So What Is Motivation? How To Find It, Keep It And Use It

Ok, so the first thing is you need an answer to the question "What is motivation?"

Well, if you look elsewhere on the web and in your local reference library you'll find many, many ideas about this but my favourite place to start is this rather neat description.

"Motivation is having the desire and willingness to do something." (Source: Wikipedia)

You see that's the point, in order to get anything done you need both the genuine desire to achieve the result and also the willingness to spend some time making it happen.

Take this article. For you to see it I needed to genuinely desire that I share my thoughts and I also had to be willing to take time out of my life to get the thing written?

Let's try those questions

Do you often find your get up and go has got up and went? Ok so perhaps this is a question of another desire getting in the way of the one you feel you should be having? We all have times when we'd really rather be doing anything other than the thing we should be doing and often that's just a lack of desire. The other thing is you could just be unwilling to make the effort - an example could be walking the dog in the rain. You know you ought to do it, and you really want the dog to have it's walk, but it's raining for goodness sake!

Perhaps the motivator here is staying dry and warm in front of the tv?

Poor old dog.

Does work equate to boredom? If it does then you have two choices, change how you feel about the work you currently do or change the work. In actual fact the latter is rather the easier of the two it just takes more faith and belief to do it. I did it. I was dreadfully bored sitting in various offices doing work I didn't believe in and having to do the 7am to 7pm shift just to do the 7 hours work I wouldn't get paid much for. Realising I had the same two choices anyone else has, I started working in the evenings and weekends and gradually got brave enough to take the bull by the horns and start doing what I wanted to do full time. As the saying inevitably goes, if I can do it......

Do you start lots of projects, and don't finish them? Ok, taking the thoughts above in mind here then perhaps what's really happening is you enjoy the start of a project because it's new, it's fresh, it's kind of exciting and then as soon as you've got the bit's out of that box from the DIY store and you've looked in vain for any sense in the diagram that came with the wood and the screws, you're well on the way to "I'll get round to it later" In order for the project to be completed therefore the MOTIVATION needs to equate to the end result not the start of the job, you have to be willing to do the work, put yourself out and do the thing you really didn't want to do in the first place. I hire someone in - it's cheaper and the shelves stay up.

Perhaps what you need is more MOTIVATION? Well maybe that's the case but for my money, this is simply part of the much larger puzzle. In order to have a great life, we need to work on ourselves all the time, to learn, to grow, to evolve so that the world around us, while it still may not care about our lack of motivation, is easier to deal with.

Motivation is inside you, you just need to find it, harness it and use it.

Alan Gee is a Life Coach and Motivational Speaker "Why waste any part of any day, you're only on the planet once?" W: http://www.alangee.co.uk E: info@alangee.co.uk

The Magic of Memory Lane

On a recent early autumn evening, I walked around the farm of my kidhood. In the spring, my father passed away, so I have spent more time here this year than in recent years. And on this particular evening I was on the farm alone. As the sun began to set a different memory seemed to arrive with each new step; memories of being a boy, of growing up, of mistakes made, of lessons learned and so much more.

I don't share this to be sappy or sentimental, though I can be both of those things. And to say that a tear drop didn't hit the ground would be a lie. But those are not the reasons I write this.

I write this for what happened after the tears fell and about the time the moon began to rise. I stopped thinking about those memories for a minute and started thinking about the day I had just spent as a professional 45-year-old man, doing things that seemed so far removed from this place and those memories.

And then the magic happened.

I began to connect those lessons and memories of the past to the things I did today, noticing things I could have done differently or better. I recognized that how I handled some things were a direct reflection of those lessons I had just remembered, though clearly they had been with me earlier in the day, I just didn't make that connection consciously.

The magic of learning happened.

It happened because I had stopped to reflect.

I stopped.

I reflected.

I took time to think, even though my laptop and a to-do list awaited me in the house.

I took time to think.

I thought about lessons from long ago and how they applied to me today. Though separated by time, context and circumstances, there were lessons remembered and learned that night that helped me be more effective, productive and successful the following day.

You can do what I did.

You can experience what I experienced.

You don't have to be at a farm in Michigan, or your childhood home. You could be walking down your street or across a college campus. You could be riding in a subway or sitting in your office. The where doesn't matter; what matters are the actions we must take.

You must turn down and turn off all the noise around you.

You must tune in . . . to your inner voices.

Scan the memories.

Ask the questions.

Listen to the answers.

Reflect.

Think.

And learn.

Your walk down memory lane may really happen (as mine did), or it may be in your mind; regardless of the where, the memories will offer lessons and learning opportunities - both long remembered and brand new.

And both will be magic.

Kevin Eikenberry is a leadership expert and the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group, a learning consulting company that helps Clients reach their potential through a variety of training, consulting and speaking services. To receive your free special report on Unleashing Your Potential go to http://www.kevineikenberry.com/uypw/index.asp or call us at (317) 387-1424 or 888.LEARNER.

Motivation for Success - Ignore Negative People

By Spencer Steele

Whenever you have a big idea or plan or anything that seems positive and optimistic - people are going to tell you why you're going to fail. They'll tell you you can't do it. They'll tell you It'll never work. I can't tell you how many times I've had a great idea spit on by people around me. Ignore them - you need to totally ignore negativity.

People will tell you this kind of stuff for a lot of reasons - It might be jealousy, it might be out of ignorance, it might be because of their own fears and insecurities or they may just have a negative or cynical perspective on everything in life. Either way - Ignore them!

If great people in history listented to the nay-sayers... nothing great would ever have been accomplished. This doesn't mean to be stupid - if someone is offering you good advice - it's okay to listen. You can take their viewpoints into consideration because there may be some good advice in there - don't assume you have all the answers. It's okay to change your plan around a little - but never let it stop you - NEVER!

Negativity is everywhere and it comes in disguises. It comes from people you love - your best friends - it comes with smiles. Learn to challenge people's comments in your own mind and if you realize they may be right - immediately think of alternatives instead of giving up. As a very basic (and a little bit ridiculous example) - If I have a massive ice making machine and I tell someone my idea to sell ice to Eskimos- and they tell me that it's a terrible idea - it'll never work. I don't think, "yeah - you're right" and quit. I think about where else and who else I can sell ice too. You can tailor your plan based on the advice but never, ever do let it stop you.

Get more free success tips and motivation at GetUltimatePower.com

 

The Secret to Self Loving

This past year, I have come to appreciate the power of truly loving myself. Most of my life, being alone was one of my biggest fears. I found myself in numerous relationships for the wrong reasons and ended up settling in ill-fitting 'partnerships'. This deeply rooted fear and lack of understanding of myself caused the relationships to become my whole world; my focus of attention; my center. I would sacrifice my own goals for the other person. And, when the relationship collapsed, so did my sense of self.

Through much introspection, I realized the source of these failed relationships was myself. I realized that I didn't truly love or appreciate myself and had relied on external sources for love and approval. I decided to change. I had to overcome my fear of loneliness by finding independence and personal freedom. Even since I found true appreciation for myself, the quality of relationships I have attracted has been phenomenal. I have discovered that the more I loved and understood myself, the less I feared being by myself, and the more healthy relationships I have attracted into my life.

I started doing what I called "Dates with myself". Regardless my external relationship status, I would schedule time with myself. I would literally take myself out on a date and spend that time totally focused on myself. It's my time. We spend so much time and energy focused on others that we forget to recharge the source of that energy. It is only when you are well that you can have the energy and internal resources to make a positive difference and help others. This is a simple, yet powerful concept that can dramatically improve your wellbeing, effectiveness and mental health.

Before attempting a 'date with yourself', Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Remove Disturbances - unplug your phone, power down the cell phone and blackberry, shut down the computer, turn off the tv. Do not let your mind get distracted during your self-date. This is your time to just be with yourself.

• Being Solo - It's important that you are on your own. You can talk to strangers, and make new friends, but you are on the self-date to get acquainted with yourself, no one else. If you live with a partner, schedule it so he/she isn't home, or just take yourself out of the house. If you have kids, find a sitter, or plan around when your kids are not at home. It's also important to realize that this time is a gift for yourself, and you should only be focused on your well-being.

• Schedule - Plan how long you would like your dates to last. Set a minimum time, and commit to focus on yourself for at least that time. I typically schedule 2-4 hour dates with myself.

• Communicate - if you are in a relationship, it's important to communicate what you are doing and it's benefits clearly with your partner. Not only do we get their support, but also avoid any misunderstandings or neglect.

Here are some ideas for 'dates with yourself'. You can intermix several activities below into one date:

• Reading Date - Go to a trendy café or find a comfortable place at home and read something inspirational for an hour or more. Have some hot herbal tea, cut up some fruits or crackers with cheese. Fully enjoy the experience.

• Forgiveness & Gratitude Date - Find a comfortable spot. I like to sit on a bench overlooking the water at sunset, or curled up on the couch in my living room table surrounded by candles.

  • Forgive - Write on a journal or loose paper all the things you forgive yourself for. We tend to be very harsh on ourselves, and voluntarily blame ourselves internally for failures, failures of achievement, failures to action, etc. Take this time to forgive yourself for all the harsh things said, for mistreatment of your health, etc.

  • Gratitude - List out all the things in your life you are thankful for. This is my favorite thing to do.

  • Admiration - List out all the things that others admire about you. What are some things they'd say that you are good at or have natural abilities towards? Notice that I wanted you to pretend to be another person looking at yourself. We tend to blank on this question when asking ourselves directly.

• Musical Date - Take in a live concert after treating yourself to a healthy and satisfying meal. For example, every Thursday, I used to make myself a great raw vegetarian meal and then go to the Symphony. Did you know that you could get cheap single tickets in the first 4 rows? In Seattle, it's $15 at Seattle Symphony. Most people are not aware of this. It's not advertised.
  

  Another idea is going to a jazz club or a show. Talk to strangers when you are there. You'll find the experience much more rewarding.

• Yoga or Meditation Date - Take a group yoga or meditation class at a local gym, community center, or temple. I used to do drop in classes at YMCA. They are $10 a class for non-members. After class, jump into the Jacuzzi if there is one. Come home, enjoy a light meal and relax for the evening.

• Outdoors Date - Go for a long walk in an area that interests you. Go to a park, go camping, go for a long drive. I like to spend an hour on Sundays walking through the 'pike place' market (local farmer's market) with my dog, Tommy. I enjoy seeing all the tourists, fresh produce and the energy in the market. I also like to walk along the waterfront. It's a good idea to bring a book and some water with you. Wander without rushing.

• Art & Culture - Go to an art gallery opening or a local museum. In Seattle, we have the art walk the first Thursday of every month where many galleries are open into the night. It's very festive and inspiring, and I especially enjoy the people watching.

Tina Su is passionate about Personal Development and Spiritual Growth. She runs multiple businesses and has learned how to do so without any Stress. Visit her website at Think Simple. Be Decisive for her secrets to Productivity, Motivation, Creativity and Happiness. To see the images from the original article, please visit here: "The Secret to Self Loving"

How To Be Lucky In Life

Fate favors the bold, the strong, insistent, consistent, and persistent person.

You may say, "Well, then, how does luck work?" Does it seem to you that there are people for whom everything just works out?

You might ask, "Why doesn't that ever happen to me?" Then again, maybe it does and you just don't notice.

As we look at all the luck that we have experienced in our lives, and remember all the lucky people that we have been privileged to associate with and learn from, it appears that there are some key principles used by all the lucky people we know.

Opportunity Must Show Up!

Some people say, "I need to have a great opportunity" or "That guy had a great opportunity show up." But the fact of the matter is that opportunities are showing up all the time.

One of the other things I teach is that opportunity is the only thing that is unlimited in business.

Abraham Lincoln said, "If you prepare, opportunity must show up."

Get the Skills

You've got to prepare for wealth, for happiness, for health, for friendship, for collegial relationships, and for your spiritual work. Whatever it is that you want to have in your life, you need to be prepared with skills.

It has to do with whether or not you are prepared, if you have the skills and the goals, and the dreams and aspirations. Then all the things that are necessary to make it happen show up.

We can really make our own fate by being bold. Boldness will create that fate, which will create that luck, if we are prepared, when we have that positive language, and if we associate with the right people.

Roice Krueger was a co-founder of FranklinCovey, the world's largest training and education company. Amazingly, Roice has consulted for 80% of the Fortune 500 companies. Those companies know that Roice delivers the goods, and they continue to beat a path to his door when they need help! Visit Roice's 101 E-Book Library at http://www.IdeasThatCanChangeYourLife.com

 

The Reluctant Christian By Douglas S Wright

An Amazing Story of Addiction and Deliverance

"The Reluctant Christian" is the amazing story of the spiritual journey of Douglas S. Wright? He has opened his life to the reader to tell of the trials, failures, victories, in a cycle of addiction, sin, repentance and deliverance. Doug testifies of God's mercy, and grace. As a rebellious youth Doug made choices that led to a downward spiral of drug and alcohol dependence. This is a story of a young man plagued with bitterness and anger, working through a tumultuous marriage, trying to be a good father and provider for his two children, and to submit to the purpose and call of God on his life.

Douglas Wright has made himself vulnerable in telling his story. It is good to know that there are those still willing to open their heart in a way that does not gloss over the ugliness of sin. Doug was willing to acknowledge the evil in his life to bring honor to his Lord. He also testified to the miracle of deliverance, the power of God, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the salvation available through Jesus Christ, God's Son.

Doug addresses the important place his extended family played in impacting his life. In his teens Doug made bad choices and soon was experiencing a downward spiral of addiction. Before Doug found himself at rock bottom, he narrowly escaped death on several occasions, was arrested on numerous charges, and experienced a forced separation from his wife and children. He cried to God for mercy and another chance. Wright shares the anguish of his emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual battles throughout his journey to deliverance, recovery, and wholeness.

Wright is an articulate communicator. I found myself engrossed in the story from the first page to the very end. Doug is gifted with spiritual discernment, and anointed by God's Spirit. Doug's writing is strong in Biblical content. He writes clearly of the consequences of sin and evil, demons, divorce, forgiveness, repentance, and restoration. He then helps the reader to recognize the promise of deliverance from the power of sin,

Doug Wright has written "The Reluctant Christian" with the prayer that it will help others avoid the hurt and suffering Doug experienced the hard way. He provides the reader with an invitation to submit their lives to God, to follow His purpose and not their own plans. I am eager to hear more from this promising first time author, Douglas S. Wright.

Richard R. Blake, Christian Education Consultant, Book Store Owner

 

Boost Your Motivation Levels

By Mohamed Farouk

Am not Motivated Because I Can't
A friend of mine told me once that he could never quit smoking because cigarettes were in his blood (he didn't mean nicotine, just that he was deeply dependant on cigarettes and could not imagine living without them). If that's the same way you feel, ask yourself one question: "What is the one thing that I want most in my life?". Now imagine meeting a wizard that could make your wish come true only if you quit smoking. Would you be able to quit then? Of course you would!

The conclusion is; you weren't able to quit because you were not motivated and not the other way round, namely not being motivated because you can't quit. Don't fool yourself and develop a false belief about your abilities; you have the ability to succeed at anything even if it seems beyond your reach if you only have the motivation to go after it with all you've got.

Understand Your Style of Motivation
A billionaire may have become rich because he didn't want to be poor. Another billionaire could have become rich because he wanted to buy a bigger house or so that he could enjoy a more affluent life style.

What's all that about? Some people become motivated because they want to get closer to something (the "towards" motivation style) while others become motivated because they want to move away from something (the "away" motivation style). The first man wanted to avoid poverty and so he was motivated to become rich, while the second man was motivated because he wanted to live more comfortably.

If you want to motivate yourself, you should first determine your motivation style. Is it running away from what you don't want, or is it moving towards what you want. Note that you could have a different motivation style in different areas of life. For example, you may be motivated to follow a healthy life style because you want to live longer and at the same time you may be exercising because of not wanting to become skinny.

The Problem with the "Away from" Motivation Style
Let's assume that you are motivated to exercise because you don't want to become too skinny. In this case you won't be that motivated unless you start to lose a lot weight or until you receive a critical comment about your physical appearance.

The result will be staying at the status quo; you won't try to improve yourself, instead you will just try to prevent yourself from losing ground. As you may have already guessed, this strategy will not result in any advancements after a certain point is reached, but it will help you not lose what you've already achieved.

On the other hand, if you exercise because you want to bulk up, your greed will take over and you will find yourself wanting to get bigger and bigger muscles even if you were already in great shape. In this case, greed is not that undesirable. Smiling

Changing Your Motivation Style
Now that we've agreed that the "towards motivation style" is better than the "away from motivation style", how can we change our motivation style?

Suppose your goal was to avoid poverty (to become rich). In this case, instead of looking at how much you spend per month, or instead of focusing on your monthly bills, just draw a picture of your dream house and your dream car and hang a copy of the picture in each room in your house.

Motivation and Goal Setting
If you don't have any goals, then don't bother reading about motivation. Motivation is needed only for those who really want something out of life. If you have no goals, you should first visit the goal setting section then come back to the motivation section when you are done with determining what you want to achieve.

Want to become more motivated? want to understand yourself more? www.2knowmyself.com

 

The Really Successful People Unlock The Focus Of Their Subliminal Mind

By Michael McGrath

Did you know that your subliminal thoughts have a direct affect upon how you live your life and the circumstances you now find yourself in? Never underestimate the power of your thoughts whether they be consciously directed or unconscious in nature. There is a law of the universe that has had many names and been described in many different ways. One simple statement can explain this law and if it were fully understood by you, you could build the life of your dreams in a very short time.

This law is so simple that 98% of the planet cannot use it. Some of that 98% have heard the law yet failed to understand it. Others understood the law but do not know how to use it. Are you prepared to enter the ranks of the fortunate 2% that understand the law and use it to build the lives of their dreams?

The law has been given numerous names throughout history but it can be summed up as follows:

You Always Get More Of What You Focus On In Life!

Simple isn't it? However, most people do not use this law to create the life they want to live and therefore continue to live desperate lives totally dissatisfied with their own struggles and end up full of pain, frustrations and despair. Why is this?

There are basically two reasons why people who know the law cannot successful use it to change their lives. I will deal with both these issues in this article. They are as follows:

1. Failure to comprehend what the law means. 2. Inability to stay focused long enough to manipulate reality.

Now if you know the law and understand that you get more of what you focus on yet you cannot achieve your goals or build the life of your dreams then you are falling into one of the above two categories. If you stay with me I will show you how to break free from your self-imposed boundaries and move forward toward the life you deserve.

Let us look briefly at the first category:

1. Failure to comprehend what the law means.

Are you fully aware of what the term 'Focus' means?

Focus is merely a state of mind. It is wherever you are placing your predominant thoughts. The reason why many people fail to fully comprehend the law of focus is because they do not look at their unconscious subliminal thinking.

If you wish to create a better finacial situation in your life then you cannot just want more money while focusing on not having enough of it. You may set a goal to acquire an additional amount of money in your monthly income and visualize such a thing coming to pass. You may be filled with positive emotion and belief during this period and be certain that you will acquire your additional income. However, if your predominant thoughts throughout the day are focused on your current situation and your lack of money or if you feel frustrated at your lack of progress then that is where your true focus lies!

In order to ensure your focus is always on your goal you must also ensure that your subconscious thoughts and feelings, which arise when your conscious mind is off-guard, are in alignment with your goal. Think constantly of all the things in your life that you have now and that you are grateful for. This attitude of gratefullness builds a solid foundation on which to launch your desires and goals. However, you must take some action to reprogram your subliminal thinking. Therefore you must be aware of the thoughts you are holding. Ensure that your conscious and subliminal thoughts are sending positive messages to yourself.

The basic premise is this - you cannot focus on your goal for 15 minutes a day by visualizing, affirming and believing and then spend the remainder of your day thinking about the lack of it! Stay focused on having it or at least the thought that it is coming closer with each passing day, hour and minute. There are numerous ways to do this but I have found that subliminal message programming and hypnosis can be invaluable tools for achieving this type of mind-set automatically.

Now let us briefly look at the second category.

2. Inability to stay focused long enough to manipulate reality.

Do you have trouble staying focused? A lack of focus is usually the result of confusion, uncertainty, or fear.

Without a clear focus on what you want and where you are going you will be at the mercy of fate and your own negative thinking. By altering your focus constantly you are sending confusing messages to your subconscious mind and the world at large. Please remember that you always get more of what you are focusing on. Confusing thoughts of uncertainty or fear will attract to you situations, circumstances and people that will cause you more confusion, uncertainty and fear!

If you ask most people what they want in life they will be able to list you hundreds, if not thousands, of things they do not want. Yet if they are pushed to describe the life of their dreams their answers are vague or even non-existent. They cannot give any clear indication of what it is that they do want. You must get clear. Only by knowing exactly what you want can you eliminate confusion and uncertainty and stay focused on your goal.

By staying focused on your clearly defined goal and holding firmly to the belief that it is already yours and you are merely waiting delivery of it eliminates fear completely. How could you be fearful of what might happen when you already know the outcome? Take your fears and incorporate their opposites into your goal and visualizations. See things the way you want them to be. Do you fear the emotional, physical or spiritual price you have to pay for extra money may be too high? Are you fearful that earning an extra income may come at the expense of your family life? Then visualize the extra income coming to you easily and see your self enjoying the extra money with your family!

Set a goal now and commit to it. Ensure you stay focused on the end result and disregard anything in your environment that seems to be telling you that you won't achieve it. Use negative situations as a learning mechanism to improve your position in regards to your goal. If something is blocking your path towards your desire just stayed focused on what you want and look for ways to overcome your obstacle - one obstacle at a time.

By staying focused on what you want you will re-train your mind to think positively and your subliminal thoughts and feelings will reflect this. Soon you will become the deliberate creator you came here to be!

Stay focused on your goals the easy way with subliminal programming. We test and then review the best Subliminal Message products available on the web. Find out what really works! Read the review of the best Subliminal computer software we tested. Chose your subliminal messages or write your own. Create subliminal messages that are directly related to your goals. We find out what works so you don't have to!

 

Transcending This Limiting Factor Of The Mind

By E. Elysha

No amount of thinking is going to lead you to "that" which is the one - this "you" of you - that is already flowing through the very eyes of this mindbody that you find yourself flowing through. It cannot.

The thinking mind that you take to be your guidance in life is just another arising of manifestation and it is to be transcended for you to come to the clarity and purity of this "you" of you that is already true of you. Transcending this now limiting factor of the mind that has played its part of evolving the animal body of humanity into the mindbody, cannot be transcended through thinking.

Many folk have involved themselves in the trying of this and have simply failed because this thinking, restless and chattering mind is not who "you" are.

Transcendence of this now limiting factor of the mind can only come about by you realizing and being this "you" of you that is already true of you. If you are going to persist in believing yourself to be this restless and chattering mind then you will continue to close the door to the realization of the one that is who "you" already are, the very heart of existence itself, the divine one of all time.

This realization is a motion of "aliveness" that is so refined that the moment you think the slightest thing about it you have let it go for the belief of the thinking mind as being you - this same mind that has now played its wonderful part of evolving humanity to this stage of where it now can be transcended.

This momentary realization of "you" is so refined that it has you completely and freely standing of all else in the immediacy of the moment of its realization. One moment you can be "being" the realization of precisely who "you" are - energetically and consciously aligned to the seeing and being of this "you" of you that is looking through your eyes right now - and in the next nanosecond you can be back to your old belief system of listening to your mind as if this were what was true of who you are, once again.

Your persistence in bringing your full attention to this one that is looking through your eyes, whenever you become aware that you have forgotten to do so, is what is going to bring you to the stable abidance in the realization of this one that "you" already are. It is as simple (and arduous) as that.

Keep finding this "you" of you that you already are and stopping at and as this one and you will begin to consciously "be" who you are; you will begin to transcend this level of the mind that has now served its purpose and is now to be outshone by a greater level of that which governs this mind. It is absolutely worth the effort.

The pain that you may go through is nothing on what you will receive as you continue to be who "you" are - which is what you will keep on finding about this wonderful journey of your self and heart discovery. The replacement of the things that you lose far outshines the natural dissolution of those losses.

The constant and consistent aligning of your conscious focus of attention to the finding of this "you" that is already flowing through your eyes and stopping at and as this one until you come to being deeply at rest in and as this one, is the action that will have you being the freedom of your heart.

If you are interested in learning to no longer be lost in trying to be what is not true of you, try visiting Elysha's website for more free information and self help products to help you step out of the suffering mind and enter your Heart. http://www.elysha.org/med.html