Finding it hard to motivate yourself to change your habits in order to reach your dreams? You’re not alone.
This article doesn’t list all of the reasons today is the perfect time to start working towards your goals.
Instead it lists, the tactics I used to motivate myself to turn the tv off and get off the couch. These tactics have helped me change my every day routine and in less than 3 months, I’ve increased my confidence, changed my lifestyle and reached 100% of my micro goals.
In other words, they’re proven to work.
Let’s get to it.
1. Tomorrow turns into the next day, and then it never comes
2. If you don’t believe in yourself, who will?
3. You should strike while the iron is hot
4. You have everything you need
5. Don’t let fear hold you back
6. Everyone starts somewhere
7. Timing will never be perfect
1.Tomorrow turns into the next day, and then it never comes
Carpe Diem - Seize the day !
I don’t know about you, but I used to be the worst procrastinator. I used to convince myself that I do better work under pressure, at the last minute because, I won’t over think things. When in reality, I didn’t have time to think about anything at all because, I had a deadline to meet. I would get an assignment, or a project at work, or even have the desire to try something new. I would plan out an entire schedule and i would stare at it every day from the couch as i flip through all of my favorite shows back to back. I always had the intention of doing it, but something always came up. My best friend would call, there was a sale at the mall, or some days I would have to work overtime.
Pushing things off until the next day, is assuming you’re going to be here tomorrow. When in reality, tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone. Especially at a time like this, living through a global pandemic. If you have time today, do it today. Pushing something off until the next day turns into an everlasting line of falling dominos. Ask yourself this question, If today, was your last day would you regret not starting?
2. If you don’t believe in yourself, who will?
It’s always easy to talk about what you’re going to do. So much that you even begin to try and convince the people that you’re talking to, you’re actually going to do it. Yeah, you read that right, I used to try and convince people I was going to do things that I never even started. I gave so much energy trying to convince these other people to believe in something I was still pondering. It wasn’t until I started telling my close friends and family my true desires that I realized what I was doing. They would ask me questions like, “Well when are you going to launch?, and How’s the website going?”. My answers were all the same, It’s coming along. When in fact I was still putting that thing off until tomorrow that I didn’t even start yet.
It even got to the point where I waited so long to start that imaginary thing I was trying to convince everyone I was doing, that people began to doubt me. The conversations went from, “When are you going to start?”, to you’re not going to make it and you can’t do it. At one point i started getting angry at these responses and comments. Yes i was upset, I didn’t start yet, but i was more so angry i could no longer convince anyone to believe in a vision that was still blurry and fuzzy on my end.
When i started missing these imaginary deadlines I had set, and everyone started asking me followup questions like, “I thought you were launching in January”, or saying, “You’re never going to launch your website”. This was when I began to realize, I need to believe i can do it first. If i don’t believe I can do something no one else will. It’s the belief that you can do it, that keeps you going like a fresh cup of coffee in the morning, when you’re dragging along.
3. You should strike while the iron is hot
Some of my best ideas come at the most random times. Usually, my most creative moments are in the morning or when I’m driving in the car. Since, I’m a creative I like to record my thoughts and Ideas, on my phone as I drive; but I didn’t always start that way. At first, i would come up with an idea in the morning on my way to work, and by the time i got home the idea was flat. By flat i mean, it’s not gone, but it’s definitely not as lit of an idea as it was this morning.
So I came up with the idea, that the best time for me to create, blog, or podcast was when my idea was fresh and hot. When the iron is hot, my energy is high, my mind and heart are fully engaged and the possibilities are endless. You have to set yourself up for success, by putting your best foot forward. No matter what you’re doing, your best output will only be as great as your input. So i encourage you to give 110% every time you’re working towards your goals.
4. You have everything you need
Repeat after me. I have everything I need to start (insert your goal here) today. Repeat this 5 times. I encourage you to repeat this mantra every day for as long as it takes for you to believe it yourself. Everything you need to fulfill your hearts desires by reaching your micro goals, that lead to bigger goals that will lead to you achieving your dreams. You have it! Yes, you do.
If you ask someone about their dreams and goals, they’ll tell you with excitement. If you ask them what it takes to achieve these goals, 9 times out of 10 they already know everything they need to do. You know what you need to do because you’ve thought about it, done research, watched videos, asked questions etc. For those of you claiming you don’t know the steps you need to take. Lucky for you, information and access to people all across the world is so accessible today, that you can figure it out. You have all of the resources to do so. So, get to work!
5. Don’t let fear hold you back
You will miss 100% of the shots you don’t take !
If you don’t try, you’ll never know if you could have made the team, or got the job, or even made it to the next round in a competition. What ever it maybe, would you rather know the outcome or spend your life thinking what if? Facing your fears can be overwhelming and challenging for sure. However, its when you face your fears head on that you learn about parts of yourself you never knew existed.
Along with procrastination, fear is one of the main reasons people choose to start tomorrow. Yet, since we know tomorrow isn’t promised, we are faced with two options. Start today by facing your fears or push it off until tomorrow and regret never starting. Honestly, what do you have to lose?
In order to face fear you need to be equipped and ready to face it head on. If you believe in yourself enough to start today, you can strike while the iron is hot because you have everything you need.
6. Everyone starts somewhere
Everyone started from ground zero and worked their way up. Well, not exactly ,but you get the point I’m trying to make, everyone started from somewhere. We all experience those, today is my first day jitters. I wonder what it will be like when i get there thoughts. Sometimes we forget that superstars like Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, or even Lady Gaga, weren’t always super stars. At some point in their lives they were little girls dreaming to be on stage, and singing in the shower picturing crowds of people just like you and me.
Entrepreneurs like Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, all started with an idea on paper, and a vision of reaching their dream. It takes trial and error, believing in yourself, determination, and more to achieve goals that no one has ever even dreamed of. Can you imagine if they never started and kept pushing that thing off until tomorrow. I wonder where the world would be right now without Microsoft and Amazon. I also wonder where in the world you’ll be a year from now, if you start that thing today.
7. Timing will never be perfect
One of the biggest excuses people use to explain why they didn’t start is because they are waiting on something else to work out. They are waiting until they can save up enough money to get the new cannon mega pixel, even though they have a new cell phone thats fully capable. They are waiting until they can afford to hire real models, or real manufacturers. Yet, they have friends and family who can assist, and local small businesses they can work with.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but everything is never going to be perfectly aligned. You have to start today, and start moving. As you move things will fall into place. Everything takes time and over time you learn and you grow from your mistakes. Yes, you don’t have enough money to do things how you want to right from the start. However, you can be resourceful and use what you do have. Learn to do things on your own until you’re able to hire a photographer, pay for a studio session, or launch your business. The timing to start will never be perfect, but you can definitely use what you have now to start today.
Final thoughts
In this post I’ve included, all of the reasons you should start that thing you’ve been putting off today. Remember, nothing will work, unless you do.
Starting something new is never easy, but if it’s something you really want the change is worth it.
If you begin today, every day after will be a little bit easier and easier.
Bottom line: There’s no need to wait until tomorrow. Start today !
Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments, or on instagram.
Article by: Mahogany
Hey! I’m Mahogany and I'm here to walk with you on your self – development journey. From lifestyle, education, relationships, to health and fitness. My blog is all about providing you with helpful tips and advice as we become the best versions of ourselves.