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Even when you don’t reach all your goals, they can still enrich your life in many ways. Goals are like lighthouses that not only show directions to ships in the dark, but also prevent the ships from hitting rocks and grounds underneath the water.

When you set goals, you are engineering your life as to how you want to live it. Besides, your goals also serve as a reminder of what NOT TO DO so that you will never waste time and got lost in the wrong direction.

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I bet that you have heard the word "goal setting" countless times in your life. But what exactly is goal setting? And how can it impact your life? Does it really work? Well, you are about to discover the secrets of setting goals in this article.

Goal setting is both the most overrated and underestimated method in achieving what we want in life.

It is overrated because people talk about it too lightly. They treat goal setting as a promise. And all they do is to either think about their goals or to write them down according to what most experts suggest.

The problem is that writing down your goals is just the first part of the equation. If you're not planning and taking the right form of action, guess what, your goals will remain as dreams.

It is also underrated because a lot of people neglect its effectiveness due to its simplicity. Do not take goal-setting lightly. When you set the right goals that empower you, your life will change and you will progress forward and achieve outstanding success in life.

If you are serious and truly committed to your goals, you will achieve them. On the other hand, if you treat them lightly like nobody's business, you will fail to achieve them.

So, what is goal setting?

In my opinion, goal setting is the process of identifying the things or the results that you want to achieve in your life, be it in your career or personal life, within a determined timeframe.

In short, goal setting is the act of finding out what you truly want to achieve in your life. It can be a relationship goal, a financial goal, a career goal, a fitness goal, etc.

When you set goals, you are crafting and making a plan to live the life you desire.

The Difference Between Someone Who Has a Goal and Someone Who Doesn't

When you set goals, you are giving orders to yourself. You are telling yourself what you want to achieve and what you need to do to get there.

This means that you are living an intentional life. Meaning, when you have clear and specific goals, you are living your life with intention. You know what to do and when to do it.

For example, if you have no goals and no plans over the weekend, highly likely, you will sleep longer hours and wake up late. And you may spend your time reactively according to what comes to you during that time.

When your friends ask you for a drink, you will agree because you have no plan and you are free.

Now, imagine if you have a crystal clear goal on what you want to do on the weekend. Let's say that you want to write a 3,000 words article to publish on your blog.

On Friday night, you set your alarm to wake up early because you need to work on your article. In the morning, when your friends call you out for a drink, there is a possibility that you are going to reject them because you have something to do. It depends on how committed you are to your goals.

Can you see the difference between having a goal and no goal?

The differences between living life reactively without clear and specific goals and living life with crystal clear goals are apparent.

When you have no goals and no plans, you become reactive. You go through life reacting to what happens at the moment.

On the contrary, when you have clear goals and plans, you become proactive. You know what you need to do, when to do it, and thus, you live life according to your own terms.

In short, goal setting is about setting your intention. You are living an intention-focused life when you know what you want to achieve.

Of course, knowing and doing are 2 different things.

Most people have crystal clear goals, but still, they choose not to act on their goals and live a directionless life.

What I want to tell you is that goal setting may or may not determine your success in life, but it is the fundamental and the first step to living an extraordinary life.

I strongly recommend you take my course: Goal Setting Formula . You will learn how to find out what you want to achieve, take charge of your life, and achieve real success through setting empowering goals.

Why It is a Good Idea to Set Goals

You may have heard about the 1953 Yale University study on goal setting. The study said that the 3% of graduates with written goals achieved far more and earned a combined income of 3 times more than the 97% of graduates who did not write down any goal.

As much as I want to tell you that goal setting is powerful because of this study, but the truth is that this study did not exist.

Fast Company published an article some time ago and stated that the Yale University study about goal setting did not exist.

So, does this mean that goal setting does not work in helping you to achieve what you want in your career and life?

No, the study only shows that the 1953 Yale University study did not exist, not that goal setting did not work.

We all know that goal setting is one of the most powerful methods that we can use to achieve outstanding success in life, and Dr. Gail Matthews, a psychology professor from Dominican's Department of Psychology has proved this.

Dr. Gail Matthews recruited 267 participants from a wide variety of businesses, networking groups, and organizations from all over the world for a study on how goal achievement influenced by writing the goals, committing to the goals, and accountability for those actions.

You can read the full study from this article here.

Here's how Dr. Matthews carried out her research. She assigned her participants to one of the following 5 groups:

Group #1 - Those who were in this group were asked to simply think about business-related goals they hope to achieve within a 4-week period and then rate each goal according to difficulty, importance, and other measures.

Group #2 to group #5 were asked to write down their goals and then rate them on the same dimensions as given to group #1.

Group #3 was asked to write down their goals and also write down action commitments for each goal.

Group #4 has to write down their goals, action commitments, and also share the commitments with a friend.

And group #5 was asked to do everything from group #1 to group #4, plus sending a weekly progress report to a friend.

And here's what Dr. Matthews discovered from the study:

"At the end of the study, only 43% of Group 1 either accomplished their goals or were at least halfway there. 62% of Group 4 accomplished their goals or were at least halfway there. However, 76% of those in Group 5 either accomplished their goals or were at least halfway there."

76% of the participants in group #5 achieved their goals. Meaning, when you write down your goals, action commitments, share them with a friend and also commit to sending a weekly progress report to your friend, your chances of reaching your goals will be much higher.

Therefore, as you can see now, goal setting works. It is just a method of how you do it.

You can learn how to set empowering goals that drive you and make a workable plan to achieve your goals using my Goal Setting Formula.

How Setting Goals Can Impact Your Life

As I said, you may have underestimated the power of goal setting and never thought about how it can affect your life.

Even when you don't reach all your goals, they can still enrich your life in many ways. Goals are like lighthouses that not only show directions to ships in the dark, but also prevent the ships from hitting rocks and grounds underneath the water.

When you set goals, you are engineering your life as to how you want to live it. Besides, your goals also serve as a reminder of what NOT TO DO so that you will never waste time and got lost in the wrong direction.

Below are the 7 reasons how goal setting can impact, change, and transform your life for the better:

1. Living life with a clear direction

This is common sense. When you have a goal, you know what to do. Your goals give you a clear direction in life. They give you the aim and tell you where to direct your efforts.

When it comes to making decisions, you know how to decide because you know what you want and how to get there.

Not only that, goals give you a sense of purpose in life.

Think about it, why do you go to work or wake up in the morning? If you say that you go to work because of your salary, you are right. It means that your goal is income and you pursue money and that's why you go to work.

However, for many successful people like Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and Richard Branson, their aims are not just money. Money is not their priority. They choose to work because they love what they do and they want to fulfill their dreams of creating and leaving something remarkable behind.

This is why most people hate to go to work because they are working for money rather than their passion. They quickly lose their motivation when the money isn't their priority anymore.

Hence, set goals that you truly want, not due to your life circumstances or what others want for you.

Goals give your life a clear direction, a sense of purpose, and also help you when it comes to making decisions.

Your goals are the road maps that guide you and show you what is possible for your life.
Les Brown

Read: How to Find Your Purpose in Life

2. The key to creating remarkable success

Goal setting is the key to creating and producing remarkable success. Without having a clear goal, there is no way you can create outstanding success in life.

It is only when you know exactly what you want that you can work productively toward it.

How can you know if you are working on the right thing or if you are making progress when you don't know what you want, right?

And when you have a goal, you can measure your progress, understand if what you do is right, and able to make adjustments to reach your goal.

Success isn't going to happen through accidents. Success happens because you decided on what you want, set it as a goal, and then work diligently to get there every day.

This is why you need to have a goal in order to be successful.

Read: Specific Goal Setting: How to Set Crystal Clear Goals

3. Gives you better chances of living the future you desire

Setting goals give you a glimpse of the future that you want. Without goals, you will live life like a lost sheep, going where the crowd is going and drift aimlessly.

When you have a clear goal, you are able to come up with a plan and identify the actions you need to take to get there.

In other words, setting goals gives you more control over where you are heading and how to get there. You are taking control of your life instead of letting others decide for you. You are creating the future that you want.

For instance, if you set a goal to build a successful blog, all your actions and the way you live your life each day will change. You will spend more time on your blog instead of on Facebook. You will read and learn about the topic than to watch Netflix. Everything you do will be based on your goal - which is to build a successful blog.

That's how your life will change when you have a goal.

Goals. There's no telling what you can do when you get inspired by them. There's no telling what you can do when you believe in them. And there's no telling what will happen when you act upon them.
Jim Rohn

Read: 55 Useful Tips How To Set Goals And Achieve Them

4. Goals can motivate you

You may already know about this, goals give you motivation. When you have a goal, it gives you hope and something to aspire to.

If your goals are what you truly desire in life and they are exciting, simply thinking about them can inspire you and drive you into taking action.

Imagine you are living your dream life right now. You are successful and financially free. You don't have to worry about having not enough to pay your bills. You are enjoying life while driving your dream car. You live in your dream house by the mountain overlooking the Mediterranean sea. You are happily enjoying life with the people you love.

Now, how do you feel when you think about living your dream life and achieving all your goals? You feel good. You are inspired by your goals.

This is why goals are important. It can alter your mood and transform your life. Your goals don't just serve as a lighthouse to show you direction in life, but also give you constant motivation and keep your momentum going.

People are not lazy. They simply have impotent goals, that is, goals that do not inspire them.
Tony Robbins

Read: Set Your Goals in These 6 Important Areas of Your Life

5. Goals gives you a sense of personal satisfaction

Goals can make your life challenging, especially if they are beyond your current ability to achieve. However, they also give you a sense of personal satisfaction as you work and make progress toward them.

Setting goals help you understand your capabilities and potential. Goals tell you your weaknesses and where you need to improve when you are not producing the results you want.

Not just that, goals improve and increase your level of confidence. When you are making progress and taking actions, you feel good because you know that you are doing the right thing and are slowly moving toward your goals.

You can never tell how much potential you have until you do. And setting goals is the first step in understanding yourself better.

We have seen ordinary people went on to achieve extraordinary results in life because they have big goals and they trust their capabilities. You, too, can achieve amazing success in life when you choose to believe in your own potential that you can do it. But you must start with a goal.

Read: 7 Examples of How Successful People Set Goals and Achieve Them

6. Goals improve your focus

Another great benefit and impact that goals have on your life is that they improve your focus.

When you set goals, write them down, create actions plan to achieve them, and share your progress with other people, you are telling yourself that these are important things in your life. Your goals give you a clear focus on what you believe is important in life.

Your life will be different because you organize your life around your goals rather than the other way round.

People who go through life without a clear goal live life according to what comes to them and are often affected by their surroundings. They let their surroundings change them rather than taking control of their surroundings.

Things will be totally opposite when you have clear and specific goals. When you organize your life around your goals. You change your environment because you have a plan and you know what you need to do.

When you have a goal, you will not be affected by your surroundings, instead, you will be the one to shape your surroundings.

The victory of success is half won when one gains the habit of setting and achieving goals.
Og Mandino

Read: 15 Common Challenges You May Face When You Set Goals

7. Goals boost your performance

Another huge impact that goals can have on your life is self-mastery. Goals allow you to improve your performance and build better characters.

When you involve in the process of achieving your goals, you discipline yourself to do what is necessary, you learn to overcome the difficulties in the journey, and as a result, you learn to become a better person with better characters and habits.

For instance, when you set a goal to build a successful internet business, along the journey, you are developing your skills and knowledge about internet marketing and everything that involves. Your goals develop you to become the person who you want to be.

Arnold Schwarzenegger once set a goal to become the best bodybuilder in the world, he did, and he also successfully built a bulky and macho body on his way to his goal.

When you play games, you level up your characters because you want to beat the boss and beat the game. You grow your characters in the game to a higher level.

And the same is true in real life.

When you set a goal and make progress to achieve it, you increase your performance, become better at doing it, and develop a stronger character.

Hence, having a goal promotes self-mastery.

Read: Should You Set Goals? The Pros and Cons of Goal Setting

Conclusion

I bet that by now you should understand what is goal setting and how it can impact your life.

Remember that goal setting is about living an intentional life. When you have a clear intention, you become proactive rather than reactive.

There are many ways how setting goals can change your life...

1. Goals give you a clear direction and a sense of purpose in life.

2. Setting goals is the first step to creating a remarkable success in life.

3. Goals give you better chances of living the future you desire.

4. Goals motivate and inspire you.

5. Goals give you a sense of personal satisfaction.

6. Goals help you focus better on getting what you want.

7. Goals promote self-mastery and improve your performance.

So what are you waiting for? Set goals that help you live your dream life right now. Learn how to do that using Goal Setting Formula.
This article may contain affiliate links. Meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. As always, I only recommend products and services I trust.
I'm a blogger, writer, and also an internet entrepreneur. If you want to learn more about me, kindly go to the page. By the way, have you downloaded your FREE copy of Reach Your Goals? Don't forget to do so. Cheers. :)

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What Is Goal Setting and How It Can Impact Your Life

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I bet that you have heard the word "goal setting" countless times in your life. But what exactly is goal setting? And how can it impact your life? Does it really work? Well, you are about to discover the secrets of setting goals in this article.

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The importance of effective goal setting cannot be overstated on our personal journeys towards success. This is why there are countless articles out there on how to set your own SMART goals and even why it’s a skill commonly taught to a small degree in classrooms.

Learning the importance of goal setting and the benefits of sticking to those goals can be the defining factor determining whether we truly embrace the importance of goal setting. The more willing we are to embrace this method, the more likely we become to reach our personal definitions of personal and professional success.

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What Is Goal Setting And Why Is It Important? - LifeHack

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In today’s world, goal setting is a concept that is constantly emphasized by motivational speakers, self-help books, and success stories of all kinds.

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Goal setting can help you set long term goals, breaking the larger goals into smaller ones, also helps you set SMART Goals, and re-evaluating your long-term goal periodically.
https://www.lifehack.org/569428/successful-people-arent-gifted-they-just-master-some-goal-setting-techniques

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Lucy Gower
Founder at Lucidity. Coach, trainer and consultant as well as a best-selling author and international speaker. Read full profile

I'm going to tell you the secrets on how to start taking action on your dreams. When you decide to turn thoughts into action, there are specific, actionable steps you can take to move forward.

The first thing I want you to do is think back to when you were a child. Our childhood selves hold many of the secrets to realizing our real life dreams. Think about what you loved to do most and how you told yourself it was possible without worrying about what might get in the way. I'd like you to reconnect to your imagination and playfulness.

By taking the following steps, you'll do some playing and storytelling to reveal your dreams and start making them come true.

1. Tell Your Story

Your life story is unique and has brought you here today. The next chapter of your life is in your power to write and to realize by taking action. Not everything that happens to you is in your control, but the actions you take and how you choose to feel about what happens are in your control.

Finding out what our future lives and dream lives might look like can be done effectively through the eyes of our childhood selves.

Can you remember what you loved to do most as a child? Maybe you enjoyed collecting things like me-I always had a collection of pebbles in a carrier bag that smelled of seawater nestled under my bed. Perhaps you loved taking care of your pets: I had a dog, a tortoise, and many guinea pigs. Or maybe you were really great at making stuff.

You can use the instincts, passions, and skills you had as a child to fuel your progress toward your adult dreams.

I'm inviting you to really think about what you wanted to be when you grew up and the memorable activities you enjoyed as a child, the ones that gave you a real sense of freedom and excitement, or the pursuits that you truly lost yourself in.

What we call getting into our flow state as an adult is what came naturally to us as children. So, go back there now and think about how that felt. It may clue you in to what still remains true and important to you today.

2. Define Your Dream

The first secret when you want to start taking action on your dreams is to know what they are. This sounds obvious, but so many people only have a loose definition, such as: "more free time," or "more money." Busy people know there is something else to life apart from slaving away for a job, or a boss they don't like, but if you're too busy to even know what your dream looks like, how can you make it come true?

Once again, I'd invite you to connect to the optimism and playfulness of your childhood self. Go back to thinking about what your dreams involved at age seven or eight. Some of those may still be what you want today.

Now, write down what it is that you want and when you want to achieve it. Note down how you'll know when you've got there and made this dream come true. How will you measure your success? Be as specific about your goals as you can.

A study at the Dominican University in California proved that writing down your goals, accountability, and commitment are three key ingredients to successfully achieving our goals and learning how to take action.

This step also involves building motivation for the steps to come. If you need help in that area, check out Lifehack's free Ultimate Worksheet for an Instant Motivation Boost.

3. Picture Your Dream Coming True

Think about exactly how it will feel when you start taking action and ultimately achieve your dream, the sense of freedom and excitement. Imagine it in as much detail as you can with all five senses. If you're finding it hard to imagine a different life, imagine a childhood memory with all its sensations.

As a little girl, I loved to ice-skate, making huge swirly patterns across clean expanses of beautiful glistening ice. The feeling of freedom, of trust in myself to balance, of speed. It felt very immersive, the coldness and my breath turning into little clouds in front of my face.

Imagine a childhood memory like this, and then imagine the future you want, with as much detail and attention paid to how it looks, feels, tastes, smells, and sounds.

Draw, paint, speak, or write your future story.

If you loved to create pictures like I did as a child, or write stories, or play on the computer, use your natural creative skills and what you love doing to map out your exciting future. You could create a picture, vision board, written story, or audio file.

Then, let's put that future story somewhere you can easily access it. Make sure that you include a timescale for when you want to achieve this dream by, how you will measure your success, and what you need to get there. If possible, start breaking your dream down into small, manageable steps.

4. What Part Do You Play?

You can't control everything, so you need to be realistic about your role in taking action and making your future dreams come true. Think about where you need help. During childhood, we were not afraid to ask for help from a parent, friend, or sibling to realize our dreams and plans.

Whatever we needed, our eager and enthusiastic childhood selves would reach out for support. We'd be resourceful with whatever we had to make our creative ideas a reality.

As adults we also need to ask for support and help, and at the same time to notice what is in our control and what we can do to take action today towards our dreams.

5. Who Can Support You?

If you've noticed you need a bit of help, then get your tribe together. Which friends can cheer you on, and which can connect you? Who in your family will indulge in your dreams with you? What about the pragmatic ones who might help you work out what you need to get there?

Whether you need someone to check in on you and see how you're progressing, or need a buddy to brainstorm with to help the ideas flow, bring a few of your friends into the plan to help you move forward. Successful people know that the habit of taking action is best built with help.

6. Ensure Your Dream Is Realistic

Maybe the dream you've outlined just feels impossible. It costs too much or will take too much time to achieve. Instead of telling yourself "no, but," try the "yes, and" approach. This is much more representative of how a child's mind works.

When we were little, we weren't scared to fail, as failing was not a concept to us back then. Let's harness some of that kid energy and see how "yes, and" can move us forward when our dream feels unrealistic.

Let's look at an example: maybe your dream is to have a hit record, and you think you can't sing, or you don't believe you have any musical talent. Instead of closing that down, if we "yes, and" it, we can say: "I want to have a hit record. Yes, and there are so many ways to achieve that. Some people have a hit record by working for a music business, and others might design the cover art. Some people speak on records instead of singing... yes, and someone has to write the lyrics or have the idea for the song. Yes, and I know someone who organizes a choir every Christmas at their local bar, and everyone in the bar is on the record. That amateur choir even got on TV as it was so much fun and all the money went to charity."

So, before you decide your idea is unrealistic, try "yes, and-ing" it to see how you can start taking action on your dreams, even if you think it sounds impossible!

7. Use Small Wins and Rewards

On your journey toward achieving your dream, there will be small wins and important milestones; it's not just about going straight to the destination. Measuring your progress is important and can be a chance to celebrate.

Finding a way to measure it that is visible can really help. Whether it's a chart or an app, whatever you choose, following and celebrating your progress is key, and celebrating that win is part of the joy. Being in the process and on the journey is just as important as reaching your target. Celebrate with the happiness of a small child: do a dance, take a photo, tell your friends.

8. Update the Map

You might find the plan you made isn't working for some reason. Things have changed, and your goals and targets are not working out for you . Let's look at how you can change things up and put new life and energy into the project.

Take it apart and put it back together again, but start small. Define the new plan and the new goals, and start on the next phase of the journey, equipped with the knowledge and learning from what didn't work last time you tried to put your thoughts into action.

9. Make Space

Achieving our dreams might mean losing something else, and that's ok. It could be a literal swap, such as giving up wine to save money towards the goal. Or it could be something more ideological, like giving up saying yes to everything to make more time to focus on your pursuits. Think about what you can give up to make space for taking action on your dreams.

10. Use Your Superpower

What's your superpower? Use this to take action on your dreams today! Perhaps you're awesome at using your network to find solutions to problems. If that sounds like you, then consider picking up the phone and start asking for some ideas and connections.

If you prefer to research, get reading or watching TED talks and presentations to find practical ways to achieve your particular dream. Who else has overcome a similar problem? How did they do it? What can you borrow from what they learned, and what can you learn from how they won or lost along the way?

11. Keep Your Energy up

Remember to take a rest and recharge on the journey towards taking action on your dreams. Take breaks, eat and sleep well, exercise, and listen to and tune in to what your body and mind needs to thrive.

Final Thoughts

Achieving your dreams is unlikely to be an overnight task. It's more likely to be a winding road with setbacks, lessons, obstacles, and new discoveries. It might take years, but every step, no matter how tiny, can be enjoyed, even the struggles. Maintaining a mindset around enjoying the journey will really equip you to thrive and see those ambitious dreams become a reality.

More to Get You to Take Action Towards Your Dreams

Featured photo credit: Tom Rogerson via unsplash.com

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Lucy Gower Founder at Lucidity. Coach, trainer and consultant as well as a best-selling author and international speaker. Read full profile I'm going to tell you the secrets on how to start taking action on your dreams. When you decide to turn thoughts into action, there are specific, actionable steps you can take to move forward.

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Be clear, specific, and challenging so you under stand the outcome you’re trying to achieve and it’s challenging enough to energize and motivate you.

Be as bite-sized and task specific as possible, giving you less opportunities to fail and more chances to take pride in your accomplishments

https://www.fulcrumlabs.ai/blog/mastering-goal-setting/

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If you've already broken all your New Year's resolutions by January 15 th, you're not alone. Up to 92% of people that set New Year's goals never actually achieve them.

That's because most people have never learned art of goal setting, and, as a result, they don't know how to get what they want - whether it's an A in Biology, a new job or a smaller jean size. It turns out that goal setting is a learned skill - not something we just inherently know how to do. In fact, according to research out of Harvard:

"Although setting goals improves performance robustly across various settings, it is nevertheless a skill: one must learn how to effectively set goals."

If we want our dreams - or resolutions - to become reality, we have to master the skill of goal setting.

Goals are an important component to success...

People with goals perform better. It's as simple as that.

More than 35 years of scientific research shows that goals support performance and motivation. Students who have clearly defined goals outperform their peers by up to 250%. And when people don't focus on goals, they lose 30% of their capacity and performance potential.

Achieving our goals also improves our quality of life - not only because we've achieved the thing we set out to do, but also because the feelings associated with goal achievement are immensely positive for the human psyche. When we achieve our goals, we gain confidence, a sense of accomplishment and greater momentum for the next goal, all of which contribute to an improved sense of well-being.

...But setting good goals can be really difficult

If goals are so beneficial, it follows that everyone would be working toward their goals, right?

Not so fast.

As we saw at the beginning of this article, only 8% of people actually follow through on the goals they set for themselves. Why is that? Why is achieving a goal so hard?

Psychology gives us a few hints as to why people struggle achieve the goals they set for themselves:

We have difficulty evaluating our own competence. We consistently overestimate our talents and abilities. As a result, our goals are often too difficult (which can be discouraging) or too easy (which doesn't require a strong sense of commitment and can, thus, be easily discarded).

We focus on the outcome rather than the process. This means we're so focused on receiving an A in biology than tend to overlook the process of earning that A - things like studying, attending class and meeting course work deadlines.

We're also bad at recognizing that the constraints that exist today are the same constraints that will exist tomorrow. For example, in the future, you'll face the same work deadlines that interfere with the yoga class you meant to attend. You'll face the same choice between going to that fun party or staying home and studying for tomorrow's test. The list goes on and on.

And it only gets worse the farther out the goal is from the present. The further in the future we've planned to start studying or stop eating sweets, the more confident, overly optimistic and less focused we become. We trick into believing that we'll simply crack open our textbook or put down the brownie on the date we set to "start" working on our goal, despite the fact that the obstacles in our way haven't changed.

Overcoming inherent goal setting challenges

The good news is that there is also a lot of research about how we can overcome these shortcomings and set good, achievable goals for ourselves. The literature tells us that goals should:

It's in this vein that we developed the Goal Setting section of our Steps to Success course. This course is designed to help students and employees learn the skills necessary to create good goals for themselves and strategies for following through on goals once set. And our personalized, adaptive learning approach ensures that they'll not only master the information but that they'll also be able apply it in the real world.

This course also helps people learn how to pursue their goals in a way that's enjoyable and builds confidence. Working to achieve a goal should feel challenging, but not so tough that a person never wants to do it again. The Goal Setting section of our Steps to Success course provides a framework to help people enjoy the goal-setting-and-achieving process, so they're more willing to pursue other goals in the future.

We also want to help increase graduation rates and student success rates, in terms of performance and achievement. In fact, our entire Steps to Success course is made up of skills-based units designed to increase the likelihood of achievement - whether it be graduating on time or preparing for future career advancement. Sample topics include time management, reading and writing strategies, note-taking and test-taking best practices. While these topics might seem obvious at first glance, especially to someone who has already mastered them, if a person isn't equipped with these skills, success can be elusive and the pathway stressful.

Learn more about Fulcrum's Steps to Success course and our Goals Setting unit. Or contact us directly to see how this content can help your students set smarter, more achievable goals.

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Master the Skill of Goal Setting With Fulcrum's Steps to Success Course

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If you've already broken all your New Year's resolutions by January 15 th, you're not alone. Up to 92% of people that set New Year's goals never actually achieve them. That's because most people have never learned art of goal setting, and, as a result, they don't know how to get what they want - whether it's an A in Biology, a new job or a smaller jean size.

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Goal setting is important for you because it is fundamental to long-term success. After all, it’s difficult to get to a desired destination before you have clearly defined where that destination is. Goals help students to focus upon the journey to a collection of set achievements, meaning they allocate their resources and time more efficiently and can access motivation during times when they may feel like giving up.

From an academic perspective, goals improve performance by ensuring students remain accountable for their own failures and successes, propelling themselves forward through a selection of small achievements designed to break down a larger purpose. What’s more, setting and achieving goals translates to feelings of success and confidence for students, which in turn leads to greater confidence and productivity.

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Goal setting is fundamental to long-term success. After all, it's difficult to get to a desired destination before you have clearly defined where that destination is. Goals help students to focus upon the journey to a collection of set achievements, meaning they allocate their resources and time more efficiently and can access motivation during times when they may feel like giving up.

From an academic perspective, goals improve performance by ensuring Cadets remain accountable for their own failures and successes, propelling themselves forward through a selection of small achievements designed to break down a larger purpose. What's more, setting and achieving goals translates to feelings of success and confidence for students, which in turn leads to greater confidence and productivity.

Goals Keep Students Moving Forward

Writing a specific goal into a calendar or journal gives students something to work and plan toward. When written down, these goals form an external representation of inner desires to get a higher grade, progress with sporting skills, or achieve a new rank. They are a constant reminder of what that student wants to accomplish. Goal setting even fuels ambition and confidence by encouraging determination through difficult periods and offering a sense of pride when success finally arrives.

Without set goals, students can float from one area of life to the next, achieving accomplishments and doing their best. Establishing a goal creates a sense of clarity and correlation between the process of working hard and accomplishing something significant. Because of this, Cadets access the motivational energy that they need to work through periods where focus may begin to wane.

Goals Break Down Insurmountable Mountains

Most young adults have huge dreams that can seem impossible to accomplish at first. It's easy for students to feel discouraged when they're staring at a future that seems too large to achieve. However, proper goal setting can break those larger, more intimidating aspirations down into achievable stepping stones. Not only does planning toward smaller goals make it easier to formulate a plan of how one achievement can lead to another, but research suggests that achieving smaller milestones offers greater levels of contentment and motivation.

Students can be encouraged to work towards short-term and long-term goals that interconnect, giving them more focus on what they should be spending energy and time toward. Through the pursuit of those smaller goals, Cadets learn more about themselves - their skills, weaknesses, and what they want to accomplish.

Goals Hold Students Accountable

Having goals makes Cadets accountable for their actions, their efforts, and even their time management skills. Setting a goal obligates an individual to take action, regardless of the obstacles that may be in place. As such, it can encourage students to develop critical thinking skills, new problem solving techniques, and a better understanding of how to overcome issues.

What's more, the accountability of goal setting encourages students to look back over their previous successes and failures, evaluating areas they need to improve. As such, it pushes them to tackle challenges head on and work on their weaknesses in order to produce better chances of overall success. It can also help Cadets to realize techniques that may not be working for them so they can seek out alternative routes to achievement.

Goals Make Students Want to Be Better

There are numerous experimental and correlational studies showing that setting goals increases success rates in almost every setting, including education. Part of the reason for this is that setting goals pushes young adults to articulate the things they want out of life, so they live more consciously.

Without goals, students subject themselves to a default or natural set of actions that are there to keep them feeling safe and comfortable, without offering any opportunity for growth. With goals, Cadets can discover more about themselves and work towards becoming the best versions of themselves. In other words, goals allow students to tap into their inner potential by giving them targets to strive toward. These targets make young adults venture into new situations, new contexts, and new challenges that place them instantly in the right position for growth and development.

Goals Prepare Students for Adulthood

Through goal setting, students learn that hard work and good habits almost are the keys to success. Because of this, they discover a level of respect for the dedication and determination required to achieve further important goals in life. Not only is goal setting important for helping students get more out of their academic experiences, but it also means that they will continue to use the same skills in the future to apply for a high-ranking job or achieve a new promotion.

Goals give Cadets and young adults a way to measure their progress through life, using leadership skills, critical thinking, and determination.

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Why Setting Goals Is Important For High School Students

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Goal setting is fundamental to long-term success. After all, it's difficult to get to a desired destination before you have clearly defined where that destination is. Goals help students to focus upon the journey to a collection of set achievements, meaning they allocate their resources and time more efficiently and can access motivation during times when they may feel like giving up.

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Setting goals helps trigger new behaviors, helps guides your focus and helps you sustain that momentum in life. Goals also help align your focus and promote a sense of self-mastery. Setting goals not only motivates us, but can also improve our mental health and our level of personal and professional success.
https://positivepsychology.com/benefits-goal-setting/

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How often do you set goals? How often do you revisit your list?

We all know that setting goals is important, but we often don't realize how important they are as we continue to move through life.

Goal setting does not have to be boring. There are many benefits and advantages to having a set of goals to work towards.

Setting goals helps trigger new behaviors, helps guides your focus and helps you sustain that momentum in life.

Goals also help align your focus and promote a sense of self-mastery. In the end, you can't manage what you don't measure and you can't improve upon something that you don't properly manage. Setting goals can help you do all of that and more.

In this article, we will review the importance and value of goal setting as well as the many benefits.

We will also look at how goal setting can lead to greater success and performance. Setting goals not only motivates us, but can also improve our mental health and our level of personal and professional success.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Goal Achievement Exercises for free. These detailed, science-based exercises will help you or your clients create actionable goals and master techniques to create lasting behavior change.

The Importance and Value of Goal Setting

Up until 2001, goals were divided into three types or groups (Elliot & McGregor, 2001):

1. Mastery goals

2. Performance-approach goals

3. Performance-avoidance goals

A mastery goal is a goal someone sets to accomplish or master something such as " I will score higher in this event next time."

A performance-approach goal is a goal where someone tries to do better than his or her peers. This type of goal could be a goal to look better by losing 5 pounds or getting a better performance review.

A performance-avoidance goal is a goal where someone tries to avoid doing worse than their peers such as a goal to avoid negative feedback.

Research done by Elliot and McGregor in 2001 changed these assumptions. Until this study was published, it was assumed that mastery goals were the best and performance-approach goals were at times good, and other times bad. Performance-avoidance goals were deemed the worst, and, in fact, bad.

The implied assumption, as a result of this, was that there were no bad mastery goals or mastery-avoidance goals.

Elliot and McGregor's study challenged those assumptions by proving that master-avoidance goals do exist and proving that each type of goal can, in fact, be useful depending on the circumstances.

Elliot and McGregor's research utilized a 2 x 2 achievement goal framework comprised of:

1. Mastery-approach

2. Mastery-avoidance

3. Performance-approach

4. Performance-avoidance

These variables were tested in 3 studies. In experiments one and two, explanatory factor analysis was used to break down 12 goal-setting questions into 4 factors, as seen in the diagram below.

Confirmatory factor analysis was used at a later date to show that mastery-avoidance and mastery-approach fit the data better than mastery alone.

The questions for these studies were created from a series of pilot studies and prior questionnaires. Once all of the questions were combined, a factor-analysis was utilized to confirm that each set of questions expressed different goal-setting components.

Results of these studies showed that those with a high motive to achieve were much more likely to use approach goals. Those with a high motive to avoid failure, on the other hand, were much more likely to use avoidance goals.

The third experiment examined the same four achievement goal variables and revealed that those more likely to use performance-approach goals were more likely to have higher exam scores, while those who used performance-avoidance goals were more likely to have lower exam scores.

According to the research, motivation in achievement settings is complex, and achievement goals are but one of several types of operative variables to be considered.

Achievement goal regulation, or the actual pursuit of the goal, implicates both the achievement goal itself as well as some other typically higher order factors such as motivationally relevant variables, according to the research done by Elliot and McGregor.

As we can clearly see, the research on goal setting is quite robust.

Why Set Goals in Life?

The truth is that some goals are achieved while others are not and it's important to understand why.

Mark Murphy the founder and CEO of LeadershipIQ.com and author of the book "Hard Goals: The Secret to Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be," has gone through years of research in science and how the brain works and how we are wired as a human being as it pertains to goal setting.

Murphy's book " Hard Goals: The Secret to Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be" combines the latest research in psychology and brain science on goal-setting as well as the law of attraction to help fine-tune the process.

A HARD goal is an achieved goal, according to Murphy (2010). Murphy tells us to put our present cost into the future and our future benefit into the present.

What this really means is don't put off until tomorrow what you could do today. We tend to value things in the present moment much more than we value things in the future.

Setting goals is a process that changes over time. The goals you set in your twenties will most likely be very different from the goals you set in your forties.

Whatever your age doesn't really matter in the end, as long as you continually revisit your life goals and work to update them.

What are the Benefits of Goal Setting?

Edward Locke and Gary Latham (1990) are leaders in goal-setting theory. According to their research, goals not only affect behavior as well as job performance, but they also help mobilize energy which leads to a higher effort overall. Higher effort leads to an increase in persistent effort.

Goals help motivate us to develop strategies that will enable us to perform at the required goal level.

Accomplishing the goal can either lead to satisfaction and further motivation or frustration and lower motivation if the goal is not accomplished.

Goal setting can be a very powerful technique, under the right conditions according to the research (Locke & Latham, 1991).

According to Lunenburg (2011), the motivational impact of goals may, in fact, be affected by moderators such as self-efficacy and ability as well.

5 Proven Ways Goal Setting is Effective

Locke and Latham's research have shown us that goal setting is indeed very effective.

In the 1968 article " Toward a Theory of Task Motivation " Locke showed us that clear goals and appropriate feedback served as a good motivator for employees (Locke, 1968).

Locke's research also revealed that working toward a goal is a major source of motivation, which, in turn, improves performance.

Locke reviewed over a decade of research of laboratory and field studies on the effects of goal setting and performance. Locke found that over 90% of the time, goals that were specific and challenging, but not overly challenging, led to higher performance when compared to easy goals or goals that were too generic such as a goal to do your best.

Dr. Gary Latham also studied the effects of goal setting in the workplace. Latham's results supported Locke's findings and showed there is indeed a link that is inseparable between goal setting and workplace performance.

Locke and Latham published work together in 1990 with their work " A Theory of Goal Setting & Task Performance " stressing the importance of setting goals that were both specific and difficult.

Locke and Latham also stated that there are five goal-setting principles that can help improve your chances of success.

Clarity is important when it comes to goals. Setting goals that are clear and specific eliminate the confusion that occurs when a goal is set in a more generic manner.

Challenging goals stretch your mind and cause you to think bigger. This helps you accomplish more. Each success you achieve helps you build a winning mindset.

Commitment is also important. If you don't commit to your goal with everything you have it is less likely you will achieve it.

Feedback helps you know what you are doing right and how you are doing. This allows you to adjust your expectations and your plan of action going forward.

Task Complexity is the final factor. It's important to set goals that are aligned with the goal's complexity.

How Can Goal Setting Improve Performance?

Goal setting and task performance were studied by Locke and Latham (1991). Goal setting theory is based upon the simplest of introspective observations, specifically, that conscious human behavior is purposeful.

This behavior is regulated by one's goals. The directedness of those goals characterizes the actions of all living organisms including things like plants.

Goal-setting theory, according to the research, states that the simplest and most direct motivational explanation on why some people perform better than others is because they have different performance goals.

Two attributes have been studied in relation to performance:

In regard to content, the two aspects that have been focused on include specificity and difficulty. Goal content can range from vague to very specific as well as difficult or not as difficult.

Difficulty depends upon the relationship someone has to the task. The same task or goal can be easy for one person, and more challenging for the next, so it's all relative.

On average though the higher the absolute level is of a goal, the more difficult it is to achieve. According to research, there have been more than 400 studies that have examined the relationship of goal attributes to task performance.

According to Locke and Latham (1991), it has been consistently found that performance is a linear function of a goal's difficulty.

Given an adequate level of ability and commitment, the harder a goal, the higher the performance.

What the researchers discovered was that people normally adjust their level of effort to the difficulty of the goal. As a result, they try harder for difficult goals when compared to easier goals.

The principle of goal-directed action is not restricted to conscious action, according to the research.

Goal-directed action is defined by three attributes, according to Lock & Latham.

1. Self-generation

2. Value-significance

3. Goal-causation

Self-generation refers to the source of energy integral to the organism. Value-significance refers to the idea that the actions not only make it possible but necessary to the organism's survival. Goal-causation means the resulting action is caused by a goal.

While we can see that all living organisms experience some kind of goal-related action, humans are the only organisms that possess a higher form of consciousness, at least according to what we know at this point in time.

When humans take purposeful action, they set goals in order to achieve them.

How Goal Setting Motivates Individuals

Research tells us that goal setting is important on both an individual and a group basis.

Locke and Latham have also shown us that there is an important relationship between goals and performance.

Locke and Latham's research supports the idea that the most effective performance seems to be the result of goals being both specific and challenging. When goals are used to evaluate performance and linked to feedback on results, they create a sense of commitment and acceptance.

The researchers also found that the motivational impact of goals may be affected by ability and self-efficacy, or one's belief that they can achieve something.

It was also found that deadlines helped improve the effectiveness of a goal and a learning goal orientation leads to higher performance when compared to a performance goal orientation.

Why is Goal Setting Important for Students?

Research done by Moeller, Theiler, and Wu (2012) examined the relationship between goal setting and student achievement at the classroom level.

This research examined a 5-year quasi-experimental study, which looked at goal setting and student achievement in the high school Spanish language classroom.

A tool known as LinguaFolio was used, and introduced into 23 high schools with a total of 1,273 students.

The study portfolio focused on student goal setting, self-assessment and a collection of evidence of language achievement.

Researchers used a hierarchical linear model, and then analyzed the relationship between goal setting and student achievement. This research was done at both the individual student and teacher levels.

A correlational analysis of the goal-setting process as well as language proficiency scores revealed a statistically significant relationship between the process of setting goals and language achievement (p < .01).

The research also looked at the importance of autonomy or one's ability to take responsibility for their learning. Autonomy is a long-term aim of education, according to the study as well as a key factor in learning a language successfully.

There has been a paradigm shift in language education from teacher to student-centered learning, which makes the idea of autonomy even more important.

Goal setting in language learning is commonly regarded as one of the strategies that encourage a student's sense of autonomy (Moeller, Theiler & Wu, 2012)

The results of the study revealed that there was a consistent increase over time in the main goal, plan of action and reflection scores of high school Spanish learners.

This trend held true for all levels except for the progression from third to fourth year Spanish for action plan writing and goal setting. The greatest improvement in goal setting occurred between the second and third levels of Spanish.

A Look at the Importance of Goal Setting in Mental Health

Goal setting is also an important part of mental health.

In one study, that looked at goal setting and wellbeing, people participated in three short one-hour sessions where they set goals.

The researchers compared those who set goals to a control group, that didn't complete the goal-setting exercise. The results showed a causal relationship between goal setting and subjective wellbeing.

Weinberger, Mateo, and Sirey (2009) also looked at perceived barriers to mental health care and goal setting amongst depressed, community-dwelling older adults.

Forty-seven participants completed the study, which examined various barriers to mental health and goal setting. These barriers include:

1. Psychological barriers such as social attitudes, beliefs about depression and stigmas.

2. Logistical barriers such as transportation and availability of services.

3. Illness-related barriers that are either modifiable or not such as depression severity, comorbid anxiety, cognitive status, etc.

For individuals who perceive a large number of barriers to be overcome, a mental health referral can seem burdensome as opposed to helpful.

Defining a personal goal for treatment may be something that is helpful and even something that can increase the relevance of seeking help and improving access to care according to the study.

Goal setting has been shown to help improve the outcome in treatment, amongst studies done in adults with depression. (Weinberger, Mateo, & Sirey, 2009)

The process of goal setting has even become a major focus in several of the current psychotherapies used to treat depression. Some of the therapies that have used goal setting include:

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)

Cognitive and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CT, CBT)

Problem-Solving Therapy (PST)

Participants who set goals, according to the study, were more likely to accept a mental health referral. Goal setting seems to be a necessary and good first step when it comes to helping a depressed older adult take control of their wellbeing.

The Importance of Goal Setting in Business and Organizations

Setting goals is vitally important for everyone, especially those in the business world.

Most of us have been taught from a young age that setting goals can help us accomplish more and get better organized.

Goals help motivate us and help us organize our thoughts. Throughout evolutionary psychology, however, a conscious activity like goal setting has often been downplayed.

Psychoanalysis put the focus on the unconscious part of the mind, while cognitive behaviorists argue that external factors are of greater importance.

In 1968, Edward A. Locke formally developed something he called goal-setting theory, as an alternative to all of this.

Goal-setting theory helps us understand that setting goals are a conscious process and a very effective and efficient means when it comes to increasing productivity and motivation, especially in the workplace.

According to Gary P. Latham, the former President of the Canadian Psychological Association, the underlying premise of goal-setting theory is that our conscious goals affect what we achieve. Our goals are the object or the aim of our action.

This viewpoint is not aligned with the traditional cognitive behaviorism, which looks at human behavior as something that is conducted by external stimuli.

This view tells us that just like a mechanic works on a car, other people often work on our brains, without us even realizing it, and this, in turn, determines how we behave.

Goal setting theory goes beyond this assumption, telling us that our internal cognitive functions are equally important, if not more, when determining our behavior.

In order for our conscious cognition to be effective, we must direct and orient our behavior toward the world. That is the real purpose of a goal.

According to Locke and Latham, there is an important relationship between goals and performance.

Research supports the prediction that the most effective performance often results when goals are both specific and challenging in nature.

A learning goal orientation often leads to higher performance when compared to a performance goal orientation, according to the research.

Deadlines also improve the effectiveness of a goal. Goals have a pervasive influence on both employee behaviors and performance in organizations and management practice according to Locke and Latham (2002).

According to the research, nearly every modern organization has some type of psychological goal setting program in its operation.

Programs like management by objectives, (MBO), high-performance work practices (HPWP) and management information systems (MIS) all use benchmarking to stretch targets and plan strategically, all of which involve goal setting to some extent.

Fred C. Lunenburg, a professor at Sam Houston State University, summarized these points in the International Journal of Management, Business, and Administration journal article "Goal-Setting Theory of Motivation" (Lunenburg, 2011).

Specific: Specificity tells us that in order for a goal to be successful, it must also be specific. Goals such as I will do better next time are much too vague and general to motivate us.

Something more specific would be to state: I will spend at least 2 hours a day this week in order to finish the report by the deadline. This goal motivates us into action and holds us accountable.

Difficult but still attainable: Goals must, of course, be attainable, but they shouldn't be too easy. Goals that are too simple may even cause us to give up. Goals should be challenging enough to motivate us without causing us undue stress.

Process of Acceptance: If we are continually given goals by other people, and we don't truly accept them, we will most likely continue to fail. Accepting a goal and owning a goal is the key to success.

One way to do this on an organizational level is to bring team members together to discuss and set goals.

Feedback and evaluation: When a goal is accomplished, it makes us feel good. It gives us a sense of satisfaction. If we don't get any feedback, this sense of pleasure will quickly go away and the accomplishment may even be meaningless.

In the workplace, continuous feedback helps give us a sense that our work and contributions matter. This goes beyond measuring a single goal.

When goals are used for performance evaluation, they are often much more effective.

Learning beyond our performance: While goals can be used as a means by which to give us feedback and evaluate our performance, the real beauty of goal setting is the fact that it helps us learn something new.

When we learn something new, we develop new skills and this helps us move up in the workplace.

Learning-oriented goals can also be very helpful when it comes to helping us discover life-meaning which can help increase productivity.

Performance-oriented goals, on the other hand, force an employee to prove what he or she can or cannot do, which is often counterproductive.

These types of goals are also less likely to produce a sense of meaning and pleasure. If we lack that sense of satisfaction, when it comes to setting and achieving a goal, we are less likely to learn and grow and explore.

Group goals: Setting group goals is also vitally important for companies. Just as individuals have goals, so too must groups and teams, and even committees. Group goals help bring people together and allow them to develop and work on the same goals.

This helps create a sense of community, as well as a deeper sense of meaning, and a greater feeling of belonging and satisfaction.

10 Quotes on the Value and Importance of Setting Goals

A goal properly set is halfway reached.

Zig Ziglar

Everybody has their own Mount Everest they were put on this earth to climb.

Seth Godin

You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction overnight.

Jim Rohn

It's better to be at the bottom of the ladder you want to climb than at the top of the one you don't.

Stephen Kellogg

If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.

Jim Rohn

All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible.

Orison Swett Marden

The greater danger for most of us isn't that our aim is too high and miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.

Michelangelo

Give me a stock clerk with a goal and I'll give you a man who will make history. Give me a man with no goals and I'll give you a stock clerk.

J.C. Penney

Intention without action is an insult to those who expect the best from you.

Andy Andrews

This one step - choosing a goal and sticking to it - changes everything.

Scott Reed

A Take-Home Message

Setting goals can help us move forward in life. Goals give us a roadmap to follow. Goals are a great way to hold ourselves accountable, even if we fail. Setting goals and working to achieving them helps us define what we truly want in life.

Setting goals also helps us prioritize things. If we choose to simply wander through life, without a goal or a plan, that's certainly our choice. However, setting goals can help us live the life we truly want to live.

Having said that, we don't have to live every single moment of our lives planned out because we all need those days when we have nothing to accomplish.

However, those who have clearly defined goals might just enjoy their downtime even more than those who don't set goals.

For more insightful reading, check out our selection of goal-setting books.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don't forget to download our three Goal Achievement Exercises for free.

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The Importance, Benefits, and Value of Goal Setting

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We review the importance, value, and benefits of goal setting to explain how it can lead to greater success and performance.

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Goal setting is the fundamental key to success. Whether it’s increasing your intelligence, learning a new skill, or rekindling a relationship, setting goals lets us create our future. It also helps us grow and expand, pushing ourselves to transform in ways that we never imagined. In order to feel fulfilled, we need to know and feel like we’re working to achieve something.
https://www.tonyrobbins.com/ask-tony/can-create-compelling-future/

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What you will get from this article:

Learn why goal setting is vital to growth in every area of your life

Understand how to set goals that excite and inspire you

Get powerful strategies for achieving your goals

Unlock a short goal-setting workshop hosted by Tony Robbins

Do you know how to set goals ? How often do you achieve the large objectives that are important to you? If you're having trouble following through with your goal planning, you may be tempted to stop trying. People say things like, "Maybe this is just it," or, "I'll settle for what I have."

But frequently what's getting in the way of achievement is the actual goal. If your goal is to "lose weight," how will you know when that goal is complete? When you've lost one pound? Five? Forty?

Without a clear target, you'll never hit your mark. That's why it's crucial to learn how to set goals that are clear, measurable and actionable.

What is goal setting?

Goal setting can look different depending on an individual's lifestyle, values and definition of success. Your goals are unique to you and don't need to look like anyone else's.

The classic goal-setting definition boils down to the process of identifying something you want to accomplish and establishing measurable objectives and timeframes to help you achieve it. Goal setting can help you in any area of your life, from achieving financial freedom to adopting a healthy diet . When you learn how to set goals in one area of your life, it becomes easier to set them in other areas.

Setting progressive goals that allow small wins helps you move on to larger achievements. These small goals lead to progress, which is the only thing you really need to feel fulfilled and happy .

Why is goal setting important?

Goal setting is the fundamental key to success. Whether it's increasing your intelligence , learning a new skill or rekindling a relationship , setting goals lets us create our future. It also helps us grow and expand, pushing ourselves to transform in ways that we never imagined. In order to feel fulfilled , we need to know and feel like we're working to achieve something. Tony Robbins says, "Progress equals happiness," and setting goals gets us there.

Effective goal setting lets you measure progress, overcome procrastination and visualize your dreams. If you don't know what you want to accomplish, you can't create a plan to get there. Setting goals is the vehicle that will drive you to your desired destination.

Goal setting also keeps you accountable. Whether you're learning how to set goals at work or in your personal life, telling others about your goals makes you more likely to establish the patterns that will accomplish them.

Here we'll cover how to set goals to ensure you achieve them. You'll learn what makes a compelling goal as well as the steps you need to take to see them through.

How to set goals

What is goal setting to you? When you set goals, are you used to seeing them disappear in the rearview mirror? We're willing to bet if you're reading this page, you've set a goal or two in your life. But did you see them through?

You're much more likely to put time and energy into something that excites you, so your goals must reflect that same level of momentum. Think of a goal as a dream with a deadline. Now all we have to do is create a blueprint to achievement .

1. Perform a brainstorming session.

Give yourself six minutes to brainstorm a list of anything you'd like to achieve, create, do, have, give and/or experience in the next 20 years. Write as many items down as fast as you can in this time. Use the rocking chair test to come up with ideas: Picture yourself in retirement, thinking back on your life from your rocking chair. What accomplishments will you be most proud of? What will you most regret? These are your most important answers to the question, " Why is goal setting important ?"

2. Refine your goals

Setting deadlines is crucial to goal setting . Go back through your list and write one, three, five, 10 or 20 years next to each goal to indicate how long it will take to achieve them. Some goals take a lifetime to achieve, but make sure you are pushing yourself toward both professional and personal growth. If you don't know how long a goal will take - like finding a healthy relationship - write down how long you would like it to take. Remember what Tony says: "Goals are like magnets. They'll attract the things that make them come true."

3. Connect your goals to your purpose.

Go over what you've written. Choose your top four one-year goals. These are goals that excite you because they are most connected to your purpose in life . Write a paragraph for each goal explaining why you will achieve this goal within the next 12 months. This isn't a to-do list. This is creating a vision for your life . When you have a powerful reason "why," you'll more easily discover the "how."

4. Create SMART goals.

Now it's time to take those big goals and break them down into smaller SMART goals. Are your goals specific? Measurable? Achievable? Realistic? Do they have a specific timeframe? These are the components of a SMART goal . Breaking down your goals in this way sets a strong purpose and intention, making them more concrete and easier to achieve. You'll also be able to better track your progress and celebrate your successes - two keys to achieving goals we'll talk about next.

How to achieve your goals

Learning how to set goals is worthless if you don't learn how to achieve goals. Set yourself up for success by following these tips.

1. Visualize your goals

Where focus goes, energy flows , so it's critical to focus on your goals. Visualization is one powerful way to do this. When you visualize your goals on a daily basis as if you've already achieved them, you align your purpose and values with your actions. Everyone from star athletes to entrepreneurs uses visualization as well as practices like vision boards to help with goal setting . You can even tape images of your goals on the mirror in your bathroom or pin them to the wall next to your computer. If your goals involve adopting a healthy diet and losing weight, put them on the front of your refrigerator or a kitchen cabinet.

2. Keep yourself accountable

Find a friend, family member or another person you trust and share your list of goals with them. You can also share the list with a mentor or life coach . Sharing your list will make you more accountable and give you a partner who will work with you through frustrations or roadblocks. The right partner can help you transform obstacles into opportunities and stay on track.

3. Track your progress

Have a set schedule to review both short- and long-term goal setting . This helps you track progress as well as determine what activities are helping you and which are hindering you. It's important to know when you need to make alterations to your course. As Tony says, "Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach." Don't lose sight of your ultimate goal, but remember that life is happening for you, not to you .

4. Celebrate your successes

Goal setting doesn't have to be a boring set of tasks to check off. When you're planning your goals, include ways to celebrate your successes . If you're working toward financial freedom, set aside a budget for a nice dinner when you reach a certain goal. Celebrate relationship milestones. Got that promotion? Share it with the world and celebrate. It will help you stay focused - while also being present in the moment.

Why is goal setting important ? Imagine yourself older and looking back. What's the pain from not achieving, and what is the pleasure from having achieved your goals? Effective goal setting helps you stay focused, keeps you accountable and is the single most important aspect of reaching your dreams.

Ready to take action to set and achieve goals?

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Goal setting: definition, importance and tips | Tony Robbins

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What you will get from this article: Learn why goal setting is vital to growth in every area of your life Understand how to set goals that excite and inspire you Get powerful strategies for achieving your goals Unlock a short goal-setting workshop hosted by Tony Robbins Do you know how to set goals ?

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Goal setting is a process someone takes to ensure progress in the future. Maybe your dream is to become a teacher, musician or physical therapist. Each one of these dreams involves setting and reaching small or large goals. Each of these major goals can be broken down into smaller, more attainable goals that will propel you towards success.

There are three types of goals- process, performance, and outcome goals.

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Goal-setting is the process of taking active steps to achieve your desired outcome. Maybe your dream is to become a teacher, musician or physical therapist. Each one of these dreams involves setting and reaching small (and big!) goals. Each of these major goals can be broken down into smaller, more attainable goals that will propel you towards success.

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The biggest problem people have is staying motivated. The small inconvenience comes up and people tend to give up but you have to push through and do what you can to complete your goal.

https://stunningmotivation.com/why-motivation-is-important

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Staying motivated in any situation is important because without it you wont get anything done. Without motivation you wont get to your set goal and mentally you just say "oh its whatever" but that is why being motivated and not having that mindset will get you further in accomplishing your goals.

The psychology of self-motivation | Scott Geller | TEDxVirginiaTech - Bing video

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ted talks talking about what staying motivated means - Bing video

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Top suggestions for ted talks talking about what staying motivated means

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There are benefits to staying motivated such as being interested in what you're doing or just making the subject at hand better and easier to understand. you tend to go further into detail when you are more interested in the topic

https://positivepsychology.com/benefits-motivation

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Being passive is not our default mode as human beings.

Otherwise, we would have been born as a sloth or a panda bear (no offense to these lovely creatures).

It is in our nature to strive, to want, and to move in a direction of something we desire and deem valuable.

Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action.

William James

This article explains the reasons why understanding human motivation is important and well worth the time spent on learning to increase it. It lists many benefits of healthy motivation and distinguishes the types of motivation that are more effective in dealing with our complex and rapidly changing environment.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Goal Achievement Exercises for free. These detailed, science-based exercises will help you or your clients create actionable goals and master techniques to create lasting behavior change.

Why is Motivation Important?

Why is it important to understand motivation? Why do we care about what people want and why they want it? How about because it can improve our lives.

Understanding motivation gives us many valuable insights into human nature. It explains why we set goals, strive for achievement and power, why we have desires for psychological intimacy and biological sex, why we experience emotions like fear, anger, and compassion.

Learning about motivation is valuable because it helps us understand where motivation comes from, why it changes, what increases and decreases it, what aspects of it can and cannot be changed, and helps us answer the question of why some types of motivation are more beneficial than others.

Motivation reflects something unique about each one of us and allows us to gain valued outcomes like improved performance, enhanced well-being, personal growth, or a sense of purpose. Motivation is a pathway to change our way of thinking, feeling, and behaving.

Benefits of Motivation

Finding ways to increase motivation is crucial because it allows us to change behavior, develop competencies, be creative, set goals, grow interests, make plans, develop talents, and boost engagement. Applying motivational science to everyday life helps us to motivate employees, coach athletes, raise children, counsel clients, and engage students.

The benefits of motivation are visible in how we live our lives. As we are constantly responding to changes in our environment, we need motivation to take corrective action in the face of fluctuating circumstances. Motivation is a vital resource that allows us to adapt, function productively, and maintain wellbeing in the face of a constantly changing stream of opportunities and threats.

I have learned from my mistakes, and I am sure I can repeat them exactly.

Peter Cook

There are many health benefits of increased motivation. Motivation as a psychological state is linked to our physiology. When our motivation is depleted, our functioning and wellbeing suffer.

Some studies show that when we feel helpless in exerting control for example, we tend to give up quickly when challenged (Peterson, Maier, & Seligman, 1993). Others have proven than when we find ourselves coerced, we lose access to our inner motivational resources (Deci, 1995).

High-quality motivation allows us to thrive, while its deficit causes us to flounder. Societal benefits of increased motivation are visible in greater student engagement, better job satisfaction in employees, flourishing relationships, and institutions.

But unhealthy fluctuations in motivation also explain addiction, gambling, risk-taking, and excessive internet usage. The motivation that underlies addictive behaviors shares the neurological underpinning associated with dopamine centric rewards system and tricky inner working of the pleasure cycle.

This makes it challenging and often difficult to change behavior in situations involving addiction. See our article on Motivational Interviewing to learn more about the stages of change and motivational interviewing techniques practitioners use to motivate clients to change unwanted behaviors.

Extrinsic Motivation

Is any source of motivation more potent or more effective in motivating people than the other? Are people primarily motivated by internal motives or by external rewards, or are people driven equally by internal and external triggers?

Human motives are complex, and as social creatures, we are embedded into our environment, and social groups are often an important source of influence through the presence of rewards and considerations of potential consequences of our choices on those around us.

Self-Determination Theory (SDT) explains how external events like rewards or praise sometimes produce positive effects on motivation, but at other times can be quite detrimental (Ryan & Deci, 2008). The hidden cost of certain types of rewards is that they undermine intrinsic motivation by decreasing the sense of autonomy and competence.

There is a tradeoff between satisfying and undermining the need for competence when we offer rewards (Reeve, 2018). This form of extrinsic motivation also can undermine our sense of autonomy since rewards are used for both purposes: to control behavior and to affirm someone of their level of competence. We want to reward in a way that encourages competence without threatening the sense of autonomy.

My grandfather once told me that there were two kinds of people: those who do the work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group; there was much less competition.

Indira Gandhi

Rewards should be reserved for activities that are not interesting and should be given when not expected. Praise is preferable to monetary rewards, for example, as it supports psychological needs and is of more lasting value (Reeve, 2018).

Similarly to rewards, imposed goals were found to narrow focus and impair creativity. Studies show that imposed goal setting increases unethical behavior and risk-taking, narrows focus, and decreases cooperation, intrinsic motivation, and creativity. This is an excellent example of goals gone wild (Pink, 2009).

Much of contemporary research shows that intrinsic motivation is more effective more often and of more enduring value. In some circumstances, however, extrinsic motivation may be more appropriate, as in the case of uninteresting activities.

It is also possible to make use of incentives more effective by encouraging people to identify with it and integrate it into their sense of self (Reeve, 2018). To give an example of identifying and integrating extrinsic motives respectively would be like describing the difference between saying: " I do this because it's the right thing to do" versus " I do this because I am a good person. "

Intrinsic Motivation

Intrinsic motivation is inherent in the activities we perform for pure enjoyment or satisfaction. We engage in intrinsically motivated behavior because we want to experience the activity for its own sake. Unlike extrinsically motivated behavior, it is freely chosen (Deci, & Ryan, 1985).

Intrinsic motivation can be driven by curiosity, which is linked to a desire to know and motivates us to learn and explore our environment for answers (Loewenstein, 1994). Intrinsic motivation can also come from the need to actively interact and control our environment. The effectance motivation theory explains how intrinsic motivation drives us to develop competence (White, 1959).

Finally, Allport's concept of the functional autonomy of motives explains how behavior originally performed for extrinsic reasons can become something to perform for its own sake (1937).

Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.

William Jennings Bryan

When it comes to intrinsic motivation, it is important to distinguish between activities that are intrinsically motivating and the development of what Csikszentmihalyi calls autotelic self (1975, 1988). The term autotelic is derived from the Greek word auto, which means self and telos meaning goal.

Intrinsic activities are self-contained because performing them is a reward in itself. The autotelic experience produced by an intrinsic activity makes us pay attention to what we are engaged in for its own sake and away from consequences. When the experience is intrinsically rewarding, life is justified in the present and not tied to some hypothetical future gain.

The most important characteristic of the autotelic experience is its intrinsically motivated nature. Professor Csíkszentmihályi, who coined the terms flow, defined this optimal experience as a pursuit of enjoyable, interesting activities for the sake of the experience itself, where the satisfaction derived from the action itself is the motivational factor (1990).

An autotelic self actively seeks out intrinsically motivating activities. A person who is said to have an autotelic personality values opportunities where she or he can experience complete absorption in the tasks at hand. They transform the self by making it more complex. A complex self has these five characteristics:

Clarity of goals

Self as the center of control

Choice and knowing that life is not happening to you

Commitment and care for what you are doing

Challenge and increased craving for novelty (Csikszentmihalyi, 1975, 1988).

Autotelic self, according to Csikszentmihalyi, tends to create order out of chaos because it sees a tragedy as an opportunity to rise to the occasion and tends to focus all the psychic energy on overcoming the challenge created by the defeat (1990). Cultivating autotelic personality is, therefore, a worthwhile endeavor as it breeds resilience.

Falko and Engeser, in their recent study on motivation and flow, used the term activity related motivation as a substitute for intrinsic motivation to speak more specifically to the "Extended Cognitive Model of Motivation" (2018).

They measured various activity-related incentives in qualitative and quantitative ways and found the experience of flow to represent one of the most intensely studied. Positive incentives stemming from learning goal orientation, experience of competence, interest, and involvement lead to us engaging in activities purely for the enjoyment of it (Falko & Engeser, 2018).

Our plans miscarry because they have no aim. When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind. Seneca, 4 B.C.-A.D. 65

Professor Mihaly Csíkszentmihályi, who developed the theory of flow, argues that happiness depends on inner harmony, not on the control we can exert over our environment or circumstances, and therefore describes flow as an optimal state of being that brings order to consciousness.

He discovered, in his years of research into creativity and productivity and interviews with people who were deemed successful in a wide range of professions and many of whom were Nobel Prize winners, that the secret to their optimal performance was their ability to enter the flow state frequently and deliberately.

They would describe feeling a sense of competence and control, a loss of self-consciousness, and such intense absorption in the task at hand that they would lose track of time.

Many of the most accomplished and creative people are at their peak when they experience " a unified flowing from one moment to the next, in which we feel in control of our actions, and in which there is little distinction between self and environment; between stimulus and response; or between past, present, and future " (Csíkszentmihályi, 1997, p. 37).

The contemporary research on motivation shows that intrinsic motivation that originates from internal motives is often experienced as more immediate and potent then extrinsic motivation.

Today we know that intrinsic motivation affects the quality of behavior more, such as school work, while extrinsic motivation influences the quantity of behavior more (Deckers, 2014).

It has also been shown that intrinsically motivated goal pursuit has greater long-term outcomes because it satisfies our psychological needs for autonomy and competence, and in turn, creates more positive states which reinforce the positive feedback loop and increase the likelihood of repetition (Reeve, 2018).

Self-motivation

No one knows more about self-motivation that the authors of self-determination theory. Based on the assumption that we have an innate tendency for personal growth toward psychological integration, the self-determination theory of Ryan and Deci proposed that all behavior can be understood as lying along a continuum of external regulation, or heteronomy and true self-regulation, or autonomy (2008).

Ryan and Deci distinguish varying degrees of external motivation based on the level of autonomy present while engaging in the desired behavior. On one end, there is the external regulation of behavior where rewards are used purely to control behavior, and compliance occurs to avoid consequences and is defined as one where there is no autonomy present.

They explain that while external regulation, as in the form of rewards, can control behavior, it does not constitute motivation per se.

In all human affairs there is always an end in view-of pleasure, or honor, or advantage.

Polybius, 125 B.C

We can also be motivated by the avoidance of guilt and by the need to build self-esteem. This form of self-regulation of behavior is characterized by low autonomy and a language of " I should" and " I have to."

When we are motivated by the contingencies related to our self-esteem and impose pressures on ourselves for fear of shame or failure, we are said to have introjected regulation. This form of regulation, while more effective than external motivation, remains ambivalent and unstable because it is accompanied by inner conflict, tension, and negative emotions (Ryan & Deci, 2008).

These are closely related to what is known in wellbeing research as prevention focus orientation, where emotional regulation is driven by security needs and avoidance (Kahneman, Diner, & Schwartz, 1999).

When we consciously accept behavior as important, and when we truly value the outcome, this provides strong incentives and leads to identification. This more self-determined form of regulation is particularly important when it comes to the maintenance of behaviors that involve activities that are not inherently interesting or enjoyable.

When we identify with the regulation AND coordinate with other core values and believes, we are said to have the most autonomous form of extrinsic motivation - integrated regulation. This form of regulation occurs when those values become a part of the self and become congruent with one's sense of identity.

That leads to the most positive and enduring outcomes of external motivation because a person has archived full autonomy (Reeve, 2018).

This form of regulation is very much like intrinsic motivation because we engage in the behavior willingly. It is entirely self-determined, but unlike intrinsic motivation, it does not have to involve activities that are enjoyable or interesting. This is particularly important to behavioral change in clinical settings where the level of internalization and integration for non-intrinsically motivated behavior is required.

It is never too late to be what you might have been.

George Eliot

When it comes to self-motivation in behavioral change, the autonomy versus control orientation can also play a role in maintaining behavioral change over time. Autonomy-oriented individuals generally succeed in maintaining their long-term changes in behavior (e.g., weight loss, smoking cessation), whereas control-oriented individuals generally fail to maintain such behavior change over time.

Autonomy causality orientation is closely linked to prevention focus orientation, where emotional regulation is driven by the possibility of positive outcomes and approach motivation (Kahneman, Diner, & Schwartz, 1999).

Autonomy-oriented individuals see everything in their environment and their responses to it as a matter of their own choice, and this perspective can be empowering and a great source of intrinsic motivation.

They tend to scan their environment for opportunities, they take initiative, set their own goals, and they take an equal interest in their environment as well as their own inner experience. They have an internal locus of control and behave with a strong sense of volition. They understand that their focus determines their reality, and they have a sense of shaping their destiny (Reeve, 2018).

Autonomy causality orientation characterizes individuals with a specific mindset where they rely on internal guides to regulate behavior in contrast to those who are control-oriented and attend to external guides like social queues and environmental incentives - this locus of control effects motivation and perseverance.

When we feel our behavior is something we initiate and regulate, we can make and sustain changes. This is in contrast to those, who at the other end of the spectrum, take on the victim of circumstances mentality (Reeve, 2018).

See our blog post 19 Best Books on Self-Discipline and Self-Control.

A Motivational Quote

13 Top Motivational Videos

1. Dream

In order to achieve great things, you must first believe in yourself and then have a dream big enough to motivate you.

2. The Last Lecture

Even if faced with terminal cancer, it's possible to find and celebrate the joy in your life.

3. Remember Me

When all is said and done, being human, exactly who you are, is more amazing than all the technology in the world.

4. Look Up

Don't let yourself be hypnotized by technology. Be in the moment and experience the wonder of direct connections.

5. Why We Do What We Do

If you understand why you're motivated and inspired, it's easier to become motivated and inspired. Tony Robbins explains it all.

6. Amazing Grace

The classic spiritual hymn rendered a cappella by the amazing and always creative Jesse Campbell.

7. Never Quit

Regardless of the obstacles that life throws your way, if you continue to pursue your dreams you will get results.

8. The Surprising Science of Happiness

Dan Gilbert challenges the idea that we'll be miserable if we don't get what we want and explains how to feel truly happy even when things don't go as planned.

9. Why Do We Fall?

Ever wonder why some people eventually succeed while others continually fail? This short video explains why.

10. Unbroken

Dedication to your goals keeps you moving forward, even if you encounter obstacles.

11. Prove Them Wrong

Use the negativity of others to push yourself beyond the limitations they attempt to set for you.

12. How Bad Do You Want It?

Sometimes it's just a matter of wanting success so badly that you'll do whatever it takes to win.

13. Excuses

Even if you've got an uphill battle to fight, you keep fighting. Because if you just give up, you've lost.

A Take Home Message

Context matters, and it is not a question of which type of motivation is more important, but instead, awareness of where we lack the necessary balance to create the ideal catalyst for goal achievement.

The significant problems of today cannot be solved at the same level of thinking that created them.

Albert Einstein

External events can become prompts for the desired behavior and can help to reinforce it, but to notice those we need to be in positive mental and emotional states, away from the sense of learned helplessness, as defined by Dr. Martin Seligman.

Often our goals must also represent something of value to us and satisfy our psychological needs as defined by Ryan and Deci's self-determination theory, especially to create the energy necessary to persist (Reeve, 2018).

Do you have a story of your ideal catalyst for goal pursuit? Share it with us here.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don't forget to download our three Goal Achievement Exercises for free.

If you'd like to help others succeed in life, our Motivation & Goal Achievement Masterclass© is a comprehensive training template for practitioners that contains everything you need to help your clients reach their goals and master motivation-enhancing techniques.

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The Vital Importance and Benefits of Motivation

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Being passive is not our default mode as human beings. Otherwise, we would have been born as a sloth or a panda bear (no offense to these lovely creatures). It is in our nature to strive, to want, and to move in a direction of something we desire and deem valuable.

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staying motivated and the importance of it

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staying motivated and the importance of it

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When you stay motivated it it basically is your drive to finish something. it is important because without motivation you wont ever finish anything or you may get distracted easy and never complete your goals.

inside.6q.io/employee-motivation-important

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Helps set high and realistic goals (SMART goals)

Being able to deal with setbacks and continue to pursue your goals

Want to continue to learn

Cultivate positive mindset

Helps avoid procrastination and work on your time management skills

Self-Motivation Explained + 100 Ways To Motivate Yourself (positivepsychology.com)

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The best kind of motivation is self-motivation.

To demonstrate this point, let's consider two scenarios you've likely experienced:

1. You have something you have to do. You're not excited or passionate about it, but you know you need to get it done. This feeling of obligation motivates you to work hard to complete the task;

2. You have something you get to do. You're interested in your task-you might have even assigned this task for yourself rather than receiving it from someone else-and you are happy to put in the time and effort to complete it.

In which scenario are you more effective? In which scenario are you more efficient? And, in which scenario do you feel the most fulfilled?

I'm willing to bet that your answer to each of those questions is Scenario 2.

It likely won't come as a surprise that doing something for its own sake and for your own purposes is likely to be more fulfilling, enjoyable, and successful than doing something to meet external standards or to please others.

The feeling described in Scenario 2 is that of being self-motivated. Read on to learn more about self-motivation and why it's the most effective kind of motivation.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Goal Achievement Exercises for free. These detailed, science-based exercises will help you or your clients create actionable goals and master techniques to create lasting behavior change.

What is the Meaning of Self-Motivation?

Above, we explored a basic example of self-motivation, but here's a succinct definition of the concept:

"Self-motivation is, in its simplest form, the force that drives you to do things"

(Skills You Need, n.d.).

It's the drive you have to work toward your goals, to put effort into self-development, and to achieve personal fulfillment.

It's important to note here that self-motivation is generally driven by intrinsic motivation, a kind of motivation that comes from sincerely wanting to achieve and desiring the inherent rewards associated with it.

Self-motivation can also be driven by extrinsic motivation, the drive to achieve that comes from wanting the external rewards (like money, power, status, or recognition), although it's clear that intrinsic motivation is usually a more effective and fulfilling drive.

Self-Motivation and Emotional Intelligence

According to emotional intelligenc e expert Daniel Goleman, self-motivation is a key component of emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence is the measure of one's ability to recognize and manage his or her own emotions and the emotions of other people.

Self-motivation's relevance to emotional intelligence highlights its role within our ability to understand ourselves, relate to others, and succeed in reaching our goals.

Goleman states that there are four components of motivation:

1. Achievement drive, or the personal drive to achieve, improve, and meet certain standards;

2. Commitment to your own personal goals;

3. Initiative, or the "readiness to act on opportunities";

4. Optimism, or the tendency to look ahead and persevere with the belief that you can reach your goals (Skills You Need, n.d.).

3 Examples of Self-Motivation

Self-motivation is easy to understand when you consider some examples that contrast it with other kinds of motivation:

1. A man who goes to work every only as a means to pay the bills, keep his family off his back, and please his boss is not self-motivated, while a man who needs no external forces to make the trek into work every day and finds fulfillment in what he does is self-motivated;

2. The student who only completes her homework because her parents remind her or nag her, or because they ground her when she fails to complete it is not self-motivated, but the student who completes her homework with no prodding because she wants to learn and succeed in school is self-motivated;

3. The woman who only goes to the gym when her friends drag her there or because her doctor is adamant that she needs to exercise to get healthy is not self-motivated, but the woman who likes the way exercise makes her feel and schedules time at the gym whether or not anyone encourages her is self-motivated.

As you can see, self-motivation is all about where your drive comes from; if your motivation comes from within and pushes you to achieve for your own personal reasons, it can be considered self-motivation.

If you are only motivated to achieve standards set by someone else and not for your own internal satisfaction, you are probably not self-motivated.

It's possible to be self-motivated in some areas and not in others. For example, if the man from the first example is not internally motivated to go to work but is sure to make time for his marathon training, he is not self-motivated when it comes to work but might be self-motivated to run.

The Psychology of Self-Motivation: How Are Self-Efficacy and Motivation Related?

Psychologist Scott Geller is at the forefront of research on self-motivation, and he explains that there are three questions you can use to determine whether you (or someone in your life) is self-motivated:

If you answered "yes" to each question, you are likely self-motivated.

If you believe you can do it, you have self-efficacy. If you believe it will work, you have response efficacy-belief that the action you are taking will lead to the outcome you want. And if you believe it is worth it, you have weighed the cost against the consequences and decided the consequences outweigh the cost (Geller, 2016).

Speaking of consequences, Geller considers "consequences" to be one of four vital "C" words that underpin self-motivation:

1. Consequences: To be self-motivated, you sincerely have to want the consequences associated with the actions you take rather than simply doing something to avoid negative consequences;

2. Competence: If you answer all three of the questions above with a "yes," you will feel competent in your ability to get things done;

3. Choice: Having a sense of autonomy over your actions encourages self-motivation;

4. Community: Having social support and connections with others is critical for feeling motivated and believing in yourself and your power to achieve (Geller, 2016).

Much of Geller's work on self-motivation is grounded in the research of psychologist and self-efficacy researcher Albert Bandura. In 1981, Bandura set the stage for Geller's current conceptualization of self-motivation with this description:

"S elf-motivation . . . requires personal standards against which to evaluate ongoing performance. By making self-satisfaction conditional on a certain level of performance, individuals create self-inducements to persist in their efforts until their performances match internal standards. Both the anticipated satisfactions for matching attainments and the dissatisfactions with insufficient ones provide incentives for self-directed actions"

(Bandura & Schunk, 1981).

From this quote, you can see where Geller's three questions come from. Believing that you can do it, that it will work, and that it is worth it will drive you to match the internal standards you set for yourself.

We explore this further in The Science of Self-Acceptance Masterclass©

The Importance of Self-Motivation

As you have likely already guessed, self-motivation is an important concept. While pleasing others and meeting external standards can certainly motivate us to get things done, such efforts aren't exactly labors of love.

In other words, doing things because we feel we have to do them or to gain some external reward is enough in many cases, but it doesn't invoke the passion needed to drive innovation and excellence.

It's fine to use external sources to motivate you in some areas, but external motivation is less likely to leave you feeling personally fulfilled and finding deeper meaning in your life.

Not only do we generally do better work when we are self-motivated, but we are also better able to cope with stress and are simply happier when we are doing what we want to be doing.

Is Self-Motivation a Skill and Can It Be Developed Through Training?

Given the benefits of being self-motivation, your next question might be, Can I become more self-motivated?

The answer is a definite "yes."

Self-motivation is driven by a set of skills that are within your control. Read on to learn how to use this to your advantage.

12 Tips and Skills to Motivate Yourself Today

The Skills You Need website lists six vital skills that form the foundation of self-motivation, and they are all skills that you can develop through sustained effort:

1. Setting high but realistic goals (e.g., SMART goals);

2. Taking the right level of risk;

3. Constantly seeking feedback to figure out how to improve;

4. Being committed to personal and/or organizational goals and going the extra mile to achieve them;

5. Actively seeking out opportunities and seizing them when they occur;

6. Being able to deal with setbacks and continue to pursue your goals despite obstacles (i.e., resilience).

Further, there are six things you can do to maintain your self-motivation:

1. Continue learning and acquiring knowledge (i.e., develop a love of learning);

2. Spend time with motivated, enthusiastic, and supportive people;

3. Cultivate a positive mindset and build your optimism and resilience;

4. Identify your strengths and weaknesses, and work on them;

5. Avoid procrastination and work on your time management skills;

6. Get help when you need it, and be willing to help others succeed (Skills You Need, n.d.).

14 Strategies for Students to Increase Their Self-Motivation to Study

Students are particularly well-suited to reap the benefits of self-motivation, but it can be hard to be self-motivated in the current educational environment.

Luckily, there are some things you can do as teachers, parents, and adult mentors to help students become self-motivated. In addition, there are plenty of strategies that students can apply themselves.

Here are some ideas for how to encourage self-motivation in students:

1. Provide students with as much autonomy and freedom of choice as possible (e.g., give students a choice in their seating arrangements or a range of options for their final project, and implement problem-based learning);

2. Provide useful feedback, praise hard work, and deliver critical feedback using words like "and" and "what if" instead of "but" to encourage student competence;

3. Cultivate a high-quality relationship with your students by taking a genuine interest in them, acting friendly, staying flexible, keeping your focus on the end goal of learning, and not giving up on them;

4. Encourage your students to think about, write about, and discuss how what they are learning is relevant to their own lives (Ferlazzo, 2015).

And, here are some ways that students can bolster their own self-motivation:

1. Attach meaning to your studies and take personal ownership over your knowledge and learning;

2. Create a plan: Map out your semester, your month, your week, and even your day;

3. Build a routine and apply time management skills to become more organized and productive;

4. Identify several comfortable study environments (they should be quiet and have few distractions);

5. Get enough sleep, eat nutritious food, and exercise regularly to stay healthy;

6. Tame "time monsters" like the internet, video games, or unproductive time spent with friends;

7. Avoid multitasking by choosing one subject or task to work on at a time and focusing all of your attention on it;

8. Take planned-and well-earned-breaks to stay refreshed and motivated;

9. Connect with a support system of friends and family who will encourage you to do your best;

10. Talk positively to yourself (Buckle, 2013).

How to Foster Self-Motivation in the Workplace

You may find it much easier to encourage self-motivation in the workplace than in school. After all, everyone in the workplace is there because they chose to be there, not because they're required to be there by the law or by their parents. Employees might have vastly disparate reasons for being at work, but it's unlikely they were compelled to work for their specific organization against their will.

As a manager, there are many ways to foster self-motivation in the workplace, including:

1. Giving your employees one-on-one attention, feedback, and recognition;

2. Ensure your employees have opportunities for meaningful advancement as well as training and education opportunities;

3. Set the example in terms of tone, work ethic, and values. Be a role model for positivity, optimism, and hard work;

4. Cultivate an uplifting and motivating culture that encourages employees to want to do their best;

5. Foster socialization through teamwork and team-based activities, projects, and events;

6. Stay as transparent as possible and open yourself up to questions, concerns, and ideas from your employees. Implement an open-door policy to ensure your employees feel heard (DeMers, 2015).

Writers Nick Nanton and J. W. Dicks at Fast Company offer some further strategies to ensure that both you and your employees stay motivated:

1. Sell your mission statement to your team as you would to an investor. Ensure the people working to meet that mission understand it and buy into it;

2. Foster a culture in which each employee has a specific job and a specific role with the organization, and give them room to grow and opportunities to implement ambitious new ideas;

3. Focus on inspiring your staff instead of just motivating them. Inspired employees will inherently be motivated;

4. Show your team recognition and appreciation for the hard work they do;

5. Share your passion with your team and lead from the front by developing a positive mindset and displaying a positive attitude (2015).

Techniques to Motivate Yourself at Work

You can also take control of your own self-motivation at work. Some good techniques for becoming more self-motivated at work include:

1. Finding work that interests you (This is a vital tip-it's much easier to be self-motivated when you are passionate about what you do and fully engaged in it.);

2. Request feedback from your boss or colleagues to learn about where you can improve and to enhance role clarity;

3. Learn a new skill that is relevant to your role (or your desired role);

4. Ask for a raise. Financial incentives are generally considered extrinsic motivation, but if you're happy with your position, being paid what you think you are worth can be very self-motivating;

5. Remind yourself of your "why," the reason you do the work you do. When you are doing meaningful work, you are more likely to find fulfillment and stay self-motivated;

6. Volunteer your services to others (This is especially helpful if you have trouble defining your "why.");

7. Take a vacation to allow yourself to rest, recharge, and come back refreshed and ready to work (Stahl, 2016).

Research on Self-Motivation

The research on self-motivation clarifies its vital role in helping us achieve our goals. Check out the findings on two important and related topics below.

Self-Discipline and Self-Motivation

While self-discipline and self-motivation are two distinct concepts, self-discipline is vital to maintaining self-motivation. It's not enough simply to be self-motivated-to achieve your goals, you need to couple self-motivation with self-discipline.

A study of online learners showed that even though they might all be considered self-motivated (since they are all taking a voluntary course with the goal of learning), those with self-discipline were the most likely to succeed.

Those who were highly self-disciplined displayed higher competence at the end of the course, fulfilled more external tasks, and were more effective in achieving their goals (Gorbunovs, Kapenieks, & Cakula, 2016).

Self-Motivation and Weight Loss

Very often, self-motivation is a key component of weight loss. Research on the connection between the two is quite clear.

In multiple studies, researchers found that participants who reported greater autonomy support and self-determined motivation were more effective in losing weight, more likely to keep the weight off for longer periods of time, and more positive about their weight loss journey (Teixeira, Silva, Mata, Palmeira, & Markland, 2012).

When we have our own closely held reasons for wanting to lose weight-and these reasons are based on personal fulfillment rather than meeting external standards-we are much more likely to find success.

17 Activities, Exercises, and Worksheets for Self-Motivation (PDFs)

If you are looking for more specific and practical ways to improve self-motivation, you'll be happy to know that there are tons of resources out there for you.

Check out the activities, exercises, and worksheets below to find ways to enhance your self-motivation. Or, share these resources with your clients to help them get self-motivated.

Quick and Easy Motivation Techniques

Some techniques and exercises are more difficult than others. If you're looking for a quick and easy exercise or activity to boost your self-motivation, try these:

1. Listen to motivational music, like:
a. Bill Conti'sGonna Fly Now;
b. Paul Engemann'sPush it to the Limit;
c. Queen'sWe Will Rock You;
d. Kenny Loggins'Danger Zone;
e. ACDC'sThunderstruck.

2. Read books that boost motivation from authors like:
a. Napoleon Hill;
b. Brian Tracy;
c. Tony Robbins;
d. Jim Rohn (Mueller, 2012).

Stronger Motivational Techniques

If you need techniques with a bit more power, you can try these:

Set wisely chosen and deeply personal goals that you are excited about working toward;

Schedule rewards for yourself when you accomplish your goals (or when you make steps toward your goals, for the larger ones);

Visualize yourself achieving and fulfilling these goals;

Create a vision board with your goals, aims, and dreams in mind, and post it somewhere you will see it often;

Pay attention to your "hierarchy of needs" (à la Abraham Maslow) and ensure you are meeting your lower-level needs (including physiological needs like food and sleep, safety needs, social needs, and esteem needs);

Consider using Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), the study linking neurology, language, and programming to understand human experience and motivation;

Envision what could happen when you reach your goals, as well as what could happen when you fail to reach your goals;

Incorporate things you are interested in and engage your curiosity when setting and working toward your goals;

Make a commitment to someone or something to ensure your future self will find it difficult to change plans or put things off (Mueller, 2012).

Self-Motivation Workbook (PDF)

This workbook is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to develop self-motivation.

It contains 23 pages of self-motivation information, activities, and exercises to help you find the drive within yourself that's needed to achieve your goals.

You'll find sections like:

What Makes People Self-Motivated?;

Lack of Energy or Self-Motivation?;

Making Decisions;

Don't Make Excuses;

Be Clear About Your Decisions;

The Three Decisions That Will Shape Your Life;

The NAC Concept of Pain and Pleasure;

Transforming Yourself.

Please note that you will need to register with www.plr.me to download this workbook. You can find more free motivation tools and worksheets here.

Exercise: Build Self-Efficacy

Building self-efficacy is one of the best ways to develop your self-motivation. It might sound difficult or complex, but there are three simple activities you can do that help get you there:

1. Ensure early success by choosing activities or steps that you know you can do;

2. Watch others succeed in the activity you want to try-this is particularly effective if the person you are observing is similar to you and/or close to you;

3. Find a supportive voice, like a coach, counselor, friendly manager, or mentor to encourage you and give you feedback (Mantell, 2012).

Set SMART Goals

As noted earlier, setting SMART goals is a great way to enhance your self-motivation.

When you set these goals, make sure they are:

Creating goals for yourself is one of the best things you can do to build a foundation for self-motivation. And if your goals are SMART, you are much more likely to find it easy to motivate yourself.

Seven Key Ways to Getting Motivated-A Worksheet

This worksheet from the Health Fitness Corporation offers a comprehensive experience in thinking about and working toward self-motivation.

It is focused on seven methods for getting self-motivated:

1. Make it Wonderful (visualize the lifestyle change you want);

2. Love and Respect Yourself;

3. Consider the Costs;

4. Involve Other People;

5. Make a Plan and Break It Down;

6. Make Sure Your Environment Supports Your Goal;

7. Pay Attention to Your Feelings.

For each method, there are several prompts and questions for you to complete that will get you thinking and help you understand how you can implement the techniques you are learning in your own life.

Click here to view this worksheet in PDF.

Getting Motivated to Change

This PDF from Texas Christian University's Institute of Behavior Research offers many useful handouts and worksheets on motivation, along with some instructions for how to use them and suggestions for implementing change-focused counseling and coaching (Bartholomew, Dansereau, & Simpson, 2006).

It breaks things down into four parts:

1. Motivation 101;

2. The Art of Self-Motivation;

3. Staying Motivated;

4. Making It Second Nature.

All four parts contain great resources, but the Art of Self-Motivation section includes some really useful handouts and worksheets, including:

Motivation and Change handout (page 28);

Taking a Hard Look - Pros and Cons (page 29);

Target Log (page 30).

Some of the resources in this PDF are targeted to people who are recovering from addiction, but it's easy enough to alter and adapt them for more general use.

Click here to access this 63-page resource.

5 Meditations to Promote Self-Motivation

Meditation can be a great way to help maintain your self-motivation.

Try these meditations to help you stay self-motivated:

Mountain Refuge's Meditation for Self-Motivation (20-minute guided meditation from Meditainment);

Meditation to Help Stop Procrastination (guided meditation from Jason Stephenson that's about one half-hour);

Guided Meditation-Motivation (11-minute guided meditation from Minds with Integrity);

10 Minute Meditation for Motivation and Building a Positive Mindset (10-minute guided meditation from The Mindful Movement);

Guided Meditation-Increase Motivation and Confidence (nine-minute guided meditation from Michael Mackenzie at Project Meditation).

Self-Motivation Quizzes, Questionnaires, and Tests

There are several fun quizzes and questionnaires you can use to explore your level of self-motivation. They aren't all rigorous and validated instruments, but that doesn't mean they can't be helpful.

Self-Motivation Quiz From Richard Step

You can find this quick five-minute quiz from Richard Step at this link. It includes 45 questions rated on a three-point scale (with Rarely, Maybe, and A Lot as the three options).

You can take it with a focus on your life in general, or you can narrow your focus to one of several areas, including:

Academics and schoolwork;

Business ownership;

Career growth and change;

Creativity;

Entrepreneurship and self-employment;

Faith and spirituality;

Family life;

Fitness and health;

Friendships;

Future vision;

Goal setting and completion;

Helping other people;

Hobbies and casual interests;

"I was asked to take the test";

Just for fun or curiosity;

Leadership and management;

Life purpose and passions;

Marriage and relationships

Money and wealth;

Psychological research;

Retirement and legacy living

Self-discovery and development;

Shopping and spending;

Success;

Teaching and training others;

Teamwork and team-building;

Trauma recovery.

Your results from this quiz will help you determine what makes you tick and what your main motivators are.

Motivation Style Quiz

If you want to learn what type of incentives you are most responsive to, this quiz from Martha Beck at Oprah.com can help. It includes only 10 questions with five response options each, so it's a quick and easy way to discover your motivation style.

Your results will be presented via a score on the five different motivator types:

Scores can range from 1 to 10, with higher scores indicating that something is a greater motivator for you. Anything with a score of 6 or higher can be considered one of your major motivators, while anything below 3 is only minimally important. Your main motivational style is the component with the highest score.

Along with your scores, you will see descriptions of each motivation style to get an idea of what your "type" is like.

The Self-Motivation Inventory

For a slightly more research-backed scale of self-motivation, you might want to consider the Self-Motivation Inventory. This inventory will help you determine your level of self-motivation and whether you're driven more by internal or external motivators.

It includes 30 items rated on a scale from 1 (less true) to 5 (more true), dependent on how well you feel each item describes you.

A few sample items include:

I frequently think about how good I will feel when I accomplish what I have set out to do;

If asked about what motivates me to succeed, I would say that the number one factor is a sense of personal fulfillment, that I gave my all and did my best;

When I think about the reward for doing something, the first thing I think about is the sense of accomplishment or achievement;

On several occasions, I have given myself a consequence for making a poor or less optimal decision. For instance, if I chose to eat an extra helping of dessert, I tell myself to work out an extra 10 minutes at the gym;

Even if something makes me feel slightly nervous or uncomfortable, I typically do not have much trouble getting myself to do it.

When you have answered all 30 questions, total your responses for your overall score. Your score will place you within one of the following categories:

1. Total Score 113-150: highly self-motivated;

2. Total Score 75-112: somewhat self-motivated;

3. Total Score 38-74: slightly self-motivated (perhaps in one or two areas, but not overall);

4. Total Score 0-37: not at all self-motivated (more externally motivated).

This inventory was developed by Milana Leshinsky and Larina Kase, and you can find it at this link.

Apps for Increasing Self-Motivation

If you've committed to becoming more self-motivated and working toward your goals, these seven smartphone apps can help you get started and maintain your drive:

1. DayOneApp: This journaling app allows you to add pictures, local weather data, and geo-location to each journal entry (iOS and Android);

2. MyFitnessPal: This food- and exercise-focused app helps determine the calories and overall nutrition of the food you eat and records your exercise activity (iOS and Android);

3. BrightNest: This self-improvement app is intended to help you "shape up your home and simplify your life" with guidelines and tips on things like organization, cleaning, and do-it-yourself projects that will remove the clutter from your (mental and physical) space (iOS and Android);

4. Headout: This app shares exciting, last-minute deals on fun experiences, including nearby activities, events, and tours. Make sure you make time to rest and relax in addition to all the work (iOS and Android);

5. Coach.me: This app acts as a sort of digital coach by posing powerful questions that will help you narrow down your desires, set goals, and stay open-minded and on track (iOS and Android) (Boss, 2016).

Popular Podcasts on Self-Motivation

If you're a fan of podcasts, you might be happy to know that there are plenty of motivation-related podcasts available.

Here's just a sample of the podcasts out there focused on this topic:

The Daily Boost: Best Daily Motivation (website);

The Accidental Creative (website);

Inspire Nation-Daily Inspiration, Motivation, Meditation (website);

The School of Greatness with Lewis Howes (website);

Cortex (website);

The Tony Robbins Podcast (website);

Happier with Gretchen Rubin (website);

Beyond the To Do List-Personal Productivity Perspectives (website);

The Charlene Show (website);

The Ziglar Show-Inspiring Your True Performance (website);

Courageous Self-Confidence (website).

Check out other great podcasts that are focused on improving your motivation at https://player.fm/.

22 Quotes and Messages to Ignite Self-Motivation

Sometimes you just need a quick boost to get self-motivated, and quotes are a great way to get the spike in motivation that you need. Among this list are 17 quotes collected by Lydia Sweatt (2016). Give these quotes and messages a read next time you're lacking in motivation.

"The only time you fail is when you fall down and stay down."

Aberjhani

"Most people can motivate themselves to do things simply by knowing that those things need to be done. But not me. For me, motivation is this horrible, scary game where I try to make myself do something while I actively avoid doing it. If I win, I have to do something I don't want to do. And if I lose, I'm one step closer to ruining my entire life. And I never know whether I'm going to win or lose until the last second."

Allie Brosh

"Always choose the future over the past. What do we do now?"

Brian Tracy

"You are your master. Only you have the master keys to open the inner locks."

Amit Ray

"Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy."

Norman Vincent Peale

"If you can dream it, you can do it."

Walt Disney

"Where there is a will, there is a way. If there is a chance in a million that you can do something, anything to keep what you want from ending, do it. Pry the door open or, if need be, wedge your foot in that door and keep it open."

Pauline Kael

"Do not wait; the time will never be 'just right.' Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along."

George Herbert

"Press forward. Do not stop, do not linger in your journey, but strive for the mark set before you."

George Whitefield

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

Eleanor Roosevelt

"Aim for the moon. If you miss, you may hit a star."

W. Clement Stone

"Don't watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going."

Sam Levenson

"There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, there are no limits."

Michael Phelps

"Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground."

Theodore Roosevelt

"We aim above the mark to hit the mark."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

"One way to keep momentum going is to have constantly greater goals."

Michael Korda

"Change your life today. Don't gamble on the future, act now, without delay."

Simone de Beauvoir

"You just can't beat the person who never gives up."

Babe Ruth

"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."

Arthur Ashe

"Why should you continue going after your dreams? Because seeing the look on the faces of the people who said you couldn't . . . will be priceless."

Kevin Ngo

"Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn."

Harriet Beecher Stow

6 Images to Inspire Self-Motivation

Similarly, sometimes a motivational poster, meme, or image can work wonders for your self-motivation. Below are six of my favorite motivation-related images.

The Classic Road Sign

I don't know about you, but there's something that calls to me in this image: the blue sky and clouds, the angle encouraging us to look up, and "Motivation" in big letters. For some reason, it just works!

Looking at this image makes me think about life as a journey and motivation as an important piece of that journey. If we want to reach our next destination, we need to put forth some effort to make it happen. And when we do, seeing that big road sign welcoming us can often be reward enough.

Yes I Can

The Yes I Can image also points out that the best motivation is self-motivation; as we've learned in this piece, that is truly the case. When we are motivated for our own internal reasons and committed to reach our goals for personal fulfillment rather than meeting the standards of others, we are more likely to succeed.

Sometimes, all we need is a quick reminder that "Yes I can!" Keep this image handy, especially when you're working towards a particularly challenging goal, and it might give you the boost of motivation you need to stay on track.

I Cannot Change Yesterday, But I Can Change Today

The message of this image is such an important point to remember, especially for those of us who struggle with leaving the past where it belongs: in the past.

It can be all too easy to dwell on past experiences, mistakes you've made, and roads that you should have taken. However, that does nothing to improve your current state. It's good to reflect on what has brought you to where you are today, but letting worry, shame, embarrassment, and self-doubt based on your past creep into your present is a sure recipe for failure.

Remember that yesterday is done and gone-you can't change it, so there's no point dwelling on it. Take your lessons learned and apply them to something you can change: today.

What Matters Most Is How You See Yourself

This is another classic image in self-motivation and self-esteem, probably because it has a kitten in it. Kittens make for popular images.

Besides being cute, it also gets an important point across: The most important thing is the view you have of yourself. What other people think simply doesn't matter most of the time. It's what you think and feel about yourself that drives your behavior.

If you want to stay motivated and achieve your long-term goals, make sure to work on your sense of self-esteem and self-efficacy. See the best in yourself when you look in the mirror, and you'll ensure that the best in yourself is what you manifest through your actions.

(Im)possible

This exhilarating (and potentially anxiety-inducing) image reminds us that what seems impossible is sometimes very possible. Of course, some things are truly impossible, based on things like gravity and the laws of nature, but this image isn't about those things. It's about things that seem impossible until you actually try them.

Challenge yourself to try something that seems impossible, giving it at least one solid attempt. You may be surprised at the outcome.

Don't Worry, You Got This

This meme is both adorable and motivational. Featuring a tiny hedgehog in a victorious pose, this is a great image to go to when you're in need of self-motivation combined with light-heartedness and humor. It can sometimes give a boost that simply can't be found in more solemn inspirational quotes.

Looking at the cute little hedgehog and telling yourself, " You got this! " might be enough to get yourself in the frame of mind to take on a new challenge with enthusiasm and a smile.

15 Recommended Movies to Get Yourself Motivated

If you're a cinephile, you might find movies a good source of motivation.

If so, this list of 15 motivational movies (along with the movies listed above) might be enough to give you a boost:

To see descriptions of the motivational power of these movies, read Samuel R. Murrian's (2017) article here.

TED Talks, Speeches, and Videos on Self-Motivation

Don't have time for a full-length feature film? That's okay! There are also tons of great TED Talks and YouTube videos on self-motivation. Check out any of the videos listed below to learn more about self-motivation:

The Psychology of Self-Motivation - Scott Geller

Psychology Professor Scott Gellar (mentioned earlier in this article) explains how to become more self-motivated in this inspiring TEDx Talk.

How Can We Become More Self-Motivated - Kyra G.

Thirteen-year-old Kyra shares in this TEDxYOUTH talk how to be motivated by setting goals and looking up to positive role models.

Self Motivation - Brendan Clark

Another young TEDxYOUTH speaker, Brendan Clark shares his own philosophies on motivation and success in this video.

7 Books on Self-Motivation

Of course, there's always the old-fashioned option to learn more about self-motivation: reading.

Check out these excellent books on self-motivation if you want an in-depth look at the topic:

Why We Do What We Do: Understanding Self-Motivation by Edward L. Deci and Richard Flaste (Amazon);

The Self-Motivation Handbook by Jim Cathcart (Amazon);

Self-Theories: Their Role in Motivation, Personality, and Development by Carol Dweck (Amazon);

The Motivation Manifesto by Brendon Burchard (Amazon);

The Motivation Myth: How High Achievers Really Set Themselves Up to Win by Jeff Haden (Amazon);

No Excuses! The Power of Self-Discipline by Brian Tracy (Amazon);

The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives by William Stixrud and Ned Johnson (Amazon).

A Take-Home Message

In this piece, we covered what self-motivation is, how it fits into similar concepts in psychology, how you can boost it in yourself, and how you can encourage it in others.

It's possible to increase self-motivation, and in turn, to increase your productivity and success. Hopefully, this article gave you some techniques and tools for achieving this.

What's your take on self-motivation? What works best for you? Do you find yourself motivated more by external rewards or by internal drives? Did you find that your motivation differs in different areas of life? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don't forget to download our three Goal Achievement Exercises for free.

If you'd like to help others succeed in life, our Motivation & Goal Achievement Masterclass© is a comprehensive training template for practitioners that contains everything you need to help your clients reach their goals and master motivation-enhancing techniques.

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Self-Motivation Explained + 100 Ways to Motivate Yourself

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The best kind of motivation is self-motivation. To demonstrate this point, let's consider two scenarios you've likely experienced: You have something you have to do. You're not excited or passionate about it, but you know you need to get it done.

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Motivation is important because it can increase your energy levels, it makes you happier, it can help you motivate others it can be infectious, it can enhance your performance, it can increase your commitment, and can help you grow as a person.

https://www.careeraddict.com/why-motivation-is-important-for-success-and-happiness

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having good confidence is another big thing when it comes to being motivated. you have to be confident when trying to complete a goal.

https://alison.com/build/confidence

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The first reason motivation is important is because it helps clarify a goal.
The second reason is it sets priorities in your life.
The third reason is it teaches perseverance and determination.
The fourth reason is it's important you will be able to push through setbacks.
The fifth reason is it will help you fight against fear.
The sixth reason is in life it builds self-confidence.
https://www.imaginated.com/mind/why-motivation-is-important-in-life/

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What is Motivation?

Motivation is the driving force for our actions, our willingness, and our desire to accomplish goals. The driving force can be extrinsic or intrinsic - in other words, from outside forces or from within.

It is that inner voice in your head and drive that keeps you getting up in the morning. But as we'll discuss later in this guide, sometimes we lose that inner voice and drive.

We'll touch on some reasons why it is lost later.

What Keeps People Motivated

When it comes to motivation, as mentioned, there are two driving forces - one from outside forces and one from within.

Extrinsic Motivation

Extrinsic motivation is an outside motivational force. It is often referred to as a drive that is driven by external rewards.

The rewards can be tangible such as money, material possessions, grades, etc and can also be intangible such as fame, praise, etc.

Intrinsic Motivation

Intrinsic motivation is an inside motivational force. It is often referred to as a drive that is driven without any obvious external rewards.

Intrinsic motivation brings internal satisfaction and you want to perform the act because it's enjoyable and interesting to you, rather than feeling a pressure to do it because of an outside pressure or incentive such as a reward or deadline.

Why is Motivation Important?

There are many positive effects of motivation that makes it very important in life.

Positive Effects of Motivation

1. Clarifies a Goal

The first reason motivation is important is because it helps clarify a goal.

How Motivation Helps in Achieving Goals

When you are motivated, you have a desire to achieve something, whether for extrinsic or intrinsic reasons.

Motivation can help you gain clarity on a goal and see the necessary steps you need to take in order to achieve it.

Where there is a will there's a way.

2. Sets Priorities

The second reason motivation is important is because it sets priorities in your life.

Have a goal to reach a certain weight? Have a goal to write a book?

By having motivation to accomplish these goals, it will help you focus on committing to that goal - often requiring sacrifices whether it be social or time.

3. Perseverance and Determination

The third reason motivation is important is because it teaches perseverance and determination.

If you are motivated to accomplish a goal, truly motivated, you won't let anything stand between you and your goal.

That means "failures" will not be seen as negative, but rather as learning moments.

Get knocked down once, but get up twice.

4. Pushes Through Setbacks

The fourth reason motivation is important is because you will be able to push through setbacks.

As mentioned in our last reason, there will be setbacks on your path to your goal.

Motivation will help you push through those setbacks, failures, and fears.

5. Fights Against Fear

The 5th reason motivation is important is because it will help you fight against fear.

Setting on the path to do something new can be scary.

It is the unknown - the "what if it doesn't work out" that scares us the most.

Motivation helps fight against this fear because it pushes you to do it anyways - to act courageous.

Of course, make sure what you are set out to accomplish has already been backed by thoughtful planning and ideation.

For example, if you've never ran in your life and you are trying to run a 4-minute mile, motivation won't help you run it - BUT, motivation will help you train to eventually get there one day.

But no need to fear, as long as you view "failures" only as learning points and not something negative, you will be good.

6. Builds Self-Confidence

The 6th reason motivation is important in life is because it builds self-confidence.

The ideas we were discussing earlier such as failures and pushing through setbacks applies here.

Once you push through a setback or get out of your comfort zone only to realize that it isn't so bad, this will build your self-confidence and ability to keep pushing forward.

You will realize that no matter how many times you get knocked down, that if you just keep getting back up then nothing can stop you.

7. Inspires Others

The 7th reason motivation is important is because it inspires others.

Why do you think motivational speakers are so important?

Some of the best motivational speakers are living proof that if you just stay motivated, keep learning, and keep getting up after you've been knocked down, that you will rise and succeed.

If you motivate yourself, you will often motivate others through your actions and ability to stay confident, to push through setbacks, and to stay on your path despite the "fears" and unknowns.

What Can Decrease Motivation

Motivation is great when we have it, but sometimes we just lose that drive whether it be extrinsic or intrinsic.

We may start feeling lost or in a severe situation, even depressed.

So how do we get something back that is so important as a human - our motivation, our drive, our sense of purpose?

Let's dive into some things that can cause a lack of motivation.

1. Not Knowing What We Want

The first factor when it comes to a lack of motivation is from not knowing what we want.

This could be due to a lack of planning or introspection.

Sometimes, we get so caught up in the daily grind and routine.

Waking up, going to work, coming home, eating dinner, watching TV, etc.

You can get so caught up in the routine that when you take a step back and think, "wait, what do I want from life?" it can throw you in a tailspin.

What is the end goal? Is the end goal even what I want? Is it the journey that I find joy in and not necessarily the destination?

If you were to ask yourself right now what is the end goal you are after and think about what it would look like if everything were to go exactly to plan, do you have an answer?

Is it working hard to get a promotion? Is it to make more money and buy a house? Is it to make enough money to have freedom to spend more time with your family?

If you don't have an answer to this question and thought, then take some to think about it.

We won't know where to go if we don't know where we are going.

2. Self-Identity

The second factor when it comes to a lack of motivation is from your self-identity and self-talk.

The mind listens to what we tell it.

Have you said to yourself these following statements before?

I'm so stupid

I'm so dumb

I'm an idiot I can't believe I just did that

This is an example of negative self talk, especially if you aren't saying it in a joking manner.

If you make a mistake, it's not that you are stupid, you just did something stupid.

Don't identify as stupid or any other negative connotation, and identify the singular action or occurence as that negative connotation.

The same applies when thinking about motivation.

Don't self-identify as a person who has a lack of motivation or your mind will listen.

Instead, if you are feeling an "off day," recognize that today you might just be tired or sleepy, and not necessarily "unmotivated."

If you even think that you are an unmotivated person, just think how far you have come in your life.

Everything you did whether it was going to school, getting a job, making friends, being good at a hobby, etc. is from you being motivated!

3. Not Aiming High Enough

The third factor when it comes to a lack of motivation is from not aiming high enough.

You do not want to put a limit on what you can accomplish because this will limit what you are willing to do.

If we set a goal in our head, we will start to take the necessary actions and steps to accomplish that goal if we know it or not.

So why not set a big stretch goal in our head? For example, want to close 10 leads this month? Why not 50 leads this month?

Your mind will start to figure out ways to make closing the 50 leads a reality which will push you in ways that will allow you to uncover new potential and creative ideas.

4. Trying to Tackle Too Much at Once

The fourth factor when it comes to a lack of motivation is from trying to tackle too much at once.

If you have too many spinning plates that you are trying to balance, you may keep them all spinning for a while, but eventually one might fall, and when that one falls, it draws your attention away from the other plates and then all plates will start to fall.

When you feel overwhelmed and are trying to tackle too much at once, instead of feeling like you are making progress, you may feel like you are doing a lot but nothing is getting done.

Because of this, you may eventually just disassociate from the situation altogether.

Instead of this, try to set one or a few goals at a time, then set mini goals for those goals.

Once you hit each mini goal, you will get a dopamine hit and feel a sense of accomplishment that will continue to give you motivation for the bigger goal.

5. Waiting for Motivation

The 5th factor when it comes to a lack of motivation is trying to wait for motivation.

Motivation may come and go.

If you watch an inspiring movie, you may be motivated for a day.

If you see a nice car on the street that you want, you may be motivated for a couple days.

Don't wait for motivation, it's human nature that some days you will be more motivated than others.

What you want to be is consistent.

Is your goal to write a book? You may be motivated some days to write, but what about on that day where you are feeling less motivated.

It is especially important on those days that you stay consistent and still write a certain number of pages.

Focus on consistency and don't wait for high motivational days.

Significance of Motivation in Human Life

Motivation has played an important role throughout the timespan of human existence.

Motivation has led to incredible feats being accomplished as well as horrific tragedies being committed.

Motivation is the underlying driver of existence and without motivation, we wouldn't be where we are today as a civilization.

It keeps us on the pursuit of something greater than ourselves.

Final Remarks

We hope you enjoyed this guide on the importance of motivation in life.
Now we'd love to hear from you!
What motivates you?

Or

Is there a reason why motivation is important that you think we left out?

Either way, let us know by leaving a comment down below.

Nate Joaquin Torres is a portrait photographer based in Southern California. As a photographer, Nate loves testing different photography styles and gear to expand his skill set. Outside of photography, Nate enjoys learning about new digital marketing strategy and new ways to think creatively. Nate is also the founder of Imaginated.com, DEEP IN THE MIX, and Blue Hour Candle. Connect with him on Instagram.

Categories Tags Mind Motivation

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Why Motivation is Important in Life: Ultimate Guide (2021)

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Motivation is the driving force for our actions, our willingness, and our desire to accomplish goals. The driving force can be extrinsic or intrinsic - in other words, from outside forces or from within. It is that inner voice in your head and drive that keeps you getting up in the morning.

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There are certain procedures you have to take when deciding to set a goal but you also have to think about the process to completion. when you've already started a goal you cant worry about everything all at once or you may get overwhelmed. you have to break it down and focus on individual parts separately to move on.

https://www.nateanglin.com/blog/how-to-master-a-hard-skill-and-stay-motivated

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Staying motivated is finding something that drives you to stay focused and accomplish whatever you're working for. Its what makes you want to get to the end of something to see the finished work.

How to Stay Motivated: 27 Motivational Strategies - Wanderlust Worker

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How badly do you want to achieve your goals? How much are you willing to sacrifice in the short term to gain in the long term? Are you motivated enough to keep pushing, even when times seem bleak and all hope might be lost?

Are you willing to give it all up just so that you can live a life on your own terms? Your friends? Your social life? Your car? Your house, even?

Okay, so maybe that sounds a little bit extreme to you. But, motivation is a serious subject. People that want to achieve their goals know that a large part of their chances for success boil down to their ability to get and stay motivated consistently.
When you lose your motivation, you lose the ability to achieve your goals.
Staying motivated is partly the secret to success. It's not the whole formula, but a large part of it rests on the shoulders of motivation.

No matter what goals we set or how detailed our plans might be, if we can't find the motivation to take massive and consistent action, success is largely fleeting. But, when we can stay motivated and push through, breaking the bad habits that tend to hold us back, literally, anything is possible.

I don't write any of this as some cheerleading rant. This isn't a personal mantra. This is real, based upon hard facts. Find the best strategies for staying motivated, even through the toughest of times, and you'll find the road to success.

Personally, I struggled with motivation. I've fought through major failures, setbacks, upsets, and strings of defeat, one after another. Through it all, staying motivated was hard. There were times when I thought I had completely lost the desire to move on.

But I stayed committed, even though it was hard and I wanted to throw in that proverbial towel and give up. Yet, my story isn't unique. Research studies indicate that entrepreneurs will average 3.8 failures for every success.

However, for anyone trying to overcome failure, staying motivated can be the furthest thing from the mind. Yet, without that same motivation, we're stuck in neutral, and even forced to live life in reverse, filled with regret, anxiety, fear, and animosity.

Luckily, I was able to employ methods to help me stay motivated, even though things seemed pretty bad, and you can too.

Below are 27 motivational strategies to help push you push through to achieving your goals.

#1 - Eliminate procrastination

Procrastination is the silent killer. This is the number one ailment to sap our motivation. If you want to stay motivated and achieve your dreams, you have to eliminate procrastination from your life. It's not easy. But it's necessary.

In a post in the not-so-distant past, I spoke about the top 5 ways to stop procrastinating. I discussed doing things like setting clearly defined goals, using time management techniques, and implementing the 15-minute rule, just to name a few.

In fact, the 15-minute rule is a great technique that you can use anytime you're feeling a lack of motivation to do something or you've been putting it off for too long.

To implement this, simply set a timer for 15 minutes. Use your smartphone, smartwatch, or any other device at your disposal. Agree that you'll do whatever task it is for those 15 minutes, at least. Then you can stop.

What's the point of this? Momentum. After 15 minutes, you'll likely find yourself continuing to follow through. The difficulty is simply getting started.

#2 - Cut out distractions

Staying motivated involves your ability to limit distractions. Television, Internet, cell phones, games, and excessive socializing count as distractions.

If you're serious about your goals, then you have to get serious about just how you use the time that you do have. Create blocks of time where you decide to turn everything off. This includes shutting down the smartphone, home phone, Internet, and anything else that can interrupt you.

This also means you have to limit some of your social time. We can't stay motivated if we're constantly engaging in activities that don't help to move us towards our goals.

#3 - Change your location

Sometimes, to stay motivated, we need to just change our location. We're all creatures of habit, but picking up and going to a place where we can be more productive is helpful at times.

When J.K. Rowling was writing the first Harry Potter book, she would sneak away to coffee shops while her daughter napped. It took her 6 years to finish that first book, but she couldn't do the bulk of the work at home. She needed a place to escape to where she could focus and concentrate.

Find a productive place you can go nearby. It can be a coffee shop, a restaurant, a public park, or any other place that will help foster your creativity, eliminate some distractions, and motivate you to get your work done.

#4 - Go for a short run

Sometimes, a short run can get the blood flowing and take us from a sedentary state to one that's primed and ready to take action.

If running isn't your thing, find some other short burst of exercise you can do for at least 15 minutes. The point? Get active. Get the blood flowing through your body.

Motion creates emotion, and powerful emotions can arise from strenuous activity, enough to help you get and stay motivated to follow through with whatever you need to do.

#5 - Meditate

Meditation is the art of being present, and it has powerful and transformative properties that help to align your physical self with your spiritual self.

Often, we lead hectic lives, but meditation centers us, helping to remove the clutter in our minds, and renewing our sense of spirit and motivation.

Staying motivated is difficult work, but meditation helps to cleanse the mind, giving us a fresh perspective to approach our goals with gusto.

#6 - Do yoga

Yes, even 15 minutes of doing yoga can help you get motivated. In fact, this and other physical activities are all great motivational strategies because it helps to move the body and oxygenate the blood.

Yoga also helps to release positive endorphins into the body that help to stimulate the mind, helping to battle the stress hormones that prevalent in the mind and body.

We tend to lose our motivation because we have so much going on in our lives that we get overwhelmed. Yoga helps to eliminate some stress while allowing us to regain focus and clarity.

#7 - Dispel your fears

There are over 60,000 thoughts that run through our minds in a given day. We're unaware of most of those thoughts as they take place in the subconscious mind.

The problem? The large portion of our thoughts are fear-based. What happens if so-and-so happens? What will I do if XYZ occurs? What if I lose my job? What if I can't earn money?

We ask ourselves fear-based questions without even consciously being aware of it. For that reason, if we want to get and stay motivated, we have to dispel our fears.

Take out a sheet of paper and write down all of your fears. Then, write down why you're afraid of those things. Finally, create an excuse as to why each of those reasons aren't true. Reference past experiences where you've pulled through or accomplished something you didn't think was possible at the time.

There's real power in bringing subconscious fears into the conscious realm and dispelling them.

#8 - Watch a YouTube video

Sometimes, it can be as simple as watching a YouTube video. Whether you're looking for inspiration, motivation, or anything in between, YouTube is a great resource.

The best part? You can do this just about anywhere.

Often, when we're working tirelessly towards our goals, especially when we hit some roadblocks and suffer some major setbacks, it's hard to see the forest through the trees. Keep that in mind and don't give up. Keep pushing and do whatever it takes to find it within you to slowly inch forward.

#9 - Watch a TED Talk

I am literally addicted to TED Talks. I can't seem to get enough of them, and that's the general consensus amongst most folks. You can find some fascinating, inspiring, and motivating videos on TED Talk.

There are years and years of archives, so no matter what you're searching for, you'll likely find it. This is a great motivational resource, and one that I turn to often.

Find TED Talks online, or go to their YouTube channel.

#10 - Set goals with milestones

A major source of motivation stems from setting goals the right way that also include milestones. Milestones offer up short-term markers on the route to achieving our goals.

If you're feeling your motivation wane, get back to the basics and set clear and specific goals that are measurable and include milestones. Sometimes, we need to step back and look at just what it is that we want out of life.

The reason your goals have to be specific is because the mind will only gravitate towards the specific and real thoughts rather than the obscure. The more specific your goals are, the more motivated you'll be, and the more likely you'll be achieve success.

#11 - Visualize your future

Once you have your goals, you can get and stay motivated by visualizing your future. What will life be like when you achieve your goals? Where will you live? What will you do for work? What will you enjoy in your free time? What places will you travel to?

Spend some time visualizing your future by writing out a detailed description of how life will be like when you achieve your long-term goals.

#12 - Revisit the reasons for your goals

Reasons why you want to achieve something can be a powerful motivator. But they can't just be superficial reasons; they have to be deep and profound.

In life, we'll always do more to achieve something that we wholeheartedly have profound reasons for. If you didn't set reasons for why you wanted to achieve your goals, then now is the time to revisit those goals and establish deep-rooted reasons for wanting to see them through.

Goals lose their meaning when the reasons we want to achieve them are no longer important to us. If you want to get motivated and stay motivated, find deep-rooted reasons.

What are some examples of deep-rooted reasons? It's certainly not money or fame - those are superficial reasons. Things like family, freedom, and security are deep-rooted reasons.

Look at your goals and write out a full page on the reasons you're willing to do absolutely anything possible to achieve them. Yes, a full page each.

#13 - Manage your time effectively

One easy way to lose motivation is to be a poor manager of your time. Stay motivated by organizing your time and limiting the time-wasters.

We're all guilty of this to one degree or another. No one wants to work all the time. But, when you can effectively manage your time, you'll find yourself making far more progress.

Time is the great equalizer because we all have the exacta same amount of it. No one has more time than the other person. No matter where they're from, what they do, or who they know.

The most popular time management system is the Eisenhower system, named after President Dwight D. Eisenhower but later popularized by Dr. Stephen R. Covey. The system breaks all of our activity down into four quadrants:

Quadrant 1 - Important & Urgent: Crises & Emergencies

Quadrant 2 - Important but Not Urgent: Long-Term Strategic Goals

Quadrant 3 - Urgent but Not Important: Distractions & Interruptions

Quadrant 4 - Not Important & Not Urgent: Time-Wasting Activities

Your goal? Stay in Quadrant 2 as much as possible. In order to do that, you should audit your time. Write down every activity that you do in the day and categorize it under the four quadrants. After one week, see how much time you were spending in each quadrant.

You can stay motivated by taking care of Quadrant 2 activities that will help advance you towards your goal, first thing in the morning or day. Get those out of the way first, always.

#14 - Contribute to others

Sometimes, to stay motivated we have to contribute to others. Often, we're so entrenched in our minds and in our problems, that we forget about everything else going on in the world. We forget about all the problems and tragedies that befall many others.

By contributing, you gain perspective on your life and learn to appreciate the things you have rather than what you don't. In turn, you get more motivated.

There are always people out there who are far worse off than ourselves. When you contribute, you also develop a deeper sense of self and connection with others and your community.

#15 - Gratitude List

What are you grateful for? It's easy to come up with things that we're unhappy about in our lives, but what about the things that we're happy for?

Motivation can come from some unlikely places, but it can also come from very likely ones. When you write out a gratitude list, you detail the things that you don't take for granted in your life. This has a profound affect on your attitude, state-of-mind, well-being, and desire for motivation.

Some people who are successful and blessed with so much are still so unhappy, while others who have so little are completely happy. How is that so?

Happiness is a state-of-mind. We can all be happy if we look for the things that we're grateful for. Thoughts are things and what the mind focuses on, the mind will get.

List out everything that you're grateful for in your life. Are you grateful for your family? Maybe your health? Maybe your friends? Or maybe for the simple fact that you're alive? Whatever it is, list it out.

#16 - Listen to music

A simple but effective method to get and stay motivated is to listen to music. Of course, it has to be the right music. What music motivates you? What music inspires you?

You can get motivated by created a motivational soundtrack. Find songs that you love, and listen to them for at least 15 minutes. While you listen, visualize your future. What things will you achieve? How will your life be like when those goals have materialized in your life?

There is real power in music. Learn to leverage it for your benefits.

#17 - Take a test drive

Many people have money-related goals, and staying focused and motivated can often be hard. Yet, when we can see, feel, and touch the things that we're pursuing, motivation is easier to come by.

Head to your nearest dealership and test drive your dream car. It doesn't matter whether you intend to purchase it right away or not. The test drive instills the motivation to keep pursuing whatever it is that you desire in life.

This is powerful because thoughts are things, and our subconscious minds do far more in the way of goal achievement than we can imagine. When you take a test drive, you take the intangible and make it tangible.

It has a powerful way of, not only motivating, but also steering us towards that which we desire.

#18 - Go to an open house

Similar to the test drive, going to an open house allows you to see, touch, and witness your goals firsthand. Find your dream home and go see it in an open house. In fact, take an entire Sunday and tour open houses in your favorite neighborhoods.

There's an enormous motivational effect that occurs when you do this. It's far easier to see the potential outcome of our goals when we can witness it firsthand rather than merely visualizing it in our mind.

Visualizing is a powerful technique, but seeing it in real life helps to transmute that thought into reality.

#19 - Research vacations

Travel is a source of motivation for many. Most dream of traveling to far-off places and exotic destinations. If you love to travel as much as the next person, research some vacations that you could go on. Even if you can't afford to go now, do the research and plan something a year or two years out from now.

The physical act of researching and planning a vacation helps to make a transformative shift in the mind. We go from goals that are intangible, to realizing just what our goal achievement can bring us.

Similar to the test drive and the open house, researching and planning a vacation helps to bring a more tangible element to the achievement of our goals.

#20 - Drink coffee or an energy drink

This motivational strategy is simple and straightforward. Drink coffee or an energy drink to give yourself that extra perk to take massive action.

If you're not a coffee or energy drink drinker, try herbal remedies that will help boost your energy levels.

You could also ensure that you get plenty of sleep so that you're motivated enough in the day to follow through with your personal goals.

#21 - Create a weekly plan

Create a massive action plan to help boost your motivation levels. When you create a plan towards your goals, you make them that much more real.

No matter how small the actions in your weekly plan might be, as long as they get you just a little bit closer to your goals, then they should be included. Small actions add up to big returns when strung together.

While creating a plan is great, you should also track your progress. When you look back, it can help to motivate you on just how far you've come. It's hard to lose sight of that when you're reaching towards your goals. Build some perspective and enhance your motivation by constantly creating weekly plans.

#22 - Make a daily to-do list

Create a list of action items that you can do today, or right now even, that will help move you towards your goals. Getting in the habit of creating to-do lists is an effective way to stay motivated towards achieving your goals.

You can combine this with the effective time management skills to help you achieve your goals without losing motivation. When we can effectively manage our lives with lists and the goals that we're aiming towards, it's far harder to lose sight of what we're after.

When we fail to create lists, it's easier to get sidetracked.

#23 - Listen to an audiobook

Find a motivational or inspirational audiobook that you can listen to. Audiobooks are a great usage of commute time and time that would otherwise be wasted on something else. Whether you're exercising or traveling to work, find some audiobooks you can turn to for increased motivation.

You can select from a number of motivational authors such as Anthony Robbins, Jim Rohn, or of course, myself. Check out Breakthrough, How Not to Give Up, Move Mountains, or the Art of Persistence if you feel so inclined.

#24 - Go for a drive

Sometimes, in order to get some perspective on our lives, we have to just go for a drive. Going for a drive helps us to get away from the chaos, momentarily.

When we drive, we tend to delve deep into thought. Our subconscious minds are hard at work trying to reason and rationalize our actions, behaviors, and emotions. But those drives are important to our well-being.

As you drive, think about all that you've accomplished thus far. Mentally step away from all that's going on in your life and try to focus on the good rather than the bad. Fill yourself with a sense of spirit and motivation to achieve whatever it is that you set out to achieve.

#25 - Read an article about a successful person

Sometimes, reading about other successful people who've been through similar circumstances is a great way to avoid losing motivation. The information is out there right at your fingertips.

People like J.K. Rowling, who was so poor she was living on government assistance, or Oprah Winfrey who was similarly poor and abused both mentally and physically as a child, are inspirations to many others.

Henry Ford's first two businesses went bankrupt, while Stephen King's initial novel, Carrie was rejected by 30 separate publishers and even thrown into the trash one time before his wife recovered it.

#26 - Find a mentor

A great way to avoid losing motivation is to find a mentor. Mentors can help us in so many ways. And while there's no one specific way to find a mentor, you should certainly get out there and locate one that can help push you and inspire you to achieve your dreams.

Whether it's a successful business person that you meet through a friend, or someone in your family even, find someone who can help coach you along.

Keep in mind that success won't be easy no matter what. It's easy to lose motivation for anyone. But turning to a mentor can help to bring all that hard work you're doing into perspective.

#27 - Create a vision board

A vision board is a great way to keep motivated. What are your goals and your dreams? Find pictures and print them out. Go online and locate images that best represent your goals or cut them out from magazines.

Buy a cork board or some other board that you can hang in your home or office and pin the photos that inspire you. Cut out motivational sayings and quotes that go along with it. Whatever it takes to help you from losing your motivation.

Pictures can be powerful motivators. Find the ones that best represent what you're working so hard for and pin them up somewhere you can see them every single day.

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How to Stay Motivated: 27 Motivational Strategies - Wanderlust Worker

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"It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop." - Confucius The Best Strategies for Staying Motivated How badly do you want to achieve your goals? How much are you willing to sacrifice in the short term to gain in the long term?

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Staying motivated is like a puzzle, there are separate parts to it. there is, picking a goal, finding ways you can accomplish the goal, what will help you get to the end of your goal, problems you may come across, getting through the problems, finishing your goal. those are a few steps or "pieces" to getting to the end of your goal.

The puzzle of motivation | Dan Pink - Bing video

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ted talks talking about what staying motivated means - Bing video

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Top suggestions for ted talks talking about what staying motivated means

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Mastering the ability to stay motivated 

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Mastering the ability to stay motivated 

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There are many ways you can master the ability of staying motivated but there are steps to it and you cant stray from the process or you will lose track and end up giving up.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=why+is+it+important+to+stay+motivated&cvid=c79a22be0a374a81b178464b77ff5803&aqs=edge.0.0.10413j0j1&pglt=43&FORM=ANNTA1&PC=ASTS#

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why is it important to stay motivated - Bing

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impacts mental and physical human reactions. Highly-motivated individuals and staff have a willingness to get the job done efficiently and effectively, resulting in higher productivity, increased revenue, cost savings and satisfied employees and business owners.

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When you want to stay motivated you work on certain parts of yourself so you find the will to stay motivated and keep up the hard work to get to a finished product in the end, it takes time but having the mindset to stay motivated will always help in any situation. 

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When you want to stay motivated you work on certain parts of yourself so you find the will to stay motivated and keep up the hard work to get to a finished product in the end, it takes time but having the mindset to stay motivated will always help in any situation. 

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https://www.lifehack.org/articles/featured/how-to-stay-motivated.html

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Akina Chargualaf
Akina Chargualaf is an entrepreneur, writer, and the content creator of travel and personal development blog Finding Fifth. Read full profile

Are you wondering how to get your life back on track? First, you need to ask yourself this question: What is control, and what does it look like to you?

Does it mean having the proper balance between your personal and professional life, or is it more about having the skill to make quick decisions? Control is defined differently by each person, and every once in a while, we let that control slip out of our hands.

Once that control slips, we have two options: to grab hold of it, or completely let go, which then results in a domino effect.

Take Tom as an example of the domino effect.

Tom has a great job and goes to the gym regularly. He eats fairly balanced meals, and although he isn't strict on his diet, he's consciously aware of what goes into his body. He has a loving wife at home, and also picked up photography as a hobby outside of his work because his hobby makes him happy.

Now, Tom recently got thrown a project at work, and it has been stressing him out. He's been taking his lunches at his desk, and it's usually whatever is on-the-go. He tuned himself out in his social circles, rescheduled his anniversary dinner with his wife, and stopped going to the gym altogether. He tells himself, "I'll make it up when this is done," and continues to focus solely on the project at hand.

Months later, Tom has completed his project and is given a well-deserved accolade for his hard work. Although Tom feels accomplished, he feels a disconnect. His social circles have planned a gathering without him, he's packed on several pounds from neglecting his diet and the gym, and although he makes up the anniversary dinner with his wife, she doesn't seem genuinely interested anymore.

The moral of this story is that things usually feel out of control when we begin to neglect or ignore the things and people who matter to us, even if it's temporary. It's at these times that you may start wondering how to get my life back on track. It's also about understanding that once you let one thing slide, it'll become easier to let other things go, which will cause you to feel off balance.

If this happens, there are things you can do to get back on track, eliminate bad habits, and live your life.

1. Do a Life Audit

Life audits are great to help you start paying attention to different areas of your life - career, intimate relationships, family relationships, emotional well-being, health, finances, spirituality, and creativity. When it comes to getting your life back on track, it's best to assess where you are at this present moment.

There are many versions of the life audit, and it's about finding a method that works for you. While some may prefer to work on a diagram, which is similarly called the Wheel of Life others would rather answer a list of questions instead. And here at Lifehack, you can take the Life Assessment for free and understand more about your life. Take the assessment now and it'll give you more clarity across the scales.

When things are beginning to feel out of control, it's usually a sign from the universe that you must check-in with yourself in order to get back on track. Sometimes, when life takes over and the busyness sets in, we neglect important and vital areas that cause us to sacrifice our health and overcompensate our time and energy in relationships and things that aren't serving us.

The first step is to check in and see how happy you are in these major life areas if you want to learn how to get your life back on track. Successful people are those who can be honest with themselves about which areas of their life need the most work.

2. Regain Your Confidence

Confidence is the root to how you show up every day and into the long-term. Showing up is more than getting up and going to work; it's about showing up with an intention for the day.

When things are spiraling out of control, it's because you lack physical and mental clarity. Although confidence may seem an intangible element to grasp, it's far more within reach than you think.

Think about what gives you confidence, and find things that correlate to that. If it's feeling good about your body, commit to fitness. If it's knowledge, learn from those you admire, or reach out to a mentor you would like to work with.

Once you have control over how you show up everyday, you will feel more control in the other areas of your life.

3. Carry out a Brain Dump

On average, we have 50,000-70,000 thoughts per day. Although it's impossible to keep track of every single thought that crosses our mind, there is still an uncontrollable list that flows into our consciousness, which can get in the way when you want to know how to get back on track.

Some of these thoughts spark inspiration or excitement, while others may trigger stress or feelings of being overwhelmed, which can get in the way of getting your life back on track. Eventually, a long list begins to appear, including things to do, daily chores, errands, people to see, project ideas, etc.

Brain dumping helps declutter the mind and is a chance to bring all those ideas and thoughts onto paper in order to get back on track. By relieving some of that space, you now have room to focus.

Next time you're feeling overwhelmed or feel that things are spinning out of control, take 15-20 minutes of brain dumping. This exercise isn't supposed to have structure. Instead, do it free flowingly, and write everything that comes to mind.

Afterward, you can begin shuffling through your notes, and prioritize them into different categories.

4. Organize the Little Things

When you feel like you don't have control over the major events in your life, always remember you have control over the things that surround your space - literally. This means having control over how clean your house is, how organized your drawers are, if you eat healthy, how much money you spend, how often you see family and friends, etc.

The little things add up and can also help you feel like you're regaining control of your life and reduce stress along the way. This is a great place to start if you want to learn how to get your life back on track.

5. Define Your Purpose

Redefining or identifying your purpose is a root that must be planted within you. This, in fact, is the core of building your motivation.

If you want to learn how to identify this core motivation, you can join Lifehack's free Fast-Track Class - Activate Your Motivation. It's a free session that will guide you to do just that. Reserve your spot here.

Diving into self awareness can help identify or define your purpose, and that is the core of you. Even in harsh weather, trees tend to stand firm, despite how strong the wind or rain may be. When you define your purpose, you're building that strong base for yourself.

When things seem to be spiraling, refer back to your purpose and the joy that comes from it. Let that root you as you try getting life back on track.

6. Assess Your Time Management

Time management is a life skill, and one that takes years to master. There's nothing wrong with wanting to engage in multiple projects, but like everything else, it's about moderation and portion sizes. Assess your day, and see how much of your time and energy go into certain areas and activities if you want to get your life back on track.

For example, I had a client who worked two jobs. She was exhausted all the time and found herself stressed because she didn't have any time to herself. She only had one day off, and it weighed heavily on her emotionally, mentally, and even physically.

For one week, I had asked her to write down how much time she was actually spending doing different activities, including work, recreation, and errands. After physically writing it down, we discovered that her work actually took 75 hours of her time a week and an additional 14 hours of that commuting. She only averaged about 5 hours a sleep at night and ran her errands in between work shifts that left her with only one day to spend with family.

The next step was looking at the time she had spent and if having two jobs was worth the mental and physical exhaustion. Afterwards, we broke down how much she was realistically earning.

After having a clearer picture, I had asked her if it was worth keeping two jobs. She answered no.

Sometimes, it takes a bit of breaking things down and seeing where your time is spent, with whom, and if it's aligned to your needs.

7. Don't Be Too Hard on Yourself

When things feel like they are stacking against our favor, sometimes we're quick to put pressure on ourselves to get our life back on track immediately, which can negatively affect our mental health.

Although there's no one solution to help you learn how to get your life back on track overnight, understand that it's a series of steps towards a specific goal.

Routines are built through consistency and patience. Actions that consists of "re"- redoing, reinventing, reassessing-means to do something again or differently. Know that this process does take time, and maybe time is what you need first.

The Bottom Line

When life seems to be out of our control, it's also a sign to slow down and reassess where we are in life. Oftentimes, when things start crumbling all at once, it's an indicator that we have lost the balance that centers our lives.

Acquiring balance is a lifelong lesson and changes with major life events and throughout time. Next time you feel like everything is happening at once, know that it's also another opportunity to rebuild and get back on track.

More on How to Get Your Life Back on Track

Featured photo credit: Dmitry Vechorko via unsplash.com

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How to Stay Motivated and Reach Your Big Goals in Life

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Akina Chargualaf Akina Chargualaf is an entrepreneur, writer, and the content creator of travel and personal development blog Finding Fifth. Read full profile Are you wondering how to get your life back on track? First, you need to ask yourself this question: What is control, and what does it look like to you?

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Motivation means finding drive and direction from within. Also finding an activity that keeps you engaged and putting effort into it. The desire to want to accomplish something.
What Does Motivation Mean and How To Stay Motivated? (motivationgrid.com)

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The dictionary defines motivation as a reason or reasons to act in a particular way. It is a desire to accomplish something. Most times when we want to accomplish a goal we need a willingness to help us improve our habits and get results. This is where motivation counts.

Our desire could shift from one thing to another though. The term "motivation" is constantly changing especially when we have certain aspirations. What motivated us yesterday or today may not be what motivates us tomorrow.

So what does motivation mean? It means finding drive and direction from within. It means finding an activity that keeps you engaged and putting effort into it. People who are motivated desire to do things, they desire to make a difference rather than sit and wait for things to happen.

It takes 10 years and 10,000 hours to become an expert. - Dr. Anders Ericsson

Motivation is a significant predictor of success, according to studies by Dr. Anders Ericsson. The most successful people are those who keep pushing on. Those with high motivation are guaranteed preparation and maximum performance which drives results.

It is always better to create a list of things that motivate you. Don't limit this list. Even when your habits begin to slip, do well to refer to this list. - Eimantas Balciunas, CEO of Travel Ticker.

It is easier to become motivated about an activity when you are passionate about it. So ask yourself why you are passionate or dispassionate about an activity. One way to certainly get motivated is to find your passion in a particular activity. When you do, you can be motivated about it. You could also include others in this activity and gain the support you need to keep on going.

What Does Motivation Mean and How To Stay motivated?

How to know who is motivated?

The thing about motivation is that no one can truly push you to get something done except you. While you can be encouraged, supported or inspired, it takes personal effort to get things done.

Motivated people have a zest for life. They are excited about the future and have strategies to reach their goals.

They are persistent. Yes there could be obstacles. But motivated people don't see this as a problem. Rather they would find ways around a problem and seek solution instead.

They are energetic. Of course they are enthusiastic and have no reason to be dampened with regrets and disappointment. They are always working hard to attain results.

They are positive. They know things would work out for the best. They don't wait for the moment to come, rather they have a look of optimism on their face when they set out to accomplish a task.

They are focused. They know where they are headed and are not turned down by distractions.

They have self-belief. They do realize their weaknesses but rather than use this as a yardstick, they find ways to compensate for it. Through this they can gain confidence that they will indeed attain their goals.

They are knowledgeable. The motivated person doesn't simply walk the walk, they are conduct research and gain knowledge. They are not scared to learn more or consult people who can build them up with the knowledge they need.

They focus on excellence. They are always looking for better ways to complete a task. Thus they are more quality-oriented.

"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily." - Zig Ziglar

Why you should be motivated

While it may be difficult to ascertain the degree to which motivation can help drive results, it should be known that motivation pushes higher value and substantial levels of achievement. Being motivated drives success.

"Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek." - Mario Andretti

What could drive motivation?

There are several factors that could drive motivation in you. This could be dependent on your age, goals, and what stage you are in life. But here are some things that could make you motivated:

Money, Ambition, Independence, Status, Opportunity, Self-esteem, making a difference and having a point to prove.

How to be motivated

Being motivated means you are willing to do everything to succeed. Finding motivation shows you are willing to maintain effort consistently. To gain motivation you have to be willing to do these five things.

"You can motivate by fear. And you can motivate by reward. But both of these methods are only temporary. The only lasting thing is self-motivation." - Homer Rice

Embrace the unknown

With every risk or reason to be overwhelmed, take more risks. Do something you fear. Go ahead, speak in front of a crowd or make a presentation to persons who you know will be adamant to your proposition. Rather than let your worries take you down, use it as a positive energy to surge forward. According to Neil Patel, entrepreneur and superstar blogger, when you can face your fears and start something you great, you will certainly meet persons and reasons to stay motivated until you reach your goals.

Hang around positive people

You don't need negative people around you when you are going through challenges. Having motivated and positive people around you will keep you motivated and surging on to your goals. Negative people on the other hand will bring your energy level down and infect you to take the wrong actions. Yes positive people can lift your spirit with the right words.

Make a plan and take action

You cannot negate the importance and power of making a plan and taking action after. Having a strategy to get out of your challenges will set you in the direction to do what is necessary to reach your goals. You are better equipped to be motivated and productive when you have a well-laid out plan to tackle your obstacles.

When you take action out of an effective strategy you can proceed with confidence and you're better motivated to get those things you desire.

Be in charge and act responsibly

There is no need to make fuss or sweat the small stuffs. Focus on how you can retain your perceptive powers to be on top of the situation. Act responsibly and show you are courageous enough to deal with the situation. No one can get you out of a difficult situation other than you. It is your responsibility to identify what is going wrong and deal with the situation.

Solicit for positive advice

Sometimes we cannot deal with a situation independently. The best way to deal with it is to solicit and ask for help. You could be restricted to handle a matter on your own. Sometimes you need to find the right people to help you out of your challenges and reach out to them. So practice the three step process. Seek for the right person. Ask for their help. And share how important their help will take you in the right direction. Yes the answers to our challenges are in places we never thought or imagined of. So go out there to seek for those who will prove helpful to your challenging situation.

Casey Imafidon wants everyone on the planet to be successful. It's your right to be. As a freelance writer he has blogged on the subject on addicted2success.com, Lifehack.org, thoughtcatalog and several other blogs. You can also catch him on his website where he blogs about happiness, success and relationships or read his digital book WHERE THE DEEP ENDS MEET - LOVE, SEX AND COFFEE.@caseyimafidon

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What Does Motivation Mean and How To Stay Motivated?

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The dictionary defines motivation as a reason or reasons to act in a particular way. It is a desire to accomplish something. Most times when we want to accomplish a goal we need a willingness to help us improve our habits and get results. This is where motivation counts.

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When no work seems too hard or too much or too boring. When you work harmoniously and energetically. Attention is alert and focused. Highly motivated individuals persist at the task, desire high levels of performance, and come back to the task time and time again voluntarily.
McInerney, D. M. Helping Kids Achieve Their Best : Understanding and Using Motivation in the Classroom. Information Age Pub, 2005. INSERT-MISSING-DATABASE-NAME, INSERT-MISSING-URL. Accessed 26 Nov. 2021.

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Understand your why. The main reason is the why-the purpose behind what you're doing. Being clear about what you're working for can give you the stimulus to stay on course.
Define your goal. Defined goals put your ideas into action mode.
Create a clear vision. If you want to succeed, you must create a clear compelling vision, something that you can relate to and resonate with. If it doesn't speak to your heart, it won't motivate you to stay on target.
Produce a plan. Once you have a goal in place, a plan is will take your vision and break down the steps you need to get it done.
Keep it positive. Positive thoughts lead to positive actions, and self-affirming statements will help you to achieve your best.
https://www.inc.com/lolly-daskal/19-simple-ways-to-stay-motivated-that-actually-work.html

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In today's competitive work environment, our greatest untapped resource may be our own motivation.

But what happens when you can't find your motivation or you can't stay motivated long enough to finish a project or even keep up with daily tasks? You need find your motivation--but where?

You find it within, because all all motivation is self-motivation.

What drives us to stay motivated is as individual as who we are, so you need to tailor a motivational that will resonate with you. T more you know and understand yourself, the more effective your efforts will be.

Here are 19 simple strategies you can try:

1. Understand your why. Sometimes it's not so much the what or the how that matters, but your why--the purpose behind what you're doing. Being clear about what you're working for can give you the stimulus to stay on course.

2. Define your goal. Defined goals put your ideas into action mode. It's the vital step between planning and doing.

3. Create a clear vision. If you want to succeed, you must create a clear compelling vision, something that you can relate to and resonate with. If it doesn't speak to your heart, it won't motivate you to stay on target. Create the highest grandest vision possible, because you can achieve only what you see.

4. Produce a plan. Once you have a goal in place, a plan is will take your vision and break down the steps you need to get it done. A goal without a plan, as we know, is just a dream.

5. Look for the bigger picture. When you have to stay motivated, think of the bigger picture. How does this relate not only to yourself but to others? How will it contribute to something important? Where will this make a difference? To accomplish more, think bigger.

6. Keep it positive. Positive thoughts lead to positive actions, and self-affirming statements will help you to achieve your best. Take control of how you think, how you feel, how you act. Positivity will help you make the choices that lead to accomplishment.

7. Approach tasks in new ways. Sometimes just getting started might be the problem. A different approach might give you a new perspective and more energy.

8. Break goals into manageable tasks. One important key to your success will be your ability to break down your goals into shorter-term and smaller single tasks. Keep things manageable.

9. Get organized. Make sure your workplace is uncluttered so your mind can be organized. A calm environment gives you a better chance of being more efficient and productive.

10. Tackle procrastination head on. Don't make excuses or waste time rationalizing why you haven't already started. Instead, try to uncover the real reason for the delay and get to work immediately. The best way to begin something is just to begin.

11. Seize the power of deadlines. Setting a time limit for an activity will enable you to assemble your resources and materials toward accomplishing things you might not otherwise get done.

12. Stop multitasking. Don't divide your attention but give your full and undivided self to the task at hand. When you do, your chances for success go way up.

13. Starve your distractions. Do what you need to do to stop being distracted by people, tasks, or electronics. Devise strategies to help you start and complete tasks without any distractions or interruptions.

14. Stay in the zone. Your best and most productive work is usually done when you're in the zone. Ask yourself how to create the perfect environment for you to do your best work and keep at it until you're done.

15. Choose success. Choose to be successful, then stick to your choice and see it through to a conclusion. By creating a mental picture of yourself successfully completing a job, you can increase your chances of success.

16. Keep it fun. If you seriously want to stay motivated, find a way to make it fun. Fun is not the enemy but a great motivator.

17. Harness the power of optimism. Belief that you can accomplish something is essential to your ability to do it. Optimism is the foundation of progress.

18. Reward yourself. Learn what it takes to get yourself to complete dreaded tasks and set up a system of rewards for completion.

19. Visualize yourself succeeding. Visualization is a powerful technique that can help you to focus, stay motivated and achieve your goals. By creating a mental picture of yourself successfully completing a job, even the worsts tasks can feel like part of achieving something big.

Remember, motivation starts within. Find it, keep it and make it work for you.

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19 Highly Effective Ways to Stay Motivated

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Everyone is motivated by different things. Understanding what motivates you to stay focused can make the difference between success and failure.

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Internal state that arouses students that action, directs them to certain behaviors, and assists them in maintaining that arousal and action with regard to behavior important and appropriate to the learning environment.

Wiseman, Dennis G, and Gilbert Hunt. Best Practice in Motivation and Management in the Classroom : An Integrative Approach. Charles C Thomas Publisher, LTD, 2008. INSERT-MISSING-DATABASE-NAME, INSERT-MISSING-URL. Accessed 26 Nov. 2021. (pg.8)

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The importance of self-motivation helps you not depend on others and drives you to tap your strengths to meet your goals. It also helps you ensure your work on your weaknesses and don't let them hinder your plans.
Self Motivation - What is Self Motivation Meaning, Examples & Importance - Harappa Education

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Set goals- Identify the task that needs to be accomplished when it needs to be done.

Break it Up- Breaking up long-term goals into smaller short-term goals. Determine what you need to do each day, week, and month to finish timely.

Prioritize- Priorities and sacrifices are essential to avoid an overcrowded schedule and burnout.

Make Yourself Do It- Force yourself to continue. Motivation is a great way to set goals.

https://web-p-ebscohost-com.northeastlakeviewcollege.idm.oclc.org/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=3020f45a-73de-48c2-941c-aee476668d45%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#AN=149016162&db=lgh

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Create SMART goals- SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ATTAINABLE, RELEVANT, AND TIMELY

Positive self-talk- Replacing every negative thought with a positive affirmation.

Create a vision board- a vision board provide visual stimuli that show the goals you want to achieve. Includes a collection of photos, graphics, words, and quotes that represent your goals in a visual presentation.

Hang around other motivated people- helps provide support and encouragement.

Learn a New Skill: 4 Invaluable Tips on How to Get and Stay Motivated - OpenSesame

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Maybe I should go to the gym. Perhaps if I got a personal trainer, I could lose the 20 pounds I gained over the past 2 years. I could fast for a few days or try that juice-cleanse everyone is talking about. That might do the trick. Fine, I'll go to the gym and run on the treadmill, even though I would rather be on the couch. Never mind, I'm going to stay on the couch, eat a bag of potato chips, and watch The Biggest Loser.

How many times has this script (or something similar) run through your head? For three years in college, these thoughts ebbed and flowed in my head every day from dawn until dusk. I wanted more than anything to lose weight, but I kept making excuses. School was too time consuming, the couch was more comfortable than going to the gym, and take-out food was more convenient than preparing meals. Not only did I make these excuses everyday, but I woke up every morning ashamed to look in the mirror and told myself I was not worthy of being healthy.

In my last semester of college, I enrolled in a life changing motivational psychology course. The lessons I learned in this course taught me not only how to get motivated, but also how to stay motivated. I will share four invaluable skills to increase your motivation and how I applied each skill to lose weight and become healthy.

Create SMART goals

You can accomplish anything by creating goals using the SMART method. Goals must be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely. Here is how I applied this methodology to accomplish a goal:

S pecific: I wanted to lose 35 pounds within 4 months of graduating college.

M easurable: I will weigh myself every 2 weeks and strive to lose 1-2 pounds per week.

A ttainable: This goal was realistic and achievable given my circumstances.

R elevant: I was overweight and wanted to feel better when I looked in the mirror.

T imely: Given 6 months, I was capable of losing 20-30 pounds.

Using the SMART method is an effective way to make goals concrete. To take this application a step further, I recommend you write 3-5 bullet points listing small steps you can take to achieve your goal. Then you can refer back to these bullet points daily, weekly, and monthly to check in on your progress. Here are some bullet points I used to achieve my weight loss goal:

I will go to the gym four days a week, for 30 minutes each day.

I will consume no more than 1600 calories a day.

I will eat breakfast every morning and stop eating after 7 pm.

Positive self-talk

Nothing hinders motivation more than negativity. Every time you use phrases such as "I can't..." or "I am not good enough," you limit yourself from accomplishing your goals. From now on, replace every negative thought with a positive affirmation. Here are a few affirmations I use on a daily basis:

Every cell in my body radiates with energy and enthusiasm.

I deserve to have affluence and prosperity in my life.

According to Psychology Today, positive affirmations may increase desired behaviors when they are a part of a " comprehensive program of self-growth." Affirmations can be used for more than personal development. They may also be used in business or achieving financial goals. If you struggle to write your own positive affirmations, the web is a great resource to discover affirmations. Make sure you have your affirmations written in a journal so you can refer to them on a daily basis.

Create a vision board

Just like positive affirmations, vision boards provide visual stimuli that show the goals you want to achieve. Create your vision board with a collection of photos, graphics, words, and quotes that represent your goals in a visual presentation. Make a collage from magazine cutouts, post a personalized board on Pinterest, or get crafty and draw your vision from scratch. Here is an example of a vision board I created for 2013.

I recommend you create vision boards on a yearly basis, or for each goal you wish to achieve. Businesses may want to create vision boards for each quarter. Make sure your vision board is located in a place you look daily such as your refrigerator, computer desktop, or your company break room.

Hang around other motivated people

When you surround yourself with other positive, motivated people, they are most likely to provide support and encouragement. Gather a small, quality network of family, friends, and colleagues who will support your goals and hold you accountable for the choices you make. If anyone tries to discourage you, ignore their negativity. Constructive criticism is necessary for changing behavior, but discouragement will not help you stay motivated.

If you do not have access to a strong support system, reach out to like-minded people who share similar interests and goals. Online communities such as Quora and Linkedin offer online communities to discuss personal and professional development topics. Local community centers are also a great place to meet other people interested in health, fitness, sports, and special interest groups.

Now that you are motivated, stay motivated!

These four tips are a foundation for getting and staying motivated. It is critical to implement these tips daily, and examine your goals on a regular basis. If you continue to see the glass half-empty, consider taking " S.M.A.R.T. Goals" by ej4, " Goal-Setting in the Workplace" by Syntrio, or reading a self-help book. One of my favorite self help books is called " I Think I Smell Garlic " by J.C. Melvin. Above all, always maintain a positive attitude and know you have the capacity to achieve any goal you set your mind to.

How do you stay motivated? We would love to hear in the comments below.

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Learn a New Skill: 4 Invaluable Tips on How to Get and Stay Motivated - OpenSesame

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Maybe I should go to the gym. Perhaps if I got a personal trainer, I could lose the 20 pounds I gained over the past 2 years. I could fast for a few days or try that juice-cleanse everyone is talking about. That might do the trick.

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Goal setting is the process of identifying the things or the results that you want to achieve in your life, be it in your career or personal life, within a determined timeframe.
https://stunningmotivation.com/what-is-goal-setting/

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I bet that you have heard the word "goal setting" countless times in your life. But what exactly is goal setting? And how can it impact your life? Does it really work? Well, you are about to discover the secrets of setting goals in this article.

Goal setting is both the most overrated and underestimated method in achieving what we want in life.

It is overrated because people talk about it too lightly. They treat goal setting as a promise. And all they do is to either think about their goals or to write them down according to what most experts suggest.

The problem is that writing down your goals is just the first part of the equation. If you're not planning and taking the right form of action, guess what, your goals will remain as dreams.

It is also underrated because a lot of people neglect its effectiveness due to its simplicity. Do not take goal-setting lightly. When you set the right goals that empower you, your life will change and you will progress forward and achieve outstanding success in life.

If you are serious and truly committed to your goals, you will achieve them. On the other hand, if you treat them lightly like nobody's business, you will fail to achieve them.

So, what is goal setting?

In my opinion, goal setting is the process of identifying the things or the results that you want to achieve in your life, be it in your career or personal life, within a determined timeframe.

In short, goal setting is the act of finding out what you truly want to achieve in your life. It can be a relationship goal, a financial goal, a career goal, a fitness goal, etc.

When you set goals, you are crafting and making a plan to live the life you desire.

The Difference Between Someone Who Has a Goal and Someone Who Doesn't

When you set goals, you are giving orders to yourself. You are telling yourself what you want to achieve and what you need to do to get there.

This means that you are living an intentional life. Meaning, when you have clear and specific goals, you are living your life with intention. You know what to do and when to do it.

For example, if you have no goals and no plans over the weekend, highly likely, you will sleep longer hours and wake up late. And you may spend your time reactively according to what comes to you during that time.

When your friends ask you for a drink, you will agree because you have no plan and you are free.

Now, imagine if you have a crystal clear goal on what you want to do on the weekend. Let's say that you want to write a 3,000 words article to publish on your blog.

On Friday night, you set your alarm to wake up early because you need to work on your article. In the morning, when your friends call you out for a drink, there is a possibility that you are going to reject them because you have something to do. It depends on how committed you are to your goals.

Can you see the difference between having a goal and no goal?

The differences between living life reactively without clear and specific goals and living life with crystal clear goals are apparent.

When you have no goals and no plans, you become reactive. You go through life reacting to what happens at the moment.

On the contrary, when you have clear goals and plans, you become proactive. You know what you need to do, when to do it, and thus, you live life according to your own terms.

In short, goal setting is about setting your intention. You are living an intention-focused life when you know what you want to achieve.

Of course, knowing and doing are 2 different things.

Most people have crystal clear goals, but still, they choose not to act on their goals and live a directionless life.

What I want to tell you is that goal setting may or may not determine your success in life, but it is the fundamental and the first step to living an extraordinary life.

I strongly recommend you take my course: Goal Setting Formula . You will learn how to find out what you want to achieve, take charge of your life, and achieve real success through setting empowering goals.

Why It is a Good Idea to Set Goals

You may have heard about the 1953 Yale University study on goal setting. The study said that the 3% of graduates with written goals achieved far more and earned a combined income of 3 times more than the 97% of graduates who did not write down any goal.

As much as I want to tell you that goal setting is powerful because of this study, but the truth is that this study did not exist.

Fast Company published an article some time ago and stated that the Yale University study about goal setting did not exist.

So, does this mean that goal setting does not work in helping you to achieve what you want in your career and life?

No, the study only shows that the 1953 Yale University study did not exist, not that goal setting did not work.

We all know that goal setting is one of the most powerful methods that we can use to achieve outstanding success in life, and Dr. Gail Matthews, a psychology professor from Dominican's Department of Psychology has proved this.

Dr. Gail Matthews recruited 267 participants from a wide variety of businesses, networking groups, and organizations from all over the world for a study on how goal achievement influenced by writing the goals, committing to the goals, and accountability for those actions.

You can read the full study from this article here.

Here's how Dr. Matthews carried out her research. She assigned her participants to one of the following 5 groups:

Group #1 - Those who were in this group were asked to simply think about business-related goals they hope to achieve within a 4-week period and then rate each goal according to difficulty, importance, and other measures.

Group #2 to group #5 were asked to write down their goals and then rate them on the same dimensions as given to group #1.

Group #3 was asked to write down their goals and also write down action commitments for each goal.

Group #4 has to write down their goals, action commitments, and also share the commitments with a friend.

And group #5 was asked to do everything from group #1 to group #4, plus sending a weekly progress report to a friend.

And here's what Dr. Matthews discovered from the study:

"At the end of the study, only 43% of Group 1 either accomplished their goals or were at least halfway there. 62% of Group 4 accomplished their goals or were at least halfway there. However, 76% of those in Group 5 either accomplished their goals or were at least halfway there."

76% of the participants in group #5 achieved their goals. Meaning, when you write down your goals, action commitments, share them with a friend and also commit to sending a weekly progress report to your friend, your chances of reaching your goals will be much higher.

Therefore, as you can see now, goal setting works. It is just a method of how you do it.

You can learn how to set empowering goals that drive you and make a workable plan to achieve your goals using my Goal Setting Formula.

How Setting Goals Can Impact Your Life

As I said, you may have underestimated the power of goal setting and never thought about how it can affect your life.

Even when you don't reach all your goals, they can still enrich your life in many ways. Goals are like lighthouses that not only show directions to ships in the dark, but also prevent the ships from hitting rocks and grounds underneath the water.

When you set goals, you are engineering your life as to how you want to live it. Besides, your goals also serve as a reminder of what NOT TO DO so that you will never waste time and got lost in the wrong direction.

Below are the 7 reasons how goal setting can impact, change, and transform your life for the better:

1. Living life with a clear direction

This is common sense. When you have a goal, you know what to do. Your goals give you a clear direction in life. They give you the aim and tell you where to direct your efforts.

When it comes to making decisions, you know how to decide because you know what you want and how to get there.

Not only that, goals give you a sense of purpose in life.

Think about it, why do you go to work or wake up in the morning? If you say that you go to work because of your salary, you are right. It means that your goal is income and you pursue money and that's why you go to work.

However, for many successful people like Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and Richard Branson, their aims are not just money. Money is not their priority. They choose to work because they love what they do and they want to fulfill their dreams of creating and leaving something remarkable behind.

This is why most people hate to go to work because they are working for money rather than their passion. They quickly lose their motivation when the money isn't their priority anymore.

Hence, set goals that you truly want, not due to your life circumstances or what others want for you.

Goals give your life a clear direction, a sense of purpose, and also help you when it comes to making decisions.

Your goals are the road maps that guide you and show you what is possible for your life.
Les Brown

Read: How to Find Your Purpose in Life

2. The key to creating remarkable success

Goal setting is the key to creating and producing remarkable success. Without having a clear goal, there is no way you can create outstanding success in life.

It is only when you know exactly what you want that you can work productively toward it.

How can you know if you are working on the right thing or if you are making progress when you don't know what you want, right?

And when you have a goal, you can measure your progress, understand if what you do is right, and able to make adjustments to reach your goal.

Success isn't going to happen through accidents. Success happens because you decided on what you want, set it as a goal, and then work diligently to get there every day.

This is why you need to have a goal in order to be successful.

Read: Specific Goal Setting: How to Set Crystal Clear Goals

3. Gives you better chances of living the future you desire

Setting goals give you a glimpse of the future that you want. Without goals, you will live life like a lost sheep, going where the crowd is going and drift aimlessly.

When you have a clear goal, you are able to come up with a plan and identify the actions you need to take to get there.

In other words, setting goals gives you more control over where you are heading and how to get there. You are taking control of your life instead of letting others decide for you. You are creating the future that you want.

For instance, if you set a goal to build a successful blog, all your actions and the way you live your life each day will change. You will spend more time on your blog instead of on Facebook. You will read and learn about the topic than to watch Netflix. Everything you do will be based on your goal - which is to build a successful blog.

That's how your life will change when you have a goal.

Goals. There's no telling what you can do when you get inspired by them. There's no telling what you can do when you believe in them. And there's no telling what will happen when you act upon them.
Jim Rohn

Read: 55 Useful Tips How To Set Goals And Achieve Them

4. Goals can motivate you

You may already know about this, goals give you motivation. When you have a goal, it gives you hope and something to aspire to.

If your goals are what you truly desire in life and they are exciting, simply thinking about them can inspire you and drive you into taking action.

Imagine you are living your dream life right now. You are successful and financially free. You don't have to worry about having not enough to pay your bills. You are enjoying life while driving your dream car. You live in your dream house by the mountain overlooking the Mediterranean sea. You are happily enjoying life with the people you love.

Now, how do you feel when you think about living your dream life and achieving all your goals? You feel good. You are inspired by your goals.

This is why goals are important. It can alter your mood and transform your life. Your goals don't just serve as a lighthouse to show you direction in life, but also give you constant motivation and keep your momentum going.

People are not lazy. They simply have impotent goals, that is, goals that do not inspire them.
Tony Robbins

Read: Set Your Goals in These 6 Important Areas of Your Life

5. Goals gives you a sense of personal satisfaction

Goals can make your life challenging, especially if they are beyond your current ability to achieve. However, they also give you a sense of personal satisfaction as you work and make progress toward them.

Setting goals help you understand your capabilities and potential. Goals tell you your weaknesses and where you need to improve when you are not producing the results you want.

Not just that, goals improve and increase your level of confidence. When you are making progress and taking actions, you feel good because you know that you are doing the right thing and are slowly moving toward your goals.

You can never tell how much potential you have until you do. And setting goals is the first step in understanding yourself better.

We have seen ordinary people went on to achieve extraordinary results in life because they have big goals and they trust their capabilities. You, too, can achieve amazing success in life when you choose to believe in your own potential that you can do it. But you must start with a goal.

Read: 7 Examples of How Successful People Set Goals and Achieve Them

6. Goals improve your focus

Another great benefit and impact that goals have on your life is that they improve your focus.

When you set goals, write them down, create actions plan to achieve them, and share your progress with other people, you are telling yourself that these are important things in your life. Your goals give you a clear focus on what you believe is important in life.

Your life will be different because you organize your life around your goals rather than the other way round.

People who go through life without a clear goal live life according to what comes to them and are often affected by their surroundings. They let their surroundings change them rather than taking control of their surroundings.

Things will be totally opposite when you have clear and specific goals. When you organize your life around your goals. You change your environment because you have a plan and you know what you need to do.

When you have a goal, you will not be affected by your surroundings, instead, you will be the one to shape your surroundings.

The victory of success is half won when one gains the habit of setting and achieving goals.
Og Mandino

Read: 15 Common Challenges You May Face When You Set Goals

7. Goals boost your performance

Another huge impact that goals can have on your life is self-mastery. Goals allow you to improve your performance and build better characters.

When you involve in the process of achieving your goals, you discipline yourself to do what is necessary, you learn to overcome the difficulties in the journey, and as a result, you learn to become a better person with better characters and habits.

For instance, when you set a goal to build a successful internet business, along the journey, you are developing your skills and knowledge about internet marketing and everything that involves. Your goals develop you to become the person who you want to be.

Arnold Schwarzenegger once set a goal to become the best bodybuilder in the world, he did, and he also successfully built a bulky and macho body on his way to his goal.

When you play games, you level up your characters because you want to beat the boss and beat the game. You grow your characters in the game to a higher level.

And the same is true in real life.

When you set a goal and make progress to achieve it, you increase your performance, become better at doing it, and develop a stronger character.

Hence, having a goal promotes self-mastery.

Read: Should You Set Goals? The Pros and Cons of Goal Setting

Conclusion

I bet that by now you should understand what is goal setting and how it can impact your life.

Remember that goal setting is about living an intentional life. When you have a clear intention, you become proactive rather than reactive.

There are many ways how setting goals can change your life...

1. Goals give you a clear direction and a sense of purpose in life.

2. Setting goals is the first step to creating a remarkable success in life.

3. Goals give you better chances of living the future you desire.

4. Goals motivate and inspire you.

5. Goals give you a sense of personal satisfaction.

6. Goals help you focus better on getting what you want.

7. Goals promote self-mastery and improve your performance.

So what are you waiting for? Set goals that help you live your dream life right now. Learn how to do that using Goal Setting Formula.
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I'm a blogger, writer, and also an internet entrepreneur. If you want to learn more about me, kindly go to the page. By the way, have you downloaded your FREE copy of Reach Your Goals? Don't forget to do so. Cheers. :)

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What Is Goal Setting and How It Can Impact Your Life

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I bet that you have heard the word "goal setting" countless times in your life. But what exactly is goal setting? And how can it impact your life? Does it really work? Well, you are about to discover the secrets of setting goals in this article.