Note: This article is from a writer at addicted2success, who talks about why you need to make motivation personal.
The next day, you wake up early and set the alarm to start your day with enthusiasm. Then, a week passes and you are still feeling excited as people around you notice that you've really changed, then another week goes by, and you're tired but you keep going. However, by the third week, you're bored with anything to do with motivation, so what happened?
I repeatedly asked myself the same question before realizing that strong motivation is fleeting. Self-help books can give you a boost, but they won't help you develop sustainable motivation that continues forever.
Tips for Personalizing and Building Motivation
1. Determine Your Strength
Finding and utilizing your strengths is the first step in personalizing your motivation. What qualities do you have? There are two methods to discover the solution:
- Analyze your prior successes.
- Ask people who know you well.
For example, when I was a college student, I earned the highest degree in public speaking, and people frequently remarked to me that I could speak well. This shows my charisma and ability to motivate others through my words.
So, how can I apply this to my motivation in a unique way? If I can motivate others with my words, I can motivate myself as well. I speak to myself every day, and when my motivation wanes, I use metaphors, similes, and imaginary images to push away undesirable ideas. My words have never let me down, so determine what your strengths are and take advantage of them.
2. Rely on Symbolism
Using symbols to represent concepts is known as symbolism. Motivation and success are the driving force behind everything you do and your strengths help you overcome challenges to reach your destination, so why don't you make yourself a symbol for everything? Motivation takes on a whole new meaning when you give a symbol to something you believe in because it no longer just becomes a part of who you are but becomes who you are.
As an illustration, some of my strengths include physical energy, enthusiasm, passion, a need for self-expression, and somewhat intense anger at the thought of anyone being better than me at what I do. I decided that the sun symbolizes both who I am and how I overcome my weaknesses.
I always wear a necklace with the symbol of the sun because it helps me stay motivated, it shows the world my motivation, and I enjoy answering questions about it. Here are some additional strategies for using symbolic motivation:
- Choose the symbol that best reflects your personal motivating philosophy.
- Create your own ID by registering your name, a code of your choice, your photo, and any other pertinent information.
- Your chosen symbol can be worn on rings, necklaces, or bracelets to greatly represent your motives.
3. Turn Your Motivation into Daily Habits
Making motivation a daily habit is one more way to stay motivated, so turn being excited into a habit rather than something you only do occasionally. Encourage yourself daily, and when you first get up, remind yourself why you are motivated. One day, your actions will be rewarded.
Imagine the feelings you'll have when you accomplish your goal and the advantages it will bring you, such as wealth, influence, and fame. Every morning, I read a motivational speech that I wrote, and it expresses my deepest aspirations. I read it aloud and can feel the words resonating in my soul, so turn your motivation into a habit.
4. Adapt
Although good motivational articles may offer guidelines, you are the only person who can provide all of the answers to your questions. People who write about motivation do not fully comprehend who you are. Therefore, personalize motivational writing to your unique needs, experiences, preferences, and intelligence.
For example, if a motivational article advises you to complete the most difficult task first thing in the morning but you prefer to work in the afternoon, do not follow that advice. When you are at your best, which varies from person to person, a motivational article can inspire you to complete the hardest task of the day. As a result, adapt what you read to create personal motivation.
5. Take Breaks
You may believe that you are resilient and strong, and this may be true. However, ignoring breaks won't help you get anywhere. Your motivation needs time to recharge just like your muscles do after a strenuous workout to prevent lactic acid buildup. But don't wait until you're exhausted; schedule some downtime once every two weeks, at most.
Having a full day off is also part of your motivation because you will look forward to it after working hard. Make your breaks useful by not using your phone or any other electronic devices, giving your eyes a break from all the strain they have been under, and avoiding situations and people that could make your willpower wane. It is also okay to do some light exercise, but it should not last longer than 20 minutes.
In Conclusion
Personal motivation is the most powerful type of motivation because it is most closely related to your needs, preferences, experiences, and way of thinking. Motivational articles only offer advice because they are a place to start rather than an answer to a significant inner question.
You hold the key to maintaining your motivation.
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