“Let us make our future now, and let us make our dreams tomorrow’s reality.”
It’s natural to daydream as we envision the future. Of course, everything is perfect. We’re more in shape, we’ve accomplished all our goals, we’re more grounded and at peace, we’re content, all our relationships are thriving–the list goes on. But why cant that future be now? That’s what this quote by, Malala Yousafzai, is about. Why not “make our future now,” and “make our dreams tomorrow’s reality?” Let’s try our best to live our future today.
“Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.”
This quote is by the legendary painter, Pablo Picasso. It serves as a great reflection on the things we choose to put off, or procrastinate. Yes, there are things we can’t possibly get done in one day. Even if we work on them all day, we may need more time; and completion may have to be “put off” until tomorrow. However, we can still use the day to make progress. So imagine the thing(s) you constantly put off never getting done–Period. Next, consider how that makes you feel. Are you willing to live with that possibility? If not, that means the thing (or those things) you put off deserve more…
The Problem of Perfectionism and “Product” Goals
Recently, I was talking to a friend about goals. We all have them. And if you don’t, get yourself some. But I digress…As we were sharing our goals, she asked me a simple question about one of mine. She asked me when the book I’m working on will be published. I had no response. Even worse, I hadn’t given enough thought or planning on it to know the answer. The truth is, I feel like it’ll never be done. The finish line seems so far in the distance that I sometimes forget it’s there. I actually stop moving toward it. The truth is, I often go months at a time…
Why We All Need to Have Things to Look Forward to
What are you looking forward to, besides your next day off work? I asked myself this question and realized the sad truth. Lately, I’ve been so busy that the weekend is all I ever look forward to. It’s my days off, time to get more sleep, do errands, hang out with friends and family, and occasionally get more work done. But there has to be more to life than anticipating the next weekend filled with the same old activities. After a while, the same pattern starts to get old. But sometimes, when you don’t have anything really exciting to look forward to, you have to create it. One thing I…
Break Time: Why Regular Work Breaks Are a Must
I have a very hard time taking breaks while I’m working on something. There’s always that one more thing I want to finish–There’s always that constant search for the perfect stopping point. Inevitably, the stopping point I had in mind comes and goes without any pause. But what if taking regular breaks between work is a routine part of one’s day? What if it comes so naturally that you don’t even think much about it–you don’t feel like you have to try to squeeze it in? Just imagine how much better any unpleasant task would be with more pleasant things interspersed in between. Well, that’s just one reason to take…
Motivation Part 3: Top 3 Ways to Get Past Wanting to Do Something to Actually Doing It
We’ve now gotten almost halfway through the Motivation Staircase. In Part 1, we defined what Motivation means; and in Part 2, we used that understanding to move from “I won’t do it,’ to I can’t do it,’ to ‘I want to do it.’ The question now is how. Knowing how to do something is important, as it creates a boost of confidence that motivates you to do that thing. However, it’s just as important to know how to start and continue. How do you get past wanting to do something to actually doing it? The following productivity strategies have motivating elements to them. Therefore, they increase your productivity and motivation…
Motivation Part 2: Increasing our Positive Motivation
In Motivation Part 1, we realized that at the heart of motivation are these definitions: 1. “…to want to do a specific thing more than we want to do anything else at a particular time,” and 2. “what we would rather do than not do (20). However, even with these clearer definitions, we can’t get anywhere if we don’t get past the first two obstacles to motivation: “I won’t do it” and “I can’t do it”. These also happen to be the first two steps on our Motivation Staircase. How can you increase your positive motivation? If you’re not at step 3 yet, begin by asking yourself why you won’t…
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“It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.”
“Understand: you are one of a kind. Your character traits are a kind of chemical mix that will never be repeated in history. There are ideas unique to you, a specific rhythm and perspective that are your strengths, not your weaknesses. You must not be afraid of your uniqueness.”
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”
Motivation Part 1: Why We Should First Understand What Motivation Actually Means
There are countless motivational speakers, books, sayings, and support groups aimed to motivate us to start, stop, or continue something. So, it behooves us to ask the question: what is motivation? Motivation Staircase Before we begin, below is an illustration that’ll be referenced in each post in this Motivation series. The picture presents motivation as literal steps that go from having no desire to do something to getting it done. Looking at the image and the title of this post, one might say a basement should be added. That would be correct. We’re literally and figuratively starting from the very ground up when we ask ourselves: what is motivation. Why…
Procrastinator? This Is For You
If you clicked to read this with some level of intrigue, you may have some procrastinating tendencies. But you might find relief in knowing that everyone deals with procrastination–even people who you think are always on top of things. So this is for everyone. This is for everyone who wants to increase their motivation, do more, and have fewer to-do list items hanging over their head at the end of the day. This is for everyone who doesn’t want procrastination to control their life today or their future. It’s all about not letting procrastination take over your life so that you can actually live your life. There are really only…
Developing Life Goals: Set, Plan, Execute, Track
From improving our health to advancing in our career, strengthening our faith, or just doing whatever it is we’ve been putting off, there are many apps out there for productivity and time management. They make it easier to actually do the things we say we’ll do…tomorrow. Goals Wizard by Brian Tracy is one of them them. For each goal you set, you dive deep with a questionnaire that explores why you really want to accomplish it and obstacles standing in the way. You can set a target date and benchmarks, fill in to-do lists with one-time and recurring activities. Furthermore, it enables you to edit a built-in calendar that can…
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“There is no such thing as a ‘self-made’ man. We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a kind deed for us, or spoken one word of encouragement to us, has entered into the make-up of our character and of our thoughts, as well as our success.”
“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.”
Living Life Poetically: In His Words
