There are different times in my life when my motivation has varied. In my early days of entrepreneurship, my main reason to be motivated was to have my voice heard. Then when I had a family, my reason to be motivated was to support my family in the best way that I know how. Today, I find myself being motivated by the legacy I’d like to leave behind and what I’d like to stand for. Even though I feel like I’ve always had a reason to be motivated, when the pandemic hit in 2020, I lost the majority of my motivation. Like so many other people around the world, I was just down and depressed. We were living in a real-life nightmare and try as I might, it was hard for me to find my reasons to be motivated.
One day as I’m sitting on the couch, contemplating how the pandemic has affected the world, I thought about how short life is. I thought, “What if I could be interested, each day, in simply living it to the fullest?” What if I could find a way to make each day seem like a victory?
Here are 9 Reasons To Be Motivated:
- Achieving Goals: One of the primary reasons for motivation is to achieve personal or professional goals. Setting specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals can help you stay focused and motivated. For example, when trying to apply for a job at a grocery store, applying to different locations with the expectation that at least one of them would hire you within a month gives you more motivation and accountability than sending one application to one location and expecting to be hired by the end of the day.
- Personal Growth: Motivation can also be driven by a desire for personal growth and development. Pursuing new skills, knowledge, and experiences can help you expand your horizons, boost your confidence, and enhance your self-esteem. Good or bad, going through a new experience can build you as a person. When I moved from Virginia to California, I became more independent, confident, and perceptive. I feel very proud of that growth.
- Financial Success: Money can be a significant motivator for many people. Financial stability, security, and freedom are often associated with success, and striving towards financial goals can provide a strong motivation to work hard and achieve success. I once had a job as a deli clerk at Harris Teeter. While the job didn’t align with my personal or professional interests, being able to sustain myself financially kept me proud to be in that position.
- Improved Health and Wellness: Staying motivated to maintain a healthy lifestyle can have long-term benefits. Eating well, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and managing stress can help you feel better physically, emotionally, and mentally. My college freshman advisor suggested that we always keep exercise in our schedule as a healthy outlet.
Financial goals can provide a strong incentive to be motivated.
5. Positive Relationships: Having healthy and fulfilling relationships can also provide motivation. Building strong connections with family, friends, and colleagues can help you feel more supported and valued. Having an honest conversation with your spouse over a disagreement can give you the motivation to see from their perspective.
6. Helping Others: Helping others and contributing to society can be a powerful motivator. Whether it’s through volunteering, donating, or simply being kind and compassionate to those around you, knowing that you’re making a positive impact can be highly rewarding. My college demanded that I complete community service hours for a scholarship. Rather than seeing it as a burden, I was happy to assist my school’s homecoming tailgate.
7. Professional Development: Motivation can come from a desire to excel in your career or profession. Pursuing further education, taking on new challenges, and seeking out opportunities for growth and advancement can help you stay motivated and engaged in your work.
“Having healthy and fulfilling relationships can also provide motivation.”
8. Personal Fulfillment: Finding meaning and purpose in life can provide strong motivation. Pursuing activities, hobbies, or passions that bring you joy and fulfillment can help you feel more satisfied with life.
9. Overcoming Obstacles: Finally, motivation can come from a desire to overcome obstacles or challenges. Facing and conquering difficult situations can help you build resilience and confidence, and can provide a sense of accomplishment and pride. Getting a driver’s license, for example, shows one that they are capable of important accomplishments, and makes them desire to conquer other obstacles.
There are gonna be days and times when you don’t feel motivated. And that’s okay. Just remember you’re running your own race and every day you get to decide how you’re gonna live your life.
If you wanna a share a reason that you stay motivated, email me so I can share it with the Yasmaniacs! Looking forward to hearing from you.
