Keeping Up The Motivation

We all have dreams – aspirations that make us wake up with a purpose each morning. They fuel our hard work, prayers, and even our health, as Brian Horvath suggests in his article "Following Your Dreams Helps You Live Longer" (Thrive Global). Medical research by PNAS indicates that having dreams positively affects mood and reduces stress levels, directly impacting mortality.

These dreams, big or small, can be anything from becoming an award-winning actor to passing your driving test.

As Paulo Coelho eloquently states in "The Alchemist," Dreams are made to be followed. Life is meant to be lived."

Let's explore how we can stretch ourselves towards achieving these dreams.

What Makes a Dream an Achievable Goal?

According to Google Dictionary, a dream can be an aspiration, ambition, or ideal – all motivational concepts. However, numerous synonyms exist for "dream," raising the question: What separates a dream from a mere illusion?

The answer lies in having the right motivation and a clear action plan. This piece will delve into three key dimensions of motivation: Health, Habits & Routines, and Faith.

Fueling Your Motivation

Self-motivation is a valuable asset. As we see in many disciplines, outstanding achievements often stem from a strong "willingness to do." None of the significant inventions, revolutions, or changes happened by coincidence.

The good news is that we can improve and maintain our motivation with effort. Here are three key areas to focus on:

1. Health: Your Foundation

Prioritizing health is crucial in all aspects of life. Feeling physically fit provides the energy needed to move forward. The basic formula for better health is simple: good sleep, good nutrition, and good exercise.

While maintaining a healthy lifestyle might seem challenging, especially with busy schedules or young children, remember that every effort counts. Skipping a sugary snack for an apple, having one less glass of wine, or taking a quick walk between meetings all contribute to our well-being.

2. Habits & Routines: Building Momentum

Whether we realize it or not, we all have physical, emotional, and mental habits and routines that shape our lives. Some of these are helpful, while others hinder us.

For example, biting your nails during a Zoom meeting might indicate stress management issues. Recognizing these patterns is key. We can then replace unhelpful habits with those that boost productivity and motivation. Here are some examples:

• Develop healthy habits like exercise, eating vegetables, and meditation.
• Minimize social media use to boost productivity.
• Use music to focus or improve your mood.

Small changes, consistently applied, can make a big difference. Start small and gradually build these habits into your daily routine.

3. Faith: Believing in Yourself

Having faith in yourself is crucial. Believe that you "can" achieve your dreams. Renew your faith through prayer or meditation, whichever resonates with you. Starting with gratitude for what you have ultimately positions you to ask for more.

Dream Visualization:

Here's a practice to solidify our faith:

Close your eyes and imagine yourself facing a warm white wall. This is your dream wall, where you'll hang beautiful frames, each carefully chosen.

Place the biggest frame in the center. Step back and picture your dream within this frame. Are you in this picture? Focus on your emotions – pride, happiness, peace. Hold this feeling and add another frame beside it. Look at both frames together. Do they complement each other? Visualize this dream wall every night before sleep. Stand in front of your imaginary wall and review your dreams.

This practice stimulates your brain, subconsciously guiding your decisions towards achieving your dreams throughout the day.

To summarize,

Our dreams are our treasure, a source of limitless spiritual energy.

Being aware of our dreams, not fearing them, and nurturing them will ultimately make us feel better. Keeping our dreams alive is the best effort we can make!