How to Stay Motivated - Part 1

As a "Motivation Trainer" for over 20 years, I have researched the subject of "Motivation." It is talked about a lot, but not very much is taught or written about it. It seems to be a word that eludes us. I often here people say: "Can you motivate me?" or "I need motivating." or "I've lost my motivation."

Part of the challenge in understanding the concept of "Motivation" is to understand what it means. We seem to have a distorted definition of what it is. Since we know that words have positive or negative energy connected to them, it is important that we know what words we are saying and what those words mean.

Let's start our journey into understanding "Motivation" with a workable definition.

Motivation is:

  • Making a Choice

  • To Take Action

  • For a Result

  • Whether You Feel Like It or Not.

    "Motivation" is about what you choose, not how you feel. The first myth about "Motivation" is that it somehow has something to do with how you feel. So if you feel like exercising, you are motivated, and if you don't feel like exercising, you aren't. If you feel like working your network marketing business, then you are motivated; if not, you just aren't motivated. If you feel, like going to church, you are motivated; if you don't feel like it.... And as you can imagine, there are hundreds of scenarios that we could mention.

    Once we accept a "new definition" of "Motivation," we can move forward to using it as a tool in our lives to help us achieve results.

    Starting with 1. Making a Choice.

    Everything is a choice. Choice equals results. Good choices = Good results. Bad choices = Bad results. From the time you are born, until the time you die, you will literally make hundreds and hundreds of choices. Every choice has a result. The caveat is that you may make a choice today, but not get the result today. Results are still coming even if delayed. To stay motivated, we start with what choices will we make for specific results in our lives in every area: Physical, mental, spiritual, social, financial, family.

    2. To Take Action

    Once we make a choice for a result, the mind automatically goes into the mode of: "What action do I need to make in order to achieve the result?" This is how we develop our action plan for choosing and accomplishing results in our lives. If you don't know what action to take to achieve your result, you mind will go into the mode: "Where do I go to learn what to do to accomplish this result?"

    Your mind is a powerful friend or foe. With all the many years of studying the mind, we still know so little about it. It was created to help you. Unfortunately with some of our old negative programming, often our mind does not help us. It is so important that we are continually alert to negative programming that is keeping us from fulfilling more of our potential.

    The reason we take action is for the result.

    3. For a Result

    What results are you choosing for your life today? The results you have in your life today are from the choices you have made in your yesterday. The results you will have today and in the future will be from the choices you make. Understand, you cannot make the right choices if you have not clearly defined the result.

    What results do you choose for your health, you body, your eating habits, etc?

    What results do you choose for your thinking, your attitude, your words that you speak, etc?

    What results do you choose for your spiritual life? I did not say "religion"; I said for your "spiritual" life?

    What results do you choose for being involved with your community, your friends, etc?

    What results do you choose for you business, your profession, you finances, etc?

    What results do you chose for your family, for your relationships, etc.?

    It is important that you develop a "result-driven" mindset.

    4. Whether You Feel Like It or Not.

    When you make a choice to take action for a results, then how you feel does not enter into the equation. How many times do you do what you do, when you do not feel like it? If you have children, how many times do you get up in the middle of the night to take care of your child when you did not feel like it? Have you ever gone to a business training seminar, but you didn't feel like it? Have you ever persevered in the midst of feeling bad, to do a business presentation or make extra calls?

    In all of these situations, "Motivation" was in operation. You were "Motivated."

    We are "Motivated" when we make a choice to take action for a result whether we feel like it or not. Motivation is not about "feeling," it is simply about "choosing." We can have a Motivated day every day we choose to. Should we chose to have a "laid-back" day, that is great...that is a choice too.

    We begin the journey of staying motivated when we first know what "Motivation" is.

    About The Author

    Dr. Zonnya is a "Motivation Trainer" who has been honored by U.S. Senate. She speaks to Fortune 500 companies, corporations, network marketing companies, etc. She also offers personal coaching and mentoring. The dominant result of Dr. Zonnya is to "touch lives with inspiration, information, encouragement and motivation." Learn more or contact Dr. Zonnya at her web site http://www.drzonnya.org.

    In The News:


  • pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    Finding Direction: Finding Passion Series - 2 of 3

    In order to find the right direction for ourselves, we... Read More

    Get Started! Do Something!

    This is about getting started. Taking that first step. It... Read More

    How To Avoid Being Labelled As Average

    When your life is over how will you be graded?... Read More

    Ignite The Fire In Your Belly ? How To Move From Being A Procrastinator To An Activator!

    Are you sick and tired of not getting ahead and... Read More

    The Untold Truth About Mentors, and Why You DONT Need One

    I think there is a misconception about what a mentor... Read More

    Qualia and Quanta

    Ah, those New Year's resolutions.I suppose that the passage of... Read More

    If It Feels Good, It Must Be Right

    Copyright © 2003 Priya Shah Is it... Read More

    Action vs. Apathy - Feeling Powerless? Get Moving!

    How many times have you felt truly defeated by the... Read More

    Do More! Learn More! Create More! Live More!

    Over the years in America and the west generally, the... Read More

    Everything Going Against You

    "When everything seems to be going against you, remember that... Read More

    The P Word... Procrastination

    A problem many of us are familiar with. Its showing... Read More

    Activity Versus Accomplishment

    Each and every day, all of us continually search for... Read More

    For Those Who Have Suffered!

    As one who has suffered from the long, term effects... Read More

    When Life Gives You Waves, Learn to S.U.R.F.

    Would you like to learn a skill set and technique... Read More

    Clear Thinking - Ten Ways

    Does your mind sometimes feel like a television station you... Read More

    4 Secret Ways to Stop Procrastinating

    Ever wonder how to stop procrastinating?I was recently talking with... Read More

    Our Future

    I'm back from Hawaii; it was ten days of physical... Read More

    Nothing Ever Stays The Same

    Nothing ever stays the same. On the one hand we... Read More

    Two Months, Two Actions: First Steps to Success

    Susan stood on the scale the other day. She had... Read More

    Why Holding A Vision Magnetizes Great Achievement

    The only reason some people enjoy success while others fail... Read More

    No Excuses

    Don't you just hate it when people make excuses for... Read More

    7 Stepping-stones to Career Growth and Excellence

    Achieving excellence in our work is an integral part of... Read More

    Stop Holding Yourself Back

    Try this exercise. Take a sheet of paper and list... Read More

    What Comes First the Action or the Feeling?

    In other words, it is in the "doing" that we... Read More

    Wealth Building: Let The Wealth Building Secrets Of J. Paul Getty Inspire You To Great Achievement

    One of the shortcuts to creating wealth is to learn... Read More

    The 31 Absolute Best Resources for Self Improvement

    Every week, I hear from people with the same Self... Read More

    Let It Fly Over Your Head

    Sarah Watson is a young woman who contracted HIV eleven... Read More

    What Do You Truly Value Most?

    Believe it or not, values are in the core of... Read More

    Whats Your Zipline?

    A few years ago, I was with 20 of America's... Read More

    Are Millionaires and PhDs Really Smarter? The Answer May Surprise You!

    I've had a vast array of job experiences. While in... Read More

    4 Simple Ways To Get Over Your Need For Acceptance... And Get On With Your Life

    Imagine what your life would be like if you could... Read More

    Motivation: 5 Powerful Emotions You Can Use

    Experiencing strong emotions is not uncommon. What is uncommon is... Read More

    The Thrivers Secrets to Success?: It Starts With Your Attitude - Get a Grip and Go®!

    What impact would it have on your professional and personal... Read More