By Nicole Tinkham
Have you ever started your day with a burst of positive energy, ready to get amazing things done only to find yourself drained and unmotivated by 10AM? You then tell yourself that tomorrow will be different and the same exact thing happens and you find yourself in a vicious cycle of never really accomplishing anything at all. On a larger scale, this also tends to happen in the beginning of the year. We plan for a big, successful year and a few months in we find ourselves going right back to old habits. So the big question is, WHAT is causing our determination to accomplish these things to vanish and how do we stop it from happening? Read on for the answers.
1. We focus on what isn’t working
In all honesty, it is extremely difficult to focus on the things going well or the things you want to see happen when everything is crashing down around you. And this will happen to you, we all experience moments of disaster. We like to think of it as a test to see if you really do care about your goals as much as you say you do. The tricky thing is, when we focus our energy on the negative things going on, we receive more negative things in every area of life.
The solution: Daily gratitude
Every single day write down or think about the good things you do have in your life and remind yourself of how lucky you are despite what may be going on. This forces you to look on the bright side and bring more positive things to you.
2. We get stuck on the past
Why is it that we typically remember how badly others have made us feel versus the compliments we receive? Maybe it’s because the negative hits harder and it may cause you to start second guessing yourself. Even if you think you are over something that was said to you in the past, we bet you really aren’t. The next time you try to take on a big project you may begin to think “I’m not good enough for this”. This thought it coming to mind for a reason, because you’ve heard it in the past.
The Solution: Create new agreements
Flip that negative thought into a positive one and start telling yourself “I am skilled enough to take this on and so much more” even if you don’t believe in it just yet. The more you say this new phrase to yourself, the more you will believe it and the more you can achieve.
3. We let everyday stresses get to us
It’s not just the big problems but the little things that wear us down every single day as well. It’s being stuck in traffic, oversleeping or getting into an argument with a co-worker. These things are draining and they also have the power to cause the rest of our experiences that day to be just as miserable.
The Solution: Take a break
Get yourself back in the right mindset by going somewhere quiet, closing your eyes and focus on your vision or goals. Remember why you are doing this. Sure it may be difficult now but picture yourself reaching your goals and how incredible that will feel. What you’re going through now will be worth it if you get your head back in the game and give it your all!
4. We fear change
It is definitely not easy making a huge life change or even small changes, for that matter. The idea of change sounds incredible (finally getting that dream job or making a major move to your favorite city) but when it comes down to actually doing it, fear can stop us in our tracks. All of a sudden that amazing idea sounds like a bad idea all because we put too much thought into the bad things that could possibly happen.
The Solution: Embrace change
Instead of thinking what could go wrong, consider all the things that could go right. If you don’t go after it now, you never know what could have been. Sure, there will be some bumps along the way. There usually is when starting something brand new. But enjoy the new journey and keep looking ahead to future possibilities.
Isn’t it such a shame that we let these little things (like one thing someone said to us years ago) keep us from reaching our goals? It’s true though, isn’t it? We can easily feel so defeated by the end of the day. Preventing these determination killers really comes down to one thing, changing your way of thinking. You have to start seeing things in a different light and focus on the positive things in life. It’s the only way you’ll be able to move forward with your goals.
Tell us, what’s one thing you find that’s holding you back? Let us know in the comments!
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