You probably have a hectic schedule, like I do. If you are raising a family, building a dojo, working full time, or teaching martial arts, life can be exciting but draining. Every morning you wake up with a list of “to-do” items and you set your sights on accomplishing as many as possible. Still, at the end of the day, it feels discouraging to realize how few of your items you were able to complete, which causes your motivation to diminish.
How can you stay motivated and improve your self-discipline with life swirling so hectically around you? What do you do if you are in a rut and cannot figure out how to keep moving in a positive direction?
Motivation and self-discipline don’t arrive like mail in your inbox. They must be cultivated. Just when you feel like you cannot pursue your dreams or achieve success, the secret is revealed. YOU must infuse focused self-discipline in your life and surround yourself with the motivation that you need to reach each goal.
Goals are the pathway to success. They can be big or small, near or far. You must recognize them if you want to be motivated. For example, in my youth, I had a desire to be a writer. It never happened. Not until I turned 50 years old, anyway. Why? Because I did not memorialize it as a goal. I had no reason to pursue it. I had no internal motivation for success. I just let it languish, as if the thought never existed in the first place.
More than six years ago, at the prompting of a friend, I started a martial art inspired blog. This time, I made goals. I knew that I wanted so many views by a certain date and so many followers or readers. I was motivated and empowered by each small success which encouraged me to continually strive for other goals. I was using self-discipline and focus to remain steadfast in my mission. I focused on getting better at my craft. Later, others saw my output. They wanted me to write articles for them, a book, and other materials. My goals paid off because they erupted from self-motivation, self-discipline and a vision.
A true goal, one that keeps you moving in the right direction, is written down and has a timeline. An example is, “I want to start my own martial art program within one year.” What an awesome goal, and when you write it down it becomes a unique contract with yourself. You must consider what training you will need and by when, what licenses you will need, what location, and how you will market. This small business plan incorporates your dreams and goals.
Perhaps your goals are more personal. You need to lose weight. You want to earn more money. You want better health. Each of these goals can be divided into smaller goals. Self-discipline and motivation lead to success and success feels good. Goals are committed examples of self-discipline and motivation.
Write them down, commit, and get going. The only person holding success back… is you.
xoxo
Andrea
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Pick up my motivational books and stay inspired!
The Martial Arts Woman https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Arts-Woman-Motivational-Stories/dp/1544916213
Martial Art Inspirations for Everyone https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Inspirations-Everyone-Andrea-Harkins/dp/150297830X
Great post. Thank you for sharing the blog with us.
Thank you! I truly appreciate you reading it. Andrea
I will start to write my goals down starting next week. Right now my. Life is too hectic with all. My children and grandchildren living here. I’ve. Let their needs over take my own.
Let dreams slip away happens too often.
People, myself included have dreams and ambitions but never set concrete goals or a timeline on when we are going to transform a dream into reality.
I have read before about writing goals down as a contract to myself as you’ve stated.
I’ve done it before but need to make that a habit.
Even for hard working people , prioritizing and setting goals can be a challenge.
Goals are not easy to set, but when you do, they seem to fall into place. Best of luck!
Osu! Thanks. Needed this today.