You have this one goal. You've had it in your mind for a while and you know you want to achieve it. It's your one thing, and you know: It will make you happy when you finally achieve it.
Whether you're just starting out and only have the desire to achieve your vision, or you're already on your way to your goal and have to deal with the first setbacks - here you'll learn effective techniques for strong long-term motivation.
Phase 1: The first steps towards your goal
1. The why is your anchor!
Do you want to achieve a specific goal? Then first ask yourself why. Why is it important to you to accomplish a certain thing? How will you feel when you've achieved it?
Your why is your greatest source of motivation and your anchor, which you can always return to when things get difficult.
If you are clear at the beginning about why you actually want to achieve your goal, you can return to it when you experience setbacks.
Our tip : Write down your goal and your why on a piece of paper to remind yourself of it again and again.
2. Be loud and proud!
Do you know what you want to achieve in the coming period? Then talk about it! Tell your friends, family, or partner what you've set out to do.
This way, you not only gain their support, but also have a lower threshold for giving up on your goal too soon. With this technique, you increase your commitment and develop a strong sense of identification with your goal.
3. Simple and effective: Step by Step!
The number one motivation killer is the fear of the long road that still lies between you and your goal. Therefore, it's important to break your goal down into subgoals and tackle them step by step.
Success does not come from unrealistically large goals and visions, but from consistently taking one step at a time.
Phase 2: The struggles along the way
1. If you want to quit, remember why you started!
On the path to every goal, there are setbacks and days when your goal seems unattainable. But before you give up on your goal, ask yourself if you're also willing to give up on your why.
Reflect on your initial motivation and realize that failure is part of the process. You may need to adjust your goal slightly. But that doesn't change your original WHY. Focus on why you started and get back on track!
2. Keep your head up high!
Even professionals experience setbacks. But they overcome them. How exactly? "The most important thing is not to let negative thoughts arise," says Germany's most successful Iron Man athlete, Laura Philipp.
Setbacks have shown her that your own mindset is the most important factor in difficult times. You have control over whether you let negativity drag you down or look optimistically toward the future.
3. Confide in your friends!
Sharing problems strengthens your bond and helps you find solutions. Trust that verbalizing your problems will relieve stress.
By having a conversation, you can stop the spinning carousel of thoughts and rediscover what task you want to tackle next.
4. Don’t blame yourself during bad times!
On the way to your goal, you'll encounter days when you're unmotivated, and you might even have to deal with tough setbacks. If these setbacks didn't exist, you would have chosen your goal too easily. But how do you deal with them?
Psychological research shows us that it's mentally healthier not to always look for reasons for difficulties in yourself. Of course, you should analyze your failures and work on the causes.
But you can also blame a bad day, a bad mood, or circumstances for something not working out today. But then you'll tackle it the next day with full motivation.
Conclusion
If you truly want to achieve your goals, you should be aware of the WHY behind your actual goal. This will help you remotivate yourself during difficult times.
Don't let setbacks get you down, but accept them, overcome them and don't give up until you get where you want to be.
