Many people begin with a great anticipation toward achieving their big, grandiose dreams, but over the course of time, will lose interest and stop working toward those goals within days or weeks. The common thread that keeps people going, and leads them to accomplish their goals is discipline. Motivation gets you off of your butt and working hard to achieve your goals, but discipline keeps you there.
1.Learn How to Distinguish Between Motivation and Discipline.
Motivation gives you the “hot” emotion that pushes you to take action toward any particular objective. Motivation can be obtained from many different angles e.g., reading quotes by famous individuals, watching videos that inspire you, having a strong desire to attain your specific goal or obtaining the motivation through frustration created by your existing situation. Unfortunately, we usually experience temporary motivation (i.e., our level of motivation gradually rises, then progressively falls).
In contrast, discipline is the ability to perform your responsibilities no matter how you are currently feeling at that moment. When you combine motivation with discipline, you are creating a strong structure that will ultimately allow you the opportunity of achieving life-long success.
This is why “Motivation for Success: How to Build Discipline & Achieve More” has placed greater emphasis on systems vs. emotional states.
2.Create Clear and Concise Goals.
A large reason why many lose their motivation to achieve their goals is a result of having unclear and/or vague goals. If you are unclear as to what the goal you are trying to achieve is, your brain will not guide you toward achieving this goal as it has nothing on which to anchor; therefore causing you to become lost.
Rather than simply stating, “I want to be successful”, take a moment to define what success means to you. Here are some examples:
A specific amount of income
Learning a new skill
Finishing a project by a certain date
By having clear goals to focus on, it helps with direction; when you establish a direction, you can become more disciplined; as you become more disciplined, your motivation grows over time.
3.Create Daily Routines rather than just Large Plans for Future Achievements
Success does not occur overnight; however, it is achieved from doing small things consistently over time.
To master “Motivation for Success: Building Discipline to Achieve More”, you should focus on developing some of these habits:
Spend at least 30 to 60 minutes each day towards the goal you are trying to achieve.
Reduce distractions by limiting use of social media or anything else that is not productive.
Have set daily routines.
Though they may not appear substantial, small habits can create tremendous results over time when they are performed with regularity.
4.Develop the Ability to Act Regardless of How Motivated You Feel
One of the top reasons people have difficulty completing tasks/productivity is that they wait to feel motivated before they take action; however, successful individuals don’t wait; they simply take action!
A valuable strategy is using the “five minute commitment.” Tell yourself that you will work on a task for five minutes only, as usually when we begin, we keep working on it longer than expected. This helps develop our discipline by decreasing resistance when we have started; eventually, acting becomes second nature, even if we do not feel motivated at the time.
5.Control Your Environment
Your environment has a powerful influence on your behaviors; if you have a distracting environment, your discipline will suffer. To enhance your concentration:
- Keep your workspace tidy and organized
- Remove any unneeded distractions from your phone
- Surround yourself with people who focus on their goals
A positive environment will support your motivation for success: how to create discipline and maximize your potential by making it easier to make smart choices.
6.Measure and Maintain Consistency.
You can only improve what you track. Tracking your progress provides you with the accountability and motivation necessary to succeed.
Here are some ways to track your progress:
- A simple, chart type checklist
- A journal
- A productivity application
When we observe progress (even though it might be small) our minds react by releasing feelings of accomplishment and promoting further discipline.
Conclusion
One’s true success lies in the development of a disciplined and self-sustaining lifestyle where motivation comes naturally.
The principles found in Motivation for Success: How to Build Discipline and Achieve More can help you find success in being able to continue showing up every day, regardless of your level of inspiration.
