Motivating YOU!How Hard Are You Willing To Work?
by Laura Interval
I just read that less than 10% of people who buy a book read past the first chapter. 10%! I wonder if that holds true to a web page as well? That means 90 out of every 100 of you that finds this page just hit the back button. Even before I tell you that this article has the potential to change your life? Don’t do it! Hang with me! If you are one of the 90% that lose focus and commitment before you even really get started, take comfort that you’re not alone. Most of us get inspired to make changes, we go full force into one philosophy. Then when we see some results, we feel a shift in the right direction, and we quit. We put it into neutral and coast on the work we did, all the way back down the hill. We look for quick fixes. After all, it’s all we have time for between career, family, and friends, right? I mean at the end of the day just give me a quick answer on how to be happy please! Well, there actually are some quick answers. But the reality is that they require hard work and a lifetime of practice. The answers require a commitment to follow through with yourself. So the question is: how hard are you willing to work to get the life that you want? You work hard at your job, you work hard on your house, and you even work hard at your relationship. But, how hard are you working on YOU? If you have a book that you know might be motivating, do you take the time to read it? So often we put everything but ourselves first. We take care of other people’s needs, we spend our time pleasing people around us and we leave taking care of ourselves to the end of the day, if there is any time left. You won’t get what you want that way. You will not have the life you want if you don’t give yourself the same commitment and attention that you give to those around you. About 15 years ago, I began Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way”. I remember feeling excited and motivated. A friend recommended it and it held the promise of getting me out of a slump. The very first thing Julia has you do is sign a contract with yourself. You sign and date a form in which you promise your full commitment to yourself for the 12-week duration of the course. I determinedly signed the contract and displayed it proudly on my desk. I began week one with focus and intent. I was doing the daily exercises and reading every word. Somewhere around week four the program conflicted with a vacation I had planned, so I decided to put it on hold just for the week. I was already feeling strong and powerful and well out of my perceived slump. Well, I came back from vacation and got busy with work. I put the book on my shelf whispering to myself, “next week”. A couple of chaotic months later, I found the signed contract under a stack of other papers. It shocked me. Not only had I not gotten back to the program, I had forgotten about it and gotten sucked right back into stress and work confusion. I stared at it in awe. I couldn’t believe that I had broken a contract that I had signed with myself. I would never break a contract I had signed with someone else. Why, then would I so easily disregard this one that was with myself? It hit me hard. How could I expect my life to be what I wanted if I wasn’t willing to put my best into me? I got angry because I realized I would be angry at anyone who broke a contract with me! I got the book back out. I resigned the contract and started over. And this time I completed it. 12 weeks of the most useful, life changing exercises at exactly when I needed them. That was a huge realization. No one around me suffered because I gave myself some focused time. In fact, everyone around me benefited, because I was operating at a more inspired productive level. I was happier, so everyone around me was happier. I was also finding hours in my day that I didn’t have before. I was motivated to wake up earlier, I was more focused in my daily activities and I was excited to work harder. How hard are you working right now for the life you want? How much time and attention are you giving to yourself to work on yourself? If you say half heartedly, “oh well, the life I have now is fine”, and you’d rather eat chips and watch TV then, that’s cool. But, don’t be dissatisfied with your life then. You get exactly what you ask for. But, if you want more from your life, then go ahead and CLAIM IT. Get real about how hard you are willing to work for it and begin it. Drop any preconceived notions you have about not having enough time or that it will be easier to begin next year. Do it now. No one else is going to do it for you. Ask yourself, how hard are you willing to work to get the life you want?: Will you find an extra hour a day for yourself? Will you push yourself outside of your comfort zone? Will you give up a bad habit? Will you commit to starting again every morning? Will you be aware of positive thinking? So many people say they know what they want in their life, but spend most of their time talking about why they can’t and never will have it. Is this you? I can tell you right now that if you are the least bit doubtful that you will achieve your goals, you won’t. You will not have the determination and commitment to persist through hardship. Your conscious thoughts must continue daily, every moment, through good and bad. It takes work, no doubt. It takes commitment to being a person who will follow through for themselves. So, how hard are you willing to work? Sign a contract with yourself. If you’ve got that motivating book sitting on your shelf with the bookmark on page 15, begin reading it again. Read more of my articles. Push yourself to do the exercises. Commit yourself to being part of the 10% that follow through on their own dreams. That will lead you to the life you want. And only you can get you there!
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