Feel like you need more motivation for life change? I get it. You won’t always feel enthusiastic about your goals. Inevitably, days will arise that make you question your motives, reasons, and abilities to achieve your aims and aspirations. For this reason, knowing how to extract that self-motivation when you need it is essential.

But how do you do it? Luckily, it’s a simple process that—once you start implementing it—can deliver results much quicker than you think. Keep reading to learn more.

The Power of Motivation For Life Change

Developing the motivation for life change can feel like a complex and difficult process. However, it’s actually a simple process, and more importantly, it’s an essential aspect of personal development. While it’s not an overnight event, it only requires a couple of things to begin making progress. Motivation for life changes comes down to two factors, and they are:

1. Knowing what you want: You must have a goal in mind. Motivation surfaces when your heart and mind are directed toward an aim, outcome, or vision. What do you want?
2. Believing you’re capable (and worthy) of achieving it: It’s not enough to just want something. Everyone has wants. The key here is to believe that it’s possible for you and that you’re worthy of it.

When these two criteria are met, the motivation to change your life becomes a byproduct. You don’t have to develop it at that point; it takes root and grows automatically.

How to replenish motivation to achieve goals

I’ll be the first person to tell you that discipline is the key to achieving your goals. However, I’d be leaving out a fundamental component if I relegated my explanation to discipline alone. Here’s the deal: Yes, discipline carries you to achievement; however, motivation is what gets you started on the journey.

All the discipline in the world won’t help if you aren’t motivated to start in the first place. Motivation gets you started; discipline keeps you going. That’s why the order of my tagline is “Motivated And THEN Disciplined.”

Zig Ziglar

Zig Ziglar was among the world’s most popular self-help gurus and motivational speakers. He often spoke about replenishing motivation.

He has a quote demonstrating motivation’s importance: “People say motivation doesn’t last. Well, I say neither does bathing; that’s why I recommend it daily.”

So true. You need to replenish your reserves of motivation continually. And here are the simple steps that will allow you to do that:

• Review your goals: Your goals are your fuel. They are the reasons you set out on your self-improvement journey. So, review whenever you feel motivation slipping away. Feel what it would be like to accomplish them. Imagine yourself being successful. Believe that your desired outcomes are possible and that what you want will soon be yours.
• Get around the right people: Getting around inspirational or successful people can lift your spirits, increase your confidence, and even boost your mental health. It’s amazing how seeing and hearing about your friends’ successes can reignite the motivation for life change within you. Now, this doesn’t mean you can only hang around people who have aspirations of Mahatma Gandhi or Steve Jobs to escape an apathetic life. It just means you need to take active steps to spend more time with people who inspire you.
• Take action anyway: If all else fails, just take action anyway. Many people make the mistake of waiting for motivation to come before they take action. Big mistake. The exact opposite is true: You have to take action to motivate yourself to return. Even the smallest of actions aimed at your goal can build a sense of momentum.

Motivation for Making the Proper Lifestyle Changes

Developing (and maintaining) motivation for life change is an internal process. I always say self-improvement starts from the inside out. For this reason, you must create a plan of action (with practical steps) for these life changes. What’s more, you have to put your plan in motion in your daily life.

Identify personal motives for change

It’s ironic: We all crave a better life for ourselves; however, very few of us are willing to make (and stick to) the changes that will lead to those improvements. Why is that? I believe it’s because change is hard and uncomfortable. However, we forget that those feelings of discomfort are temporary.

They eventually disappear as we adjust to our new standard. So, the challenge is to ensure you have enough compelling reasons to make these changes.

Joe Rogan

Joe Rogan has a powerful story that illustrates this concept.

Everyone knows Joe Rogan is a martial artist. But few people know the story that led him down the path. When Joe was in school as a young kid, he got into a confrontation with one of his schoolmates in a locker room.

The kid grabbed Joe, putting him in a headlock before throwing him to the ground. Joe didn’t know what to do. Luckily, the kid controlled himself and took things no further than the takedown.

This experience, as Joe explains it, is what led him to take up martial arts training.

What’s the key takeaway? You need to have strong reasons to keep yourself motivated. Joe has been training in martial arts (from karate and taekwondo to kickboxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu) for over four decades!

One of the primary reasons for his longevity is that he NEVER wanted to feel the way he did when his schoolmate dominated him in the locker room on that fateful day.

Motivation for life change occurs when you know WHY the change is necessary.

Overcoming obstacles and staying motivated

Once you decide on a new route in your life, inevitably, obstacles surface.

It’s almost as if God wants to test your commitment. He does this by throwing unexpected challenges and difficulties in your way to see if your resolve is as ironclad as you say it is.

Here’s where it gets interesting…

Although these obstacles may seem like obstructions, the truth is that they are actually springboards. Why? When you conquer them through persistence, they tend to catapult your motivation to win. The more you overcome these challenges, the more confident and self-assured you feel in your abilities.

How to Find Motivation When You’re Feeling Down

You’re not always going to have the motivation to push through. And although I’ve discussed a few concepts to help you reclaim your motivation already, there are a couple of other ideas that can be useful on your down days.

Seek support from others

No man is an island. You don’t have to do things on your own in life. Look, I understand the feeling of wanting to be “self-made” or the “lone wolf.” (Lord knows how long I’ve subscribed to that mentality). However, this thinking can hinder your progress, especially when your motivation has left you. As a result, it’s essential to have others to “lean on.”

I’m not saying you should have a social life or inner circle filled with people who baby and coddle you—not by any stretch. I’m saying that seeking support from those you know and trust is necessary to keep your sanity during difficult times.

Engage in activities that bring back your motivation

The most effective way to regain your lost motivation for life change is to MOVE.

Do something in your daily life that gets you moving in the right direction. The best part? This type of action-taking could be anything as long as it’s productive and gets you into the right state of mind.

Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins (the world’s leading life coach) was a significant inspiration for me when I began exploring self-improvement. In fact, his work played a vital role when I was trying to regain my motivation for life change.

He has a powerful quote that I absolutely love. He said, “Massive action is the cure-all.” So, what does this quote mean to you? The next time you feel that your motivation has escaped you, try this… Do something—anything!

Here are a few simple actions steps to consider if you’re struggling to find motivation:

• Go to the gym
• Call a friend or relative
• Take a long walk to self-reflect
• Write in a journal

The idea behind this concept is to simply move you forward. When you lack motivation, the worst thing you can do is nothing (even though that’s what you’ll feel like doing most). You have to resist the urge to marinate in stagnation.

The “Secret” to Gaining Motivation for Life Change

You can change whenever you decide to. You don’t have to limit yourself to an apathetic life. But here’s the deal: You must participate in your own rescue. God will help you every step of the way, but you’re the one who has to get a plan ready to kick your bad habits and get on track toward your ultimate goal. Now, you may wonder: How can you start that process?

Act as if…

You have to act as if what you want is on its way, that it’s already ready for you, and that it’s only a matter of time before it falls into your lap. This step means taking action every day. Daily action communicates that you have faith. Now, here’s the cool part: You don’t have to actually feel that it’s “in the cards for you.”

Sounds like I’m contradicting myself, huh? Let me explain…

The most important part of achieving your goals is taking action. You simply have to ACT AS IF what you want is already a done deal. You don’t even necessarily have to feel like you’ll get it. In fact, most days, you’ll probably feel like your ambitions are out of reach.

That’s okay. Take action anyway.

The most critical thing to regain and retain motivation for life change is to act as if your ambitions are inevitable. Set a daily goal that’s aligned with your bigger goals, and make it your mission to hit that aim every day.

This simple philosophy allows you to…

Build momentum

Your life is a locomotive, and your daily habits determine the direction of your track. Are you on track toward your goals? Or is your track leading you toward misery, misfortune, and mediocrity? Either way, your track is building momentum in some direction.

It’s up to you to decide which direction it will be.

And the way that you decide is through the quality of actions, habits, and behaviors. The secret to gaining motivation for life change is to build momentum in a positive direction. And the best part? All you have to do to do that is begin making small, positive decisions every day.

Here’s what that looks like in practical terms:

• Working out and exercising
• Eating healthy, nutritious foods
• Surrounding yourself with positive people
• Setting goals that inspire you
• Keeping your promises and commitments
• Crafting a vision for your life and taking steps toward it

Action leads to momentum, which then leads to motivation, which then leads to achievement. It becomes a domino effect where one tiny domino collapses the bigger domino, which then knocks down the even bigger domino until the whole succession falls.

The 4 Stages to Create Motivation for Life Change

I have good news and bad news. The good news is anyone can change and put a plan in motion to create a better life. The new bad news is it means breaking some bad habits and going on a faith journey of self-improvement. Luckily, there are a few simple stages people go through that facilitate change. This means you can follow the same practical steps in your life.

1. Precontemplation stage: The precontemplation stage is when you don’t take change seriously. In fact, you’re comfortable and fine with the status quo, even though you may not be happy with it. At the precontemplation stage, you may even argue in favor of your bad habits and disinterest in life.
2. Preparation stage: The preparation stage is when you decide you need to change something. The pain and frustration have created a sense of urgency. You may even have a plan ready and are looking to take some active steps to put your plan in motion.
3. Action stage: The action stage is when you start spending time taking practical steps to reach a happier, more balanced life. You may have an accountability partner, a coach, or some resource for knowledge and support. However, the important characteristic of the action stage is that you’ve begun moving toward the ultimate goal of improving your circumstances.
4. Maintenance stage: The maintenance stage is when you establish a solid foundation. Your motivation for life change has brought you to a new reality. And now, you’re just maintaining what you’ve worked so hard for. Temptations to revert are reduced to a minimum, and you’re living a much more balanced life.

Conclusion

Developing motivation for life change is not a linear process. It ebbs and flows. For this reason, you have to become comfortable (and familiar) with the rollercoaster ride of chasing your goals. Motivation is not a permanent emotional state. It’s something that is cultivated over time by following the concepts listed in this article.

If you need additional help developing motivation and discipline to achieve your goals, I’ve got you covered. Be sure to check out my ebook, The Disciplined Mind, to learn how to cultivate the motivation to achieve your biggest goals and ambitions.