Life is full of challenges and there are times where we can experience a lot of negativity in the world around us. While hardships are expected as well as healthy negative feelings, it is important to stay positive and motivated overall, despite the situations you may face.
Have you ever read a motivational book, watched an inspiring video, or tried to implement a new habit, only to not have the ability to follow through?
Why is it that we get motivated, inspired, and have all these great ideas, but then nothing happens? When you’re lacking motivation or energy, you can ask yourself these three questions:
What do you want out of this day?
What have you done today to get closer to those things?
What could you do right now that would move you toward your goals?
Honest answers to the questions above are good to energize you for each day’s activities.
Remember that only you and your mindset can generate the positive energy you need. You can only practice some tried and tested routines that can get you on your feet whenever you are down. Different things motivate everyone. First, understand what motivates you.
Let these self-improvement tips guide you to stay motivated and positive:
Practice self-care. Give yourself whatever it is that you need. Schedule a moment where you are not answering calls, scrolling on social media, etc.
Setting aside time for yourself can feel problematic for people because of their beliefs surrounding this topic. For instance, you may think that doing this feels too unproductive or selfish. However, this is simply not true. Allowing yourself to feel calm and focus on yourself is more important than you might think. Also, there is a big difference between being selfish and practicing self preservation.
There are a lot of distractions in the world. However, if you don’t set aside time to reflect, you cannot move forward. Even if it is 5 minutes every day, know that you deserve it.
Set little milestones for your life, like finishing an assignment on time. Reward yourself by watching your favorite show or buying your favorite coffee.
Self-reward doesn't always need to be money or time-consuming. The minor things do the wonders. For instance, stand on your feet now and tell yourself “You’re victorious” or “You’re capable”. See the feeling it gives. Positive affirmations and thoughts create positive feelings.
Sometimes you need a little extra push to get through the day. That’s why it’s so important to surround yourself with people who are positive and motivated.
With positive people in your life, keeping your head up is that much easier. It’s like a breath of fresh air when you’re feeling down. If there are negative people in your life, show compassion and give kindness, but it is OK to implement healthy boundaries when needed.
Human beings are naturally social whether you consider yourself a "people person" or not. Creating a positive influence in people’s life brings an unusual feeling of joy. Helping others creates a more connected, positive environment around you.
Take a few minutes every morning or evening to picture what it would be like for you to succeed.
Spend some time thinking about how good it will feel for you to make it to the other side of this challenge!
It’s so easy to let yourself get distracted, isn’t it? Whether your distraction is the latest reality TV show, social media, your kids, or the bed that looks so comfortable right now.
It’s easy to find things that will capture your attention and keep it away from what you should be doing. When you don’t feed your distractions, you’ll get more time for yourself.
Many of us struggle to stay motivated and positive these days. The social media landscape is full of negativity.
With all the negativity, it becomes difficult to understand why we do what we do. And sometimes we may feel like we are not making any difference. Let these tips be a booster for you to escape negativity and stay motivated.
-Allison Clifton, CLC
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