by Tai Gooden,
Everyone has goals. Some people want to achieve a body like Beyoncé while others want to dive into entrepreneurship. No matter what a person’s goal or dream is, everyone can use some motivation along the way. And, although it is human nature to seek encouragement from others, the best source of motivation comes from within. How do I know this? Because I use five daily self-motivation methods as I attempt to strike a balance between marriage, motherhood, freelance writing, and a full-time career outside of my home.
Here are 5 ways to motivate yourself every day:
Surround Yourself with Uplifting Quotes
I am constantly surrounded by motivational quotes. Some of them are from religious texts and others are from people I hold in high regard. Whenever I come across a quote that inspires me to strive for success, I write it down on a post-it note or type it up and strategically place it in different places. I post my quotes on my refrigerator, in my car, at my home and work office desks, and in my freelance writing notebook. Think of five places where you spend most of your time and make sure you keep your power quotes nearby!
Give Yourself Kudos
At the end of each day, I take five minutes and write down five of my accomplishments for the day. Even if it is something as simple as completing my “to-do” list or making a delicious dinner, I give myself kudos for making daily moves. And, I keep in mind that every small move I make is propelling me toward my ultimate goal. Giving yourself credit for your accomplishments is an instant morale booster.
Visualize Victory for Yourself
What is your heart’s desire? Think about your ideal career, personal goal, or weight and write down your vision. For example, my goal is to be a full-time freelance writer in 3 years. I wrote down where I would like to be in my career transition at the end of each year and how I will feel as I achieve each milestone. I also wrote down what will happen if I decide to succumb to negative thoughts. When I am dealing with confidence issues or I am having a day where I don’t want to do anything, I revisit my vision and remind myself why I need to stay motivated each day.
Appreciate Your Past Accomplishments
Another way I stay motivated every day is to take a quick look at my past performance. In my writing notebook, I have a printed copy of my published articles and website features. These items are in the front of my notebook so they are the first thing I see when I open it. By keeping track of my past performance, it not only reminds me that I am indeed making progress, but I can also evaluate my growth. Your past performance is a great motivation tool to help you keep fighting for your dreams.
Make Yourself an Uplifting Soundtrack
Everyone has a favorite song (or five) that makes them want to take on challenges head first. For me, Katy Perry’s “Roar” and Daft Punk’s “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” are a part of my motivational mood music. Whether you are facing an arduous work day or a hiccup in your agenda, put a soundtrack of awesome tunes in your ears and “Keep Calm and Carry On.”
As we go through each day and attempt to juggle a multitude of responsibilities, our perceived failures can leave us feeling dejected. But, if we take just a few moments each day to read uplifting quotes, listen to inspiring music, appreciate our accomplishments, and visualize our future victories, then we can learn to give ourselves praise for what we have achieved.
BMWK readers, how do you motivate yourself each day? Comment below and share your success secrets!
Tai Gooden is a freelance writer, mom, wife, part-time blogger, and full-time Doctor Who fanatic. In April 2014, she published Amour Rising: A Collection of Poetry. Tai’s work has been featured in xojane.com, Clutch Magazine, and BlackLoveForm.com.