How To Stay Motivated – 3 Easy Tips for Sustaining Your Passion
1) Find a Natural Sanctuary
Stimulate the Senses
By far, one of the best ways to stay motivated and to sustain your passion (no matter what it is) is to get outside and walk or jog or run. Our bodies and our brains need to be stimulated and nothing does this better than nature. Nature is vivid. The sounds and textures and smells will help you come alive. And by physically moving in nature, you will stimulate your body even more. Once your senses become stimulated, your brain will start to give you answers to personal and/or business questions. Your body will also become programmed to generate new creative ideas when you stimulate your senses.
Clearing the Clutter and Chaos
One reason we lose our motivation and can\’t find our passion in life is that we are too busy experiencing chaos. Chaos comes in many forms-people, events, TV, radio and so on. You must experience nature to find and sustain your passion. Just 30 minutes a day will clear the clutter from your brain and reprogram you to breathe and think more instead of being so reactionary to all the numbing stimulants in your life!
2) Create a Fun System
Journaling
Once you clear your mind each day, you will need a FUN system to keep track of all the stimulating ideas you will get! I have a notebook that I carry with me where I jot down affirmations, goals, and problems (personal and professional) that I need to solve! And I find that every few months or so I like to rip it all out and throw it way and start over. For me, I seem to solve all those problems and reach all the goals and this physically lets me have a clean slate and move on. Be open to the process of journaling and do what your gut tells you to do.
Mindmapping
I also love mindmapping because I am drawn to the creative visuals! There are some great software resources out there like www.mindjet.com. For me the process of mindmapping stimulates the creative side of my brain.
Visioning
The other fun way that I stay motivated and connected to my passion is by using a graphic coach. My coach, Christina Merkley at www.shift-it-coach.com took me through her Shift It Program. Not only was this fun, it was eye opening! And she even has maps and instructions so you can use this graphic coaching process yourself at home.
3) Pay Attention
The wonderful thing about creating a fun system in your daily life and getting back to nature more is that it allows you the time and space to “Ask Yourself Questions.” This step is the key to sustaining your passion. You will change and the world around you keeps changing so it is important (now more than ever!) that you keep asking yourself questions so you can stay centered. What types of questions should you ask yourself in order to sustain your passion?
- What makes me happy?
- What do I enjoy?
- What excites me?
- What makes me cry?
- What can I do to learn more about my passions?
- How can I use my passion to improve the world around me?
- Am I doing anything creative in my life?
- If not, what can I do?
Do you need more help staying motivated and/or finding your passion(s)? Our How To Stay Motivated Learning Kit includes six different teleseminar programs that help you do just that. Visit http://www.naww.org/blog/products/how-to-stay-motivated to learn more.
Want To Use This Article In Your Ezine or Website? You have my permission, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Sheri McConnell is the President of the National Association of Women Writers (http://www.naww.org/). She helps women writers and entrepreneurs discover, create, and profit from their intellectual knowledge! Free reports for writers available with subscription to NAWW Weekly. Sheri lives in San Antonio, Texas with her husband Seth and their four children. Contact her at naww@onebox.com or her toll free number at 866-821-5829.
