks for sharing it!
Jennifer DeFrates/Heaven not Harvard says
Setting manageable goals is huge! Small steps towards your goal makes it feel doable.
Emily Susanne says
Inspiring post! It’s so true that strong motivation and Jesus is what makes one successful.
Char says
Hi Emily Susanne! It’s true – staying focused on what’s important keeps us motivated.
Charlene says
I like that. Breakdown task in doables. I sonetimes try to do it all, then become frustrated at the task. Grear advice.
Char says
I understand completely! I’ve had to learn to put away my “all or nothing” attitude!
Keisha Russell says
Wonderful advice! I loved all four of your tips, but number one really stood out to me. “Break down your goal into doable actions.” I often at times have the mentality that if I do not see results right away, then I just want to give up. So I am going to apply some small steps towards goals that I know I can reach and try my best to stick with them.
Char says
I think that’s one of the most important steps Keisha, because as I get little wins, it encourages me to keep on!!
Sheila Schweiger-Rhodes says
Hi, Char!
As a person on my personal journey of fitness, I appreciated the encouragement and your tips. It is true about surrounding yourself with those who are good role models. Even some of your friends who don’t have bad intentions can sometimes seem like they are sabotaging you. There is lots of good information. I have bookmarked your post so that I can refer back to it. I also joined the link-up! 🙂
Char says
Thanks Sheila! I think so many of us are “stuck.” It’s challenging to find others who are pushing beyond. The internet is very inspiring too!
Melissa says
I have a quote in my office that reads: Perseverance – The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it. Moliere This post reminds me of it. Thank you for the post!
Char says
I love that quote Melissa! Thanks for sharing it.
Erin says
With anything in life, as you e said, “manageable goals” is always the key. So often we want to be a Bible scholar in a week, lose 40 pounds in a month, and be as sensitive and open-minded as a professional therapist in a matter of days. Whatever our goals are we want to zoom at them at lightspeed when it’s the journey there that allows us to make it a lifestyle change, making it a permanent change.
Char says
I am resorting to simple. Simple doesn’t mean easy, but it makes so many challenges much more doable. Like you said, Erin, I thought for a long time I needed to be a theologian, but I can’t seem to! Well, then, it’s just me!! Ha! Thanks for reading and sharing!
Char says
One thing that seems to be resonating this past week is: it’s about the journey not the destination. That, requires a different mindset… 🙂
Kristi says
Discouragement is a killer. It is so important to keep in mind that those moments will come and we need to have a game plan to deal with them too.
Char says
You are 100% right Kristi. I should write a post about that! A game plan to deal with discouragements and stumbles.
Jerralea says
Nice to meet you, Char! I just happened to come across your blog from #FreshMarketFriday. I loved your post – especially the quote from Calvin Coolidge. We all have dreams and goals but the most important way to make them happen is to WORK. (I’m too prone to giving myself the day off!)
Char says
It’s so tempting to give in to “ease.” Sometimes I hear a little voice saying “How bad do you want it?” That’s the kick I need! Glad you stopped in!!
Char says
Hi Jerallea! It’s so nice to meet you – I love meeting new people through this little corner on the web! I have to remind myself quite often that my goals will require work! I hear a little voice saying, “How bad do you want it?” and then I am willing to go the extra mile. Thanks for saying hi and reading!