Motivational Tips and Questions



Posted: Wednesday, March 22, 2006

by Brian Bredenkamp
global solutions consulting

by Dorene Lehavi, Ph.D.
April 2005

As you know, I write, coach and do seminars on helping people find their passion and build their lives around doing what they love. I know one of the big challenges in the process is to stay motivated, and the secret to staying motivated is to continually check in with yourself and clarify where you are.

10 tips to keep you on track:

  1. Shake things up. Change your scenery. Go somewhere and do something different.
  2. Engage in a confidante who will help be your sounding board.
  3. Keep a journal of your experiences, goals and dreams.
  4. Remember to keep a sense of adventure.
  5. Have fun, freedom and meaning in all you do.
  6. Enjoy our physical surroundings.
  7. Be a leader, a mentor.
  8. Be a follower, have mentors.
  9. Enjoy the camaraderie of your peers, colleagues, clients.
  10. Live your passion every day.

10 questions to help you gauge your motivation:

  1. Is your lack of motivation short-term or is it deeper than that?
  2. Are you part of a team that makes you feel good?
  3. Are you working in isolation? Is that good or bad for you?
  4. What are the details of your daily tasks you most enjoy and how can you incorporate more of those into your life?
  5. What are the details of your daily tasks that you hate and how can you do less of those?
  6. Can you end each day by envisioning the positive outcome of your work and the successes, even the smallest ones?
  7. Do you surround yourself with uplifting people?
  8. Do you practice good self-care techniques?
  9. Can you see the long-term rewards of what you're doing?
  10. Are you doing something each day that moves you toward your goal?
Once you've answered these questions for yourself, you'll be able to target where you're blocked. If you see a trend, for example, tasks that drain you or people who drain your energy on a consistent basis, you'll understand why you're being held back from doing what you love. Then you can take the necessary steps to rectify the situation. If you need to speak to your boss, a friend, your spouse or a coach, do so.

Don't forget to reward yourself. On a daily basis, do what my daughter did when she was in grade school she kept a pile of jelly beans on her desk and when she completed a task, she'd have one. Replace one jelly bean with a ton of them or better yet, identify some things more exciting for you than jelly beans and make sure you have or do some of whatever it is every day.

If you'd like to find out more about how motivated you are, I invite you to answer the questions in a small exercise written by a performance-improvement trainer and evaluate your motivational status.

The journey of self-discovery is fascinating because you are so much more than you think you are. You can find more exercises to guide you in your journey in my e-guidebook, Stop Doing What You Hate... Start Doing What You Love which is available on my website.



Subscribe to my free newsletter Mastering Your Next Level and check out her new book Stop Doing What You Hate... Start Doing What You Love - How You Can Leverage Your Talents So You Can Enjoy Your Work and Life.

Or Just call 323-931-7204

dl@coachingforoyurnextlevel.com

http://www.coachingforyournextlevel.com
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