Each and every one who reads this post can identify with the above quote. Each of us can easily recount the numerous new resolutions, birthday resolutions and wonderful intentions that have been listed out and pondered over but alas remain mere resolutions. It is not that we do not want to execute and put into practice those numerous tasks, deeds and desires but we find it hard to be both the starter of the race and the participant in the race. For far too long we have been directed, led, coached, disciplined, motivated and cajoled by parents, teachers, family and well wishers that we have lost the zest to be self directed and self starters.
With the Olympics just a few days away, it is just the right time to share some tips on how to be a self starter and get set go…
Put it in writing. It is said that if you can dream it you can achieve it. The same holds true for jotting down all what one wants to achieve. One has to take time out to think, reflect and then write down dreams, hopes, aspirations, passions, goals and personal challenges. On a day to day basis one also needs to jot down the repetitive, the mundane, the unavoidable and the inevitable tasks be it paying bills, discharging one’s social obligations or mere record keeping and filing.
Prioritize When having a multitude of tasks listed out, the biggest obstacle to overcome is deciding priorities. Fixing routines for the frequent and regular activity would help prune the list of tasks dramatically. What is left is often the challenging, the daunting and the inevitable tasks on the postponement agenda. Putting start dates and milestone achievements dates would make the tasks look less daunting, more achievable and certainly more tempting to begin.
Begin with faith and continue with hope. Whether challenging or routine, tasks will be well begun only when we start it. The trick is to begin earnestly, movie decisively and continue relentlessly. Your achievement will never be measured with that of another individual; it will merely be a series of progress at varying pace perhaps, but nevertheless progress that gives rise to the hope of ending in success.
Resolve with unwavering intent by finding motivators. If one can visualize the motivators even as one is writing down the tasks, getting of the blocks would be very spontaneous and simple. It is equally important that one continues to seek and find motivators to keep going for many a time, things get disheartening, one gets dispirited and disenchantment would tempt one to give up. The antidote to this is find the right motivators. Some motivators that are easy to identify with are progress made, positive feedback got, applause and support. The best motivators though are more subtle and very personal e.g. the feeling of having done a good job; the satisfaction of seeing the efforts translate into outstanding performance; the great high that we get when we can see our talent being fully utilized; the knowledge that we have influenced others positively etc.
Take in the aroma of achievement and share the joy. While a winner will always experience elation that none of the others can, in harnessing our potential, we are in competition only with ourselves. We can therefore experience a new high and elation every single time we meet our expectations. It could be simply attempting something for the first time or discovering a new facet/ talent/ ability in yourself. It is equally important that one shares ones big and small successes with others, for the energy that they will inject back in you through their acknowledgement, appreciation, suggestions and encouragement will inspire and motivate you to become a self starter and quickly move on to other tasks listed.
Remember that you should see yourself as an athlete participating in the decathlon or triathlon and not merely the sprints or the marathon, for you will always have a variety of challenges all the way; in some you will excel, some would be exasperating but in the end you have achieved most if not all of what you set out to do if you Get Set Go… and begin.
Action Points:
- Read the post on FAITH (Finding Answers In The Heart) by clicking on the following link http://www.poweract.blogspot.in/2010/01/faith.html
- Quickly jot down the following
- A dance form you would like to learn
- A musical instrument you would like to learn
- A passion that you would like to indulge in
- A social service initiative you would love to be involved in
- A fear you would love to overcome
- A bad habit you desperately want to eliminate
- An April fools prank that you would attempt on your best friend
You now have a big list of things to do… get set go… Best Wishes
This post is courtesy www.actspot.com
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