Find Your Motivation to Change
Updated: 09/03/2022 – When was the last time you promised yourself that you were going to lose weight? Finish your college degree? No longer want to live in clutter? All kinds of promises – BROKEN! Do you want to find your motivation to change?
My Motivation to Change
If you’ve followed my writings, you already know that I had a weight problem as a child.
At the beginning of each school year in grade school, we were each weighed and measured. And that happened in front of the other class members.
In sixth grade, I was the tallest girl; I was also the heaviest, weighing in at 126 pounds. The humiliation I felt as that number was announced is still a painful memory.
I led a sheltered life on a working farm. So I just lived with the fact that I was a big, unattractive girl with no motivation to change.
During my teen years, I put on more weight. Until I hit 11th grade. When I found out that someone was going to ask me out, I was both nervous and excited! But finally had the motivation to change my eating habits and lose that excess weight.
Now, when my weight goes up, that memory, along with a few other little tricks, motivates me to modify my diet to bring it back under control.
Do you need motivation to make some changes in your life?
Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.”
Michael Jordan
Make Change Happen
So, you want to make a change. But you’ve been here before.
Especially when the needle on the scale doesn’t budge, despite cutting out (almost all) snacks.
Or you still can’t complete the run around the block because it’s too hot, too tired…whatever!
And you’ve almost given up on keeping the pile of clothes folded and put away because it’s just too far out of control!
I’ll bet you can come up with a whole list of reasons as to why you weren’t successful in your last attempt to change something in your life.
You’re motivated, but something’s in the way.
Excuses to Make Changes
Was it:
- fear of the unknown
- fear of failure
- lack of commitment
- overwhelmed by the process
- impatience
- lose interest
- and on, and on, and on.
But you can overcome all of them if you have a plan and proceed one step at a time.
How do you STAY motivated?
Here are some ideas to try.
You Have to Want Change
You can’t be lackluster about the change you want in your life.
Whatever it is that you’re looking for, must be worth your while to chase after.
I have a friend who has been a smoker for many years. No matter what she tried, she just couldn’t break the habit.
Recently she developed serious health issues And the cigarettes were not helping her. The doctor gave her strict diet plans and, of course, she had to quit smoking. If not, she would have to begin medications for the rest of her life. Even with that, there were no guarantees.
With such a gloomy future, she gave up those cigarettes pretty fast. This was a huge scare for her. And quite the motivation that she needed.
Wanting something bad enough will help you find the motivation to change.
You have to be All in!
Make Changes in Steps
It’s exciting to set important goals toward change!
But what happens as we set out and it’s not as easy as we first thought? And the further along we go, the more difficult it is to succeed.
Then comes the overwhelm.
That’s the time to take a step back and regroup.
Take another look at what you wish to accomplish.
Write down your goal.
Set out each step that you must accomplish in order to be successful.
As each step is completed, cross it off!
Chunking
This process is called “chunking”. It allows you to break down individual tasks so it’s not overwhelming.
Chunking brings organization to how you get to your goal.
Seeing things clearly spelled out and checked off will keep you motivated and moving forward.
Keep a Schedule
Writing solidifies or memorializes things in our brain. When we see things in written form, we tend to have it reinforced and retained.
Keep a daily planner and write in it every day.
Plan out every activity that you have for that day.
If stretching, walking, or yoga is something you’d like to accomplish every morning, schedule it. Put it in big, red bold letters if you must.
Then take time and do it.
Once finished, put an X over it.
This will give you a huge feeling of accomplishment and keep you motivated to change!
Find a Motivation Partner
Have you ever set out to accomplish a goal only to find it’s lonely out there? Trying to accomplish something on your own with no support can be frustrating as well as demotivating.
If you decide that you want to train for a 5K, find someone who is just starting, or at your level, to run with you.
A beginner walker? Join a local walking group. There are all ages and levels of walkers involved so don’t be shy! Why not try organizing some friends to join you?
Do you want to write a child’s book? Sign in to a Facebook writers’ club for information and support.
It’s always a great idea to find like-minded people who are sharing the same path.
Not only will you be motivated by your partner but you’re also supporting them!
Use Affirmations as Motivation to Change
I have a friend who went through a lot of trauma in her childhood and teen years. She was abused in many ways. She called herself “Stupid Whore”; she believed that was who she was.
While that self-identity seems extreme, many of us have negative opinions of ourselves. We believe that we’re not pretty, not smart enough, and not capable.
Along with these thoughts come the “I can’t”, and the doubting “what if’s”.
These thoughts are very self-defeating. We set ourselves up for failure. Even the fear of failure actually holds us back!
What are Affirmations
Affirmations are emotional support and encouraging statements. They are meant to motivate and bring about change in our lives.
Develop some affirmations of your own that you can repeat to change your mindset from one of negativity to being positive. Some ideas: I am beautiful, I can lose weight, I feel good about myself. I am letting go of negative, self-defeating thoughts.
When making your affirmations, keep them positive. Write them down and post them in areas where you will see them. And repeat them often.
When you believe your affirmations, you become motivated to change.
Motivation to Change Distractions and Temptations
Let’s go back to my healthy/unhealthy eating habits.
I’m following the Weight Watchers plan. If you adhere to it, point by point, you will lose weight.
Last week, my husband and I went to the beach for a few days with our kids. Of course, there was a lot of food temptation – it was a mini-vacation!
Friday night was pizza night. I don’t know about you but I’ve never seen a pizza that I didn’t want to sample!
Needless to say, my diet plan went out the window a bit. Not completely though, I just wasn’t monitoring my allowed points. I continued to drink ample amounts of water and filled up on fruit and vegetables so I didn’t push up the needle of the scale (but it didn’t go down either).
In this example, no one asked me to go off of my WW plan, but the temptation was too much.
When we returned home, I resumed my healthy eating and I’m back on the losing track.
Getting Derailed
There will be times when working towards a goal, someone or something will come along and throw you off course.
If that happens, recognize it for what it is – an attempt (either intended or unintended) to demotivate and/or sabotage.
And the sooner your recognize and acknowledge that you are off-track, the easier it is to get back on.
So don’t delay.
Reset, get back in the driver’s seat, and move straight ahead. You will never get to where you want to go if you allow others to sidetrack you or change your direction.
Create a Vision Tool to Help to Motivate
Create a vision board (you can find out how to make one here) and keep it in a location where you can see it. This visual is a constant reminder of where you want to go and what you wish to accomplish.
But I use another tool to motivate me to change, particularly when I want to shed some lbs.
When I retired, I gained some weight (at least fifteen pounds) and I was uncomfortable in my clothes. It hit me when I wanted to put on my favorite skirt for church and I couldn’t wriggle into it, not over my head or by stepping into it.
That was the ultimate motivation for me – I went on a weight-loss mission until I could wear that skirt again.
And now, when I feel that I’m putting that unwanted weight back on, out comes the skirt to see if it fits.
So, find your own vision that will keep you motivated – whether it’s a piece of clothing or a vision board. Put it where you know you will see it to serve as a reminder that you can reach your goal!
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