How to cultivate self-motivation to achieve your goals

Motivation is the fuel that keeps us going on our chosen paths. It’s what drives us to keep pursuing our goals in life. However, when we run low on this fuel, we find ourselves stuck, unable to move even an inch further. What do we do in such a situation? We look for motivation somewhere outside, in our friends and loved ones, or in movies and books.

But what if one can’t find motivation externally? That’s when we have to look inwards and seek motivation within. Self-motivation is the inner cheerleader, the affirmative voice that tells you to keep going irrespective of the circumstances. It gives you the power to remain unfazed and determined in the pursuit of your goals.

Self-motivation boosts your feeling of competency and the belief in your ability to get things done. This is a valuable trait that can catapult you to the highest echelons of success in all walks of life. Wondering how you cultivate self-motivation to achieve your goals? Read on.

Step outside your comfort zone

You must have heard the phrase ‘get outside your comfort zone’ a zillion times in your life. But what does it mean? According to management thinker Judith Bardwick, who coined the term comfort zone in 1991, “The comfort zone is a behavioural state within which a person operates in an anxiety-neutral condition, using a limited set of behaviours to deliver a steady level of performance, usually without a sense of risk.” Staying confined in your comfort zone stops you from harnessing your inner potential. On the other hand, stepping outside the comfort zone entails risk-taking after assessing the areas or situations that create limitations for you. It is one of the sure-shot ways to achieve self-motivation.

Ask yourself if the fear of failure or disappointment is holding you back. If you prefer to stay in your comfort zone, ask yourself if that’s due to a mental block that is prohibiting you from achieving your goals. Choose activities that challenge you, come up with a plan to tackle them, and set a timeline within which you can accomplish them. Once you engage in such activities, you will find that your pent-up fears will naturally diminish.

Have a positive attitude

A positive attitude is quintessential if you wish to cultivate self-motivation. Research published in the Psychological Bulletin reviewed “extensive evidence demonstrating that happy people are successful and flourishing people.” Thus, developing a positive attitude can take you far in life. But how do you do that? Firstly, pay attention to your inner dialogue and assess your thoughts. Does your inner voice berate you for your mistakes or does it laud you for having the courage to attempt new things regardless of the outcome? If your inner voice tilts towards the latter, it means you have a positive attitude. It helps you find the silver lining in difficult circumstances. Instead of dwelling on the things that went wrong, a positive attitude helps you see the brighter side of life even amidst the most strenuous situations.

Keep learning and acquiring knowledge

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest,” Benjamin Franklin said in his book The Way to Wealth. Knowledge is the doorway to prosperity and success. One should keep acquiring knowledge at every step in life. That’s the hallmark of people who are driven by self-motivation. They remain motivated because they do not let their curiosity die out after finishing conventional education. Especially nowadays, with the advent of the internet and technology, knowledge is at your fingertips. It’s up to you to decide how you utilise it to acquire knowledge, gain new skills and stay updated with the changing scenario. When you stay cocooned, you limit yourself from tapping into the world of opportunities that can come knocking at your doorsteps. But when you constantly strive to gain knowledge, you unleash the power to create new opportunities that can help you achieve your goals.

Practice time management

If you want to achieve your goals, keep in mind that time is the most precious commodity. Effective time management can lead you to success. You can start by creating a daily to-do list to prioritise your tasks. Tweak your schedule to take maximum advantage of your day. Try to become an early riser and allocate some time to personal tasks such as exercise and meditation before starting your work. Make sure you don’t mix up your personal and professional tasks and prioritise them accordingly. Say no to multitasking and focus on one task at a time to achieve the best results. When you can manage your time and get things done, your self-motivation will also get a boost.

Surround yourself with successful people

The people you surround yourself with play a crucial role in your journey. Spending time with supportive people will help you gain a positive outlook on life and boost your self-motivation. At the same time, you gain the confidence to believe in yourself. American author Tony Robbins says, “If we surround ourselves with people who are successful, who are forward-moving, who are positive, who are focused on producing results, who support us, it will challenge us to be more and do more and share more. If you can surround yourself with people who will never let you settle for less than you can be, you have the greatest gift that anyone can hope for.”