Ivy Keating's Blog - Posts Tagged "motivation"
Motivation
If motivation is the general desire to do something, then it's probably not lack of motivation that prevents us from reaching our goals.
The following are three common reasons we put off doing something we say we want to do.
1) There are aspects of reaching the goal that we don't like.
2) We don't know where to start.
3) We don't have a clear path to reaching the goal, so we become overwhelmed.
Here are a couple tricks to get you over the hurdles above and back on the path to success.
Usually there are elements of any activity that we love and some we do not. Take, for example, writing a novel; you may love crafting a story, but you may not enjoy editing it. Take a moment to think about why each step is necessary. Acknowledge "editing" is not your favorite. Then, try the Premack Principle and plan to do something you like after you complete the undesirable task. Modifying the environment may help, too. Keep your favorite drink handy or a book that inspired you on your desk as you continue to work.
If getting started is difficult, think about the very first step you need to take. Focus on it alone. A book can take years from conception to publication, but it starts with pressing the letters on the keyboard.
When we feel overwhelmed, it's hard to act. A great way to combat this is to put together a step by step plan. Break-down a huge task into manageable pieces. Finding a publisher or an agent is hard, but the first step is to create the book-then do a ton of editing-then create a query letter-and then look up publishers and/or agents that work with your genre. If you're not sure what to do next, researching the subject will give you the confidence to proceed.
If you're putting off reaching your goals, try modifying your method--it's likely you have all the motivation you need!
The following are three common reasons we put off doing something we say we want to do.
1) There are aspects of reaching the goal that we don't like.
2) We don't know where to start.
3) We don't have a clear path to reaching the goal, so we become overwhelmed.
Here are a couple tricks to get you over the hurdles above and back on the path to success.
Usually there are elements of any activity that we love and some we do not. Take, for example, writing a novel; you may love crafting a story, but you may not enjoy editing it. Take a moment to think about why each step is necessary. Acknowledge "editing" is not your favorite. Then, try the Premack Principle and plan to do something you like after you complete the undesirable task. Modifying the environment may help, too. Keep your favorite drink handy or a book that inspired you on your desk as you continue to work.
If getting started is difficult, think about the very first step you need to take. Focus on it alone. A book can take years from conception to publication, but it starts with pressing the letters on the keyboard.
When we feel overwhelmed, it's hard to act. A great way to combat this is to put together a step by step plan. Break-down a huge task into manageable pieces. Finding a publisher or an agent is hard, but the first step is to create the book-then do a ton of editing-then create a query letter-and then look up publishers and/or agents that work with your genre. If you're not sure what to do next, researching the subject will give you the confidence to proceed.
If you're putting off reaching your goals, try modifying your method--it's likely you have all the motivation you need!
After the Inspiration
The first stage of a project is often the most exciting. But, how many times do we set out to accomplish something and then abandon what we started? After the inspiration, what enables us to reach our goals?
For those that enjoy writing, one of the best moments is the moment of inspiration: when an idea comes to you that you must explore. It can be as simple as a thought. This is what happened to me when I wrote 'Camouflage'. I looked into a forest near my home and wondered, 'what's out there that we haven't discovered', and from that moment, I was gripped with a story.
But goals like writing a book are often difficult to accomplish. Before the energy that comes with inspiration starts to diminish, we must channel some of it into 'focus' and 'commitment'.
Focus has to do with the direction you take. If you have an overall idea of what is required to reach your goal, stay 'focused' on just the next step and you will get there. Put blinders on. Don't get caught up in where you are or how much further you have to go. It's easy to get overwhelmed and abandon a goal if you loose your focus.
Commitment has to do with the time you spend actively pursuing your goal. In the example of writing a book, it will take thousands of hours to complete your work. Sticking to a schedule or committing to a certain number of hours regularly is the only way the task will get done.
Draw upon the energy of what inspires you. It will certainly motivate you to start a project, but it will take focus and commitment to keep the momentum going.
For those that enjoy writing, one of the best moments is the moment of inspiration: when an idea comes to you that you must explore. It can be as simple as a thought. This is what happened to me when I wrote 'Camouflage'. I looked into a forest near my home and wondered, 'what's out there that we haven't discovered', and from that moment, I was gripped with a story.
But goals like writing a book are often difficult to accomplish. Before the energy that comes with inspiration starts to diminish, we must channel some of it into 'focus' and 'commitment'.
Focus has to do with the direction you take. If you have an overall idea of what is required to reach your goal, stay 'focused' on just the next step and you will get there. Put blinders on. Don't get caught up in where you are or how much further you have to go. It's easy to get overwhelmed and abandon a goal if you loose your focus.
Commitment has to do with the time you spend actively pursuing your goal. In the example of writing a book, it will take thousands of hours to complete your work. Sticking to a schedule or committing to a certain number of hours regularly is the only way the task will get done.
Draw upon the energy of what inspires you. It will certainly motivate you to start a project, but it will take focus and commitment to keep the momentum going.
Motivation
Motivation is a powerful energy. It's a force that keeps us moving toward our goal. But what happens when major obstacles get in our way? If we're determined, we may be able to push through, however quite often we abandon our dreams. The following are 3 ways to keep motivated when things do not go as planned.
The first is to be prepared. Things often do not go smoothly. Think ahead about what you will do when something stands in your way. Finding a publisher when you're a new author is very difficult and filled with rejection. I thought to myself for every rejection I receive, I will find 2 new publishers or agents to send my work to. This helped me stay focused and motivated to constantly learn about the industry. It also gave me a concrete behavior to keep my goal alive.
The next trick to staying motivated is to take a step-by-step approach. If your goal is to write a fantasy novel and the first 20 pages took you several weeks to write, it could be easy to get overwhelmed knowing you have 200 more to go. Instead, focus on making the next 10 pages the best they can be.
The last tip is one that's often overlooked. To stay motivated, one must manage the negative feelings associated with setbacks. An easy way to lose incentive is by not coping with the negative impact of feeling pressured or defeated. To combat these emotions, consider what about the situation is still in your control. For example, I cannot make my dream agent want to represent me, but I can search for other qualified representatives that I would be proud to work with. Remember you have choices. There are many paths to success. Focus on what you can do. This will generate the needed energy to stay motivated.
Staying motivated to reach your dreams is not always easy. The strategies above can
help you stay focused and create enough positive energy to help you succeed.
The first is to be prepared. Things often do not go smoothly. Think ahead about what you will do when something stands in your way. Finding a publisher when you're a new author is very difficult and filled with rejection. I thought to myself for every rejection I receive, I will find 2 new publishers or agents to send my work to. This helped me stay focused and motivated to constantly learn about the industry. It also gave me a concrete behavior to keep my goal alive.
The next trick to staying motivated is to take a step-by-step approach. If your goal is to write a fantasy novel and the first 20 pages took you several weeks to write, it could be easy to get overwhelmed knowing you have 200 more to go. Instead, focus on making the next 10 pages the best they can be.
The last tip is one that's often overlooked. To stay motivated, one must manage the negative feelings associated with setbacks. An easy way to lose incentive is by not coping with the negative impact of feeling pressured or defeated. To combat these emotions, consider what about the situation is still in your control. For example, I cannot make my dream agent want to represent me, but I can search for other qualified representatives that I would be proud to work with. Remember you have choices. There are many paths to success. Focus on what you can do. This will generate the needed energy to stay motivated.
Staying motivated to reach your dreams is not always easy. The strategies above can
help you stay focused and create enough positive energy to help you succeed.
