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How To Develop A Motivated Mindset
Wendy Betterini
From time to time, each of us will find ourselves in a rut
of boredom and disinterest. We seem to lose our zest for life
and feel tired, irritable and unmotivated. We want to hide
under the covers rather than face the day. Perhaps you're
feeling overwhelmed by work, or sad about the pain and suffering
in the world, or just bored with the routine of your daily
life.
You are not alone. We all go through periods like this at
some point. The good news is that we can do something about
it. Here are some tips to help break out of the rut and feel
excited about life again:
1) Take a "Time Out" - Prolonged stress can wear us
down and zap any enthusiasm we once had. Before doing anything
else, take a few minutes to breathe and just BE. Empty your
mind of all stress and worry. This takes practice, but don't
give up! As thoughts come into your mind, gently push them
back out and continue to keep your mind empty and calm. Take
slow, deep breaths and let all of your muscles relax. Sit
quietly and recharge your batteries. Try to do this daily,
or even twice daily (morning and night). We need quiet time
as much as we need anything else in life. Give yourself the
gift of inner peace.
2) Get Inspired - Read something motivational, inspirational
or uplifting. Look at some beautiful nature photos, or read
something humorous. Consciously move your thoughts to a more
positive place. Focusing on nothing but work and our daily
tasks in life can leave us feeling pretty uninspired. It's
easy to turn it around if we want to. We just have to seek
out things that will lift our spirits and our moods. Make
it a point to laugh, be happy, joyful and lighthearted each
day. Don't wait for inspiration to come knocking on your door,
go out and find it, or create it. Conjure up some funny or
touching memories. Write them in a journal so you can go back
and read them when you're feeling down.
3) Get Excited - Think about the things you have planned
for the day, and rekindle the enthusiasm you once felt for
them. When we first begin a new project, or start a new job,
we are excited about the possibilities and eager to get moving!
Over time, we can lose that enthusiasm for a variety of reasons.
Travel back in time for a moment, and think about what got
you so excited at the beginning. What made your heart beat
a little faster? Recapture that feeling and hang onto it!
Even if your tasks aren't anything to be really excited about,
at least think of some positive benefits to doing them. For
example, list the ways they will benefit your children, your
spouse, yourself, your job or your home. Identify the payoff,
and focus on that. Even mundane tasks have some benefits.
Sometimes it's just a matter of switching our mindset to see
the positive side.
4) Baby Steps - Sometimes the hardest part is actually
getting started. A project seems so monstrous that we cringe
at the thought of all that time and energy we'll have to expend.
Instead of overwhelming yourself, start small. Set a timer
for 15 minutes and just start working on it. Allow yourself
to stop after 15 minutes if you really want to. But most often,
once we actually start working on something, we won't want
to stop. Don't focus on the big picture, look at the smaller
details and take them on one at a time. Any large task seems
manageable once we break it down into smaller steps.
5) Care of the Body - Sometimes our feelings of fatigue
are caused by physical deficiencies, not mental. Be sure you
are getting enough rest, eating food that nourishes your body,
drinking enough water, getting enough exercise, etc. Especially
when we're very busy, we tend to grab the quickest, easiest
meals, which aren't always the best choice for our bodies.
Eating a lot of highly processed foods and sugar is like putting
watered-down gasoline into our cars. In order for our cars
to run smoothly, we need to maintain them properly, and so
it is with our bodies also. Remember, the body is the vehicle
for the mind and soul! ;-)
Finally, remember to reward yourself from time to time, and
be gentle with yourself! There will always be things that
"need" to be done. But some of us take on way more than we
can handle, and our lives turn into a pit of drudgery because
of it. Try to eliminate the things that truly don't bring
you joy, or at least minimize the time you spend on them.
Do what you can, and let the rest go. Or ask for help. Don't
feel you have to do everything yourself.
Remember that motivation, just like happiness, is something
we CHOOSE. We may need to give ourselves a little push at
the beginning, but once we get into the right mindset, it's
simple to stay there if we choose to.
Wendy Betterini is a freelance writer who strives
to motivate, uplift, and inspire you to make your dreams a
reality. Visit her website, www.WingsForTheHeart.com
for more positive thoughts to help you on your journey.
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
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