By Lena Lindsay
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. ”
Motivation is a fundamental driving force that pushes people towards achieving their goals and fulfilling their aspirations. However, staying motivated can be challenging, especially when faced with life's everyday struggles and distractions. Today I wanted to talk about how to become motivated, flourish, and live with engagement by utilizing the resources found in MyBestSelf101, 10 Overlooked Truths About Taking Action, and Atomic Habits by James Clear.
Engaged living is the foundation for creating a life full of joy, meaning, and purpose. According to MyBestSelf101, engaged living means "consistently moving in the direction of one’s values, even in the face of obstacles." This approach involves being fully present in the moment, setting and working towards meaningful goals, and engaging in activities that bring us joy and fulfillment. To become more engaged in our lives, we must first identify our values, passions, and strengths. By doing so, we can focus on activities that align with our true selves, rather than wasting time on pursuits that drain our energy and motivation.
“The critical ingredient ism getting off your butt and doing something. It’s as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. ”
Another valuable resource for achieving success is the article “10 Overlooked Truths About Taking Action.” It provides tips on how to take action towards our goals. The article encourages readers to start small, embrace discomfort, and seek accountability from others (McKay, 2020). It emphasizes the need to take action, no matter how small the steps may seem and argues that taking action builds momentum, helps overcome fear and anxiety, and creates a sense of accomplishment, leading to increased motivation and engagement. By implementing these strategies, we can break free from the paralysis of analysis and take meaningful steps towards our desired outcomes.
Finally, Atomic Habits by James Clear provides practical advice on how to create and maintain positive habits that lead to success. According to Clear (2018), "habits are the compound interest of self-improvement." By making small changes to our daily routines, we can create a ripple effect that leads to significant improvements over time. Clear (2018) recommends starting with small, easy-to-accomplish habits and gradually building upon them. He also suggests tracking progress and rewarding ourselves for successes, which can provide a positive feedback loop that reinforces our habits and motivates us to continue.
“Ask yourself if what you’re doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow.”
In conclusion, becoming motivated, flourishing, and living an engaged life requires intentional action and the utilization of valuable resources. By incorporating strategies from MyBestSelf101, 10 Overlooked Truths About Taking Action, and Atomic Habits, we can create a fulfilling and meaningful life that aligns with our true selves. Through engaged living, taking action, and cultivating positive habits, we can achieve success in all areas of our lives.
Call to action:
Write down things that interest you
Consider what habits might support you in these endeavors
For example, if you desire to learn a new skill, then it would be beneficial to you to create a habit of watching videos daily or spending a certain amount of time daily in order to grow in that desire that you have.
Another example could be that you desire to go on a vacation next year, so the habits that you might create is saving all the change that you get into a jar, and setting aside a percentage of each paycheck to go towards your vacation.
3. Change your plans and habits when you seem to get bored with them
Make it fun! This is something you want! Remind yourself why you want the specific outcome regularly.
4. Think less and DO MORE
I have always LOVED planning, but I realized that the more I schemed and thought and planned and preened, the less time I was putting towards ACHIEVING the dreams I had for myself!
“If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.”
References
Clear, J. (2018). Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones. Random House.
McKay, B. (2020). 10 Overlooked Truths About Taking Action. Art of Manliness. Retrieved from https://www.artofmanliness.com/10-overlooked-truths-about-taking-action/
Warren, J., & Shearer, J. (n.d.). Engaged Living. My Best Self 101. Retrieved February 25, 2023, from https://www.mybestself101.org/engaged-living