Master Your Motivation
Newton's first law of motion states that an object in motion will stay in motion unless an equal or opposite force acts upon it. This law also applies to human beings; at least, in terms of goal setting. In other words, when you are in motion and actively moving toward your goals you can feel unstoppable!! You can experience a state of flow and achieve a lot more than you otherwise would. However, what happens when you stop? You might find it hard to start the ball rolling again and, as a result, you may end up procrastinating, become depressed, or feel frustrated by your lack of action. Perhaps this is how you are feeling and where you are right now in achieving your goals.
If you want to master your motivation, you are required to know yourself. If you are anything like me, you need a boost from time to time. What I mean is perhaps your energy is low and you have lost interest in your goals. Perhaps you have suffered burn out and need a time out. It takes a lot of courage to admit when you have had enough. It’s called humility. When you know yourself well enough to accept your weaknesses along with your strengths, you can learn to rely on your connection with the God of the Universe to sustain you through the use of meditation, intuition, visualization, and imagination.
Procrastination and complacency are the opposite forces of your motivation and the enemy of positive action and forward motion. Have you ever noticed that when you are sitting there contemplating which task you are going to complete, it begins with a thought and then for some it becomes a visual, and before you know it time has passed, and you have found a million and one “reasons” why you haven’t moved into action? This is the way of Procrastination!
Now, you may be in one or several of the following situations:
You feel stuck and lack motivation; unable to make progress on your most important goals.
You beat yourself up for not getting things done.
You feel overwhelmed, not knowing what to do next.
You doubt yourself and worry more than you need to.
You keep jumping from one task or goal to another without achieving anything substantial.
If you recognize yourself in any of the above situations, don't worry, today we will help drive you out of your slump and rebuild your motivation.
Often times, the chronic nature of trauma triggers your emotional, mental, and spiritual state of being causing your mind to work against you. As your mind churns and burns to “save” you from falling short and feeling inadequate (it remembers the feelings of inadequacy you felt as a child when after having given your best and you were told that you were worthless and useless). In the Energy Harvest workbook, you learn that trauma is stored away in your mind, body, spirit, cells, tissues, and emotions. Like a well-oiled machine, your body systems fire and wire together to reconcile the trauma of your “first” felt in the “crime scene”. What better way to keep you safe than to keep you from ever beginning?
Your imagination is so powerful that your mind uses it to erect a perfect outcome. A fantastical outcome that is impossible for anyone to achieve. You erect the fantasy of this outcome and as you attempt to imagine yourself accomplishing this task, you suddenly retreat back into the feeling of fear of inadequacy. You are paralyzed with the fear of not measuring up to the visual outcome that you have predicted. You are predicting that you will never be able to live up to that outcome. Old mantras that once belonged to your oppressor are now playing in the back of your mind haunting your ability to even think of moving into action. So, you either sit there feeling like a failure until guilt shame and remorse cause you to withdraw and introvert, or you turn to people, places things, and behaviors that you tell yourself will make you feel better, at least for the moment.
If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. YOUR Coach B. Von Squires can relate, and she is available to speak with you in confidence. Contact her at www.spiritsourceconnection.com.
Today, let’s take a look at some of the strategies that will help you get back on track and start generating momentum:
1. One bite at a time. Complete a simple and easy task. Work on a small task that moves you toward your goal. Then, if you feel like it, work on another one and see where it leads you. Taking “baby steps” is the goal.
2. Give yourself a break. Perhaps, all you need is a break. Take your day off. Have a relaxing weekend and just do nothing. I realize this may seem counterproductive, but a reset may be just what you need to move into action.
3. Pray. Talking to your Higher Power or God source will surely help you surrender the low vibrational thoughts and feelings that have led to low motivation.
4. Acts of kindness. Helping other people will prevent you from being overly focused on yourself and on your own problems.
5. Release. Practice releasing of the things you have no control over. For things you have (some) control over, write down what you can do about it.
6. Spiritual practice. Meditation or Yoga is a great means of disconnecting from the painful thoughts of inadequacy, guilt, shame, or remorse. As you seek a connection with the God of the Universe, you are disconnecting from the pain of the past and the trauma that first made you feel inadequate or unworthy.
As you wake each day, take a quick assessment of your energy level. Are you at 100%? Possibly the baby woke you during the night or perhaps a big meeting kept you from sleeping soundly. Whichever the case, you cannot expect 100% if you don’t have it to give. The main thing is to maximize the level of energy you have and not to feel shameful for not being where you think you should be. Acceptance is the key to finding balance and momentum. Remember the best way to move into action is to take the first step!
