The 5 steps that gives you control of your life!

Motivation is a funny thing. Sometimes you have plenty, other times it seems to evaporate and evade you totally. I am just like anybody else, sometimes I am full of it (motivation, that is), other times I am drained and have to force myself to do even the simplest things.

Over the years, I have found that there are several things I can do to regain my motivation, and an equal number of things I can do to loose it. One of my biggest motivators is people. Those around me that make me crack out and laugh, those who challenge me intellectually, those who dare to disagree – because they have a different opinion. Those who push me around and make sure I reach the goals I set for myself and others. 

And one of the biggest drains to my motivation is people too. Some people are so self-absorbed they do not realize they live in a world surrounded by others. Some are so picky nothing is ever good enough. Some are so filled with negativity that they create a spiral of anti-joy, a black whole of bad feelings. 

The art of staying motivated is to control your environment as much as possible. Sometimes that does not seem really possible – you may have a great job with some sour colleagues, or a boss with total lack of people skills. Still, this is only an excuse. It is always your own responsibility to control your own life. No-one else can do that, no-one else are responsible. 

I know it may seem really hard to change your environment – being it workplace, your colleagues, friends or place you live. Trust me with this. I have done it. You can too. This list will help you believe, and act!

You can do anything you want, if you want it enough. I have a set of questions I use when I consider a change. The first is:

- Do I want it? If yes, then then next question:

- Do I really want it? This is the hard one. Because if I really want it, I need to commit to it, and start acting. Try it, it works wonders. And as a great bonus – if you cannot say yes to both, you should not do it at all. So you end up freeing a lot of time and efforts you waste on non-important tasks. 

 

To actually make up your mind, and start doing something about your life is the most important, yet the toughest step. 

When you say yes twice above, you need to act. And you need to do it quickly, so you do not forget, or let something else “stop” you from doing what you want. 

 

Many of us become accustomed to the things we do, how we live and start fearing change. We may spend every day in a monotone habit, sleeping, eating, working, watching TV, sleeping again. We may know we are not happy. We may feel we need the change. But unless you start changing, you continue the monotone life until you die, and then it is too late. 

 

Some people go around thinking they can change others. Worse, some people go around believing others are the only ones that can change them. The truth is that only you can change your own behaviors. Others may tell you what to do, reason with you, even teach you how to do it, but only you and your actions can do the change. 

 

All of us (at least everyone I have ever met) have dreams, visions and hope. Most of us don’t pursue them. As we grow up, we are told that dreams are worthless, that we have to get a job, to make a family, buy a house and a car, and all of a sudden we end up living someone else’s dream. I dare you – dig down deep inside and find your dreams. They are the power of your life; some may even be a clue to the purpose of your life. Stop caring about what others may think – pursue your dream! Whatever makes you happy – really happy – must be right. 

I follow these rules myself. I teach these rules. I live the change, I live my dream, I live my life purpose. It wasn’t always easy, it still isn’t easy at all times. Rewarding on the other hand, my life really is. I get to live my life to the fullest, I get to enjoy every moment – because I know that I can change everything I want to change. 

Do you dare to live your dreams? What are the steps you take to ensure you reach your life goal?