How You Prioritize Time Management over Life Management?

 Prioritize Your Time Management

Srishti has been trying to incorporate yoga and meditation in her daily routine due to some health issues but she ended up in the insurmountable conundrum everybody is facing today- How to spare time with home and office responsibility? “I just wish if only I could have some free time”. And I am sure you also have the same question. But do you really think that ‘free time’ kind of thing ever exists or would exist in near future. Nay, certainly never; so today at Eduemeralds we will talk about this imaginary yet pervasive roadblock in our life.

Srishti is not alone who’s struggling to take out just 45 minutes of her day to take care of her well being, there is a large number of newbies and aspirants who battle the same and in the quest 'free time' their passions and dreams never materialize and turn into reality. And the factors responsible are- this humongous monster ‘free time’ and their disavowal of the biggest hindrance in their life. Eventually, they end up as intellectual pygmies and can’t achieve anything momentous to be worthy of their Life.

What is Time Management?

We often misconstrue time management with a strict routine, a voluminous to-do list and whole day tightly scheduled as a series of events and tasks. But trust me, Time Management and Free Time are synonyms; if you don’t have free time, that means you don’t have time management if you practice time management you enjoy free time and if you wish to spend good free time on yourself you must spend time in learning the skill of time management in your life. Time management is one of those essential life skills that can transform your Life entirely by increasing your productivity in whatever you do, managing your stress level and by developing a perfect balance between your personal and professional Pursuits and your work and family life.

Time management is bigger than life management as it helps and empowers us lead our life the way we want to; it teaches us to spare time that we can spend on whatever enriches and enthralls us thus leading to a stress free and fulfilled life. So, your life largely depends on how you prioritize Time Management over Life Management.

How to Start Time Management

Needless to say that, “Time and tide waits for none”, yet we keep boggling at the idea of developing this skill. In fact we respond very reluctantly to countenance the practice of time management. When Eduemeralds talks about how to start learning and practicing time management, the first step would be to use a pen and paper to write your daily routine. It will give you a clear idea of how you spend your day and a ratio between the amount of time spent constructively and the amount of time wasted in frivolities. Now prioritize the Important and lesser important tasks for the day and start allocating the right time to the right activity. Effective time management will allow you to finish the planned activity in the stipulated time and you will be free to relax and reinvigorate yourself for the upcoming ones. Setting deadlines for the strenuous and demanding tasks will help you keep anxiety and stress at bay because you have already planned how and when you are about to finish that work.

Being organized at work and home saves most of your crucial time and helps you stay focused. Learn to avoid keeping stacks of files and papers at your workstation and useless, extra stuff in your wardrobes and kitchen as they annoy you when you are looking for something really important. 

  

Inculcate a habit of using planners, organizers, soft boards, and writing notes on important tasks for effective time management.

 Benefits of Time Management

Effective time management makes you punctual and disciplined; you stay happy and confident because you have divided your workload smartly and made the judicious use of your time. It makes you more productive and mentally stable as you know how your day starts and how it will end. It is observed that people become more organized and learn to manage things more effectively when they practice the skill of time management on daily basis.

It boosts your morale and makes you stand apart from the crowd. Once you start practicing time management, you can accomplish tasks within the time frame and that gifts you a sense of pride in your skills, thus you become more confident and succeed in your life. It helps you avoid indulging in irrelevant activities and teaches you Learn to Say NO because you are not ready to compromise with your time. When we are able to ward off the temptations and overindulgence such as Social Media, gossiping or binge-watching that uselessly demand our precious time, we can gain more expertise in our time management and learn to prioritize time management over life management.

           Time Management is one of those skills which are difficult to imbibe but extremely effortless to flow and flourish with. In other words, it might be difficult to sow the seed of Time Management but very easy to see it growing and enjoy the sweetness of its fruits. The possible reason could be because you Resist Making Changes in the comfortable cocoon of your life. Every time, you introduce a change, your mind produces a plethora of excuses and a barrage of obstructions as- why to do, when to do, how to do and the list is infinite. The only understanding required, is the need to bring a positive change in our thought process and cultivating the Grit and Determination to make it happen at any cost.  

In today’s fast paced era, nobody is immune to stress and anxiety, some get bogged down by the enormity of pressure while others grapple with their inner demons to get a hold on their emotions but the people who know how to manage their life and turn their difficult times into rewarding ones and emerge as winners are the ones who have mastered the skill of Time Management.

Eduemeralds hopes you will find this post thought provoking enough. Have a life with  wonderful Time Management!

Do You Resist While Making Changes in Your Life Situations?

Learning to Accept Change is the Constant Way of Life

At some or the other point in life, each one of us has tried to make a Change and the queer feeling that we had with any change in LIFE is- even if it was a positive, constructive or an enriching one- we had felt like resisting it. This strange notion about ‘change’ drives us crazy at times. It’s quite apparent that when changes are forced upon us we tend to resist despite being aware of the fact that the change is unavoidable in the end but why do we feel a little discomfort for those changes also that we honestly want for ourselves. Why do we develop a slight resistance for such desired changes also? No matter how optimistic and positive person you are, you resist if something happens different in your normal course of life as if changes insinuate us not to flow with what comes on the way.

Before we discuss the importance of Learning to accept changes, let’s try to understand that resistance is a normal process; it’s just a natural psychological reaction to change. In other words, it can be explained as self-protection mechanism or denying ourselves to having the bandwidth to adjust with the newness in life. We are conditioned to accept ourselves as self-contained individuals and even the smallest hitch disturbs us. Restlessness lurks whenever we expect change in our life. But, can we live without changes in our life; no, certainly NOT. It is rightly said that change is the only constant in this world so how to handle this discomfort that arouses before any change in our life, makes today’s topic to discuss at blog Eduemeralds.

Never allow the fear of change overpower your Comfort and make you frightened, it might deprive you of the excitement of newness and the achievements on your way. Change in career, switching companies, shifting house, changing marital status, and incorporating a new habit/ practice in your usual life are a few examples that may disturb your inner peace. And some of them are unavoidable so let’s ponder how can we make this change a smooth one?

Just ask yourself these questions- What will happen if I do Change? What will happen if don’t change? What won’t happen if I change? What won’t happen if I don’t change? Now write your answers and evaluate all the possibilities. You may not find these questions innocuous but these questions can unearth many of the reasons of your ordeal of a mechanical, monotonous way of life.

Why Changes Shouldn’t Scare Us?

Every change isn’t like a whammy that blows up every iota of your joy and comfort, many come with abundant opportunities to help us evolve us as more capable and resilient person. Fear of change can make us adamant and rigid in attitude; therefore we lose our flexibility in adapting new things and may end up entangled in our own Comfort Zone. Changes are always the accelerators in our life, they allow us to move forward faster and learn new things quicker, thus making life all the more exciting.

Embracing Change is a Fulfilled Way of Life

We all have our favorite stuff in both the forms; material and emotional. And we keep clinging on to them until we are forced to detach from such things and feelings. You can breathe a new life by replacing an old item with a new in your closet and feel afresh and lighter by replacing old grudges and bitterness of past by cultivating a new habit with positivity and optimism. Changes keep the river of life flowing and help us to get rid of the daily grind of life for a while. A strong resistance and reluctance to change can be a major stumbling block in our life and eventually will increase the fear for Unknown in our mind. If we persist to have the feelings of self-doubt and uncertainty we won’t be able to change our perspective of handling a change and will be deprived of all the options and possibilities that could dawn a bright and fulfilled way of life for us.

Changes and Progress are Synonymous

Monumental gains come following decisive changes in LIFE yet we consider them detrimental to our emotional health. You need to pace yourself for any gain and understand where such emotional hurdles stem from. Transcend your fear and resistance to change because your disavowal to all the expected and unexpected changes in your life may impede your growth and happiness, it may destroy the purpose of your living as a whole.   

Not all changes bring bliss and success in your life; life is not a fairytale, we face gloomy days also, but such changes teach us to be stronger and make us tougher than before. We want to improve so many facets of life like job, finances, partner, home, leisure etc. But sadly, nothing can budge until we make efforts for the change and we must understand without change, there will be no improvements in life. So one should accept that fighting or resisting change is more cumbersome than Embracing, accommodating, and flowing with it.

Do you still feel that you resist while making changes in your life situations?

Eduemeralds firmly believes that each change is a turning point in life and when you close one door, another one opens automatically and fills you with verve and vigor to adapt to that change. Changes give us a reason to live with renewed zest and energy and changes empower us with a sense that you can handle everything in life. So next time when you become resistant to any change or feel a temptation to avoid it, just take a pause, have faith in your Decision Making Ability and aim to go with the flow of that change, just glide with it! 

Wish You Happy Changes in Life!!!

It’s Never too Late to Chase and Live Your Dreams

Create Your Life The Way You Want

Today Eduemeralds talks about taking the road less travelled. Rahul Das, a boy from Assam’s Bajali district, raised solely by his mother cracked NEET in his first attempt and secured his place in undergraduate course at AIIMS, New Delhi. Rahul who left his engineering profession to chase his Dream to become a doctor has proven that it’s never too late to chase and live your dreams. It’s his perseverance that has finally paid off for him and his passion. His mother, whose countless sacrifices have paved the way for his Success, takes care of him and his younger brother with her earnings from selling tea. His father abandoned the family 11 years ago and since then his mother’s strong will and determination to raise her sons and give them good education remained indefatigable.

Rahul passed his Class XII exams in 2015 with excellent grades but couldn’t pursue his college study owing to his poor financial condition. Next year, in 2016, he got admission in Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology at Changsari, Guwahati and after completing his engineering, he started working with an MNC. Rahul took no time in realizing that it wasn’t his dream, he had no job satisfaction and he felt a strong desire to chase his dream of becoming a Doctor. One fine day, he resigned from his job and started preparing for NEET. He studied for around four months to prepare for NEET; coaching was never an option as he knew his mother’s meagre income couldn’t afford that. Apart from banking on the NCERT books, he availed free classes on the internet to understand concepts and to clear his doubts.

Today, Rahul is proud of his achievement and wants to become a neurologist; he has set an example to all those who are dragging their ways of life just because of the lack of the courage required to change the course of life and due to the reluctance to make sacrifices to chase their dreams. Rahul is not alone who constantly live with the aspiration for achieving self- significance and love to carry a sense of fulfillment that makes them happy, content and free from regrets in the end.

What You Think About Yourself

An acclaimed writer and highly revered philosopher, Neville Goddard popularized a vision that: everything you experience and see is the result of your own thoughts. So turn your life to the way you want to go ahead with. Ask yourself- do you really like the way you are living your life or you had dreamt something else for you. Are you really an empowered person who has the capacity to fulfill all his wishes and dreams? Have you really scaled those heights you had set the level for? Is your self-image is the same you had envisioned? Just stop for a while, think, introspect and focus on what exactly you want from yourself and your life. Sometimes the dreams are bigger and they make us apprehensive about the certainty of their fulfillment. But my dear Reader, when you start dreaming, do you bother about its size; No, not at all; then why you nurture inhibitions when you resolve to living them. It doesn’t matter how big or small your dreams are, the more important part is how big the size of your efforts, persistence and commitment to live that dream is. Create your life the way you wish to and remain restless till you make it as per your dreams.

Imagine as if You are Living Your Dreams

Create your Life the way you want and to do so one must live the way and imagine him/her in that skin because imagination has a strong power to fill your favorite colors in your life. While striving hard for your ambitions and goals try to imagine your success and immerse yourself in those moments of triumph. Learn to manifest what you want in your life and stay positive with the strongest expectations of your success and positive outcomes. Stop worrying about the difficulties or the problems and failures.

 

Be Unstoppable Once You Start Chasing Your Dreams

Fix your attention on what you want for yourself and ignore all distractions and temptations on the way, it will help you progress faster towards your goal

 

“What you put into life is what you get out of it.”

~Clint Eastwood

These words pulsate with the robust spirit expected to chart out a new life. When you start chasing your buried dreams the first challenge that you meet is battling the perceptions; perceptions of those around you who won’t hesitate in reminding you about the Comfort Zone and the cozy cocoon you are already in. And, this arouses self doubt, dear Reader doubt can never exist where there is a sense of closeness; it needs distance to appear and flourish. If you are close to yourself and listen to your aspirations, you can never doubt yourself for pursuing your passion. Break the prison walls that hinder your self-growth and hold you back from chasing your dreams. Be Mindful in your choices and never bury your dreams. Age is just a number, circumstances are fleeting situations and lame excuses don’t make any difference. 

Never see what’s done, focus on what’s yet to be done. If you love to paint, pick up your brushes and canvass to fill it with the colors of your dreams, if dancing was a childhood hobby, join a class today or start your own classes today, if you love to cook but fallen into corporate sector, dare to foray into the field of your passion, if you have a knack for music but owing to your busy schedule can’t spare time, today is the time to dust your old guitar and touch the strings, you will definitely cherish your life. Daunting efforts will be the prerequisite for breaking the boundaries drawn by self and the stereotypes set by others but sooner or later you will achieve what you dream for as it’s never too late to chase and live your dreams.

 

So, dear Reader- when are you picking your paintbrushes to color your dreams? Gear up to pluck the strings of your guitar and let the music of your fulfilled dreams reverberate in your heart.

Your Life Largely Depends Upon the Choices that You Make

How Your Choices Make Difference in Your Life 

 

Choices That You Make

When all the efforts for the negotiation had failed and the battle of Kurukshetra was certain, both the clans, Kauravas and Pandavas decided to meet Krishna and seek his help. Duryodhan from the Kaurava’s side and Arjuna from Pandava’s, went to meet Krishna; Duryodhan arrived first but Krishna was in deep sleep so he sat near his head and waited for him to awake. After a little while Arjuna also arrived and took a seat near krishna’s feet. When Krishna woke up, he first saw Arjuna and wanted to help him but Duryodhan advocated Kauravas should be helped first as their representative approached before Pandavas to the Lord so their claim on Krishna’s help must supersede Arjuna’s. Krishna knew that albeit Duryodhan had arrived first but Arjuna was seen first so both should receive his help in the battle and to resolve this dilemma, he offered them a choice- One side would take Krishna’s huge army and weaponry; all skilled and fierce Yadav warriors and the other could have Krishna alone, neither he would fight nor he would use any weapon.

Krishna asked Arjuna to opt first because he was younger and without any hesitation he chose Krishna. Duryodhan was filled with immense joy and glee, sure of his victory and becoming invincible with the huge army of Krishna. But Arjuna was certain that he had made a right choice. He didn’t underestimate the importance of strategic thinking and the valuable guidance that could only be provided by Lord Krishna to defeat the formidable army of Kauravas. As Krishna was unrivalled on war strategy his mentorship was always required but his presence was even more indispensable this time because this battle was against Pandava’s own brothers and Gurus.

Arjuna’s intelligent choice not only changed the course of the Kurukshetra battle but also got him back on the war front when he was consumed with self-doubt on the battlefield and not ready to shed the blood of his own brothers.

The choices that we make today, factor out future because our action and achievements both depend on what we choose to do. Life is indeed a platter of choices and opportunities, it is we who make the most of it and how we will make most of it- By making a right choice at a right time.

Envision Yourself With the Outcome

Every day brings new aspirations and countless choices so confusion is inevitable. Let’s start by weighing out the options, look inwards to assess which option can be more fruitful and give you purpose in life by serving your self esteem also. Try to visualize yourself with the results of the choice that you have made for yourself and imagine the entire possible scenario with the intuitive wisdom; it will definitely help you in making a right choice. Most achievements in life rely upon the strategic choices that lay a foundation for a perfect planning and desired outcome. To live your dreams you need to decide upon what you really like to choose and why.

Choice Make Difference in Your Life

Never Make a Choice in Haste

The choices that are made in a hurry often lead to regret and disappointment so avoid crossing the labyrinth of choices when you have no time to think, reflect and contemplate. It’s better to delay rather than taking a regretful decision. Sometimes a decision taken in haste can put you under tremendous pressure and the excitement and jubilation that you show in the beginning can vanish in nanosecond. Indecisiveness starts with impatience and impulsive approach which further escalate to unwise reactions and unfavorable circumstances. Good and wise choices always take time and patience to be made and keep your stability and composure level at ease when you jump into action with such perfect choices.

Be Honest With the Choices You have Made for Yourself

Once you make a choice, put your focus squarely on it and strive to work honestly for the same. When you are honest with your decisions everything else will fall into place so Burn Your Boats once you are done with making your honest choices. Things may be unpleasant temporarily but Trust Your Instincts and keep scaling high with perfection and persistence. A choice is just like a commitment and once it is done, there’s no turning back; the motive force behind your decision will enable you to combine your emotions and intellect to build a grand platform for success and fulfillment.

 

Choices always play an important role in shaping up one’s career and life so let your mind know, understand and reflect the myriad of choices and pick the best for you. Let your decision-making abilities push your mental prowess to break the boundaries and liberate yourself from the clutches of self-doubts and inhibitions that hold you back from your Pursuit of Passion. Your life largely depends upon the choices that you make.

Take complete responsibility for all your choices. Be logical and intelligent to choose, choose what you love and love the choices that you make for yourself. The wiser the choices you make the more rewarding life you enjoy! 

Be Proud of Your Identity and Love your Uniqueness

 Be Proud of Your Uniqueness and Love Your Identity

Having a role model in Life, worshipping his/her virtues and persistently strive to win the similar achievements is not wrong but nurturing an obsession to live the life of your ideals and role models by emulating them in every aspect of their life and individuality is worthless and demeans your self-worth. Getting over-influenced by any of your ideals or role models will be debilitating for your personality and eventually you will lose your identity. We all know that among the 7.9 billion of the world’s population, none is similar to any, neither the finger prints nor their faces or voice, nothing is similar. Even identical twins are not identical in every aspect; they possess different personality traits, attitudes, skills and passions. Humans are endowed with wide and beautiful diversity yet people try to blindly follow and imitate their role models. Pursuing your passion to achieve success in their field is always inspiring but copying their walk, talk, dressing style or looks will cost you your unique identity which is the most precious gift God has given to you. So learn to be proud of your identity and to love your uniqueness.

Once a teacher asked his pupils, “Children, what would you like to become when you grow up? The answers were varied, a few took names of their favorite celebrities, and others chose their favorite sports persons, scientists and political leaders. They were amused to share that becoming like them and living life like them was their sole aim and future dream. Suddenly the teacher noticed a boy who remained quiet throughout the discussion. Surprised, he went to him and asked, “Henry, you haven’t shared, what would you like to become in future?”  The innocent child replied without mincing his words, about his dream, “Sir, I just want to become Henry David Thoreau.” And the child was none other than the acclaimed American Naturalist, Essayist, poet and philosopher Henry David Thoreau.

Though the answer was unexpected but it left everyone around him stunned and clueless. Henry explained in just one single sentence what it meant to accept and admire one’s own very existence. When you love your identity you transcend the world and believe in your completeness.

You are a combination of unique traits, different values and the most amazing features of your own then why to cloak yourself in someone else’s life and personality, why we harbour greed to become somebody else and live their life and lose the profundity of our valued existence. Over-indulgence in your role model’s life and yearning to get into their skin will knock you down and destroy your self esteem. Such tendency results in the attitude of hollowness that gradually impoverishes you and ebbs away all your strengths and positivity.

Be ambitious, know your strengths and Learn From Your Mistakes to keep growing in life. Not just the outside world, identify the world within you also. You have a beautiful world inside; the world of your thoughts, your faith in your existence, the light from within, the strength of your intellect and the beauty of your emotions. This world is invisible but its power is palpable that keeps you awake and reminds you continuously- you have come to this life with a purpose, go ahead and fulfill that.

Start Writing Your Gratitude Journal

To stay happy within and be proud of you, have a habit of writing a gratitude journal. Mention everything in your diary that makes you happy and express your gratefulness to those small things of joy around you. If you wish to extend your gratitude to some special people in your life without letting them know, you can write that in your journal. This journal will make you feel very special about yourself and you will be proud of having such amazing sources of joy in your life. Human birth a priceless jewel, a rare blessing and the precious moments of life shouldn't be frittered away in emulating others' life. Your life is not meant to follow others obsessively and drift along aimlessly over admiring others. You have the power within to make people following you, just awaken that unique power that is blazing in you. 

 

Equanimity in both Pain and Pleasure

We often resist or resent the normal flow of life because we fail to understand that happiness is just an occasional episode in this delightful drama of life. We stay indulged in the conundrums of good and bad, winning and losing dilemmas. Ergo, we miss to experience the palpable vibrancy and vivaciousness in our lives. This approach trivializes the aim of our life and the essential exuberance inherent in us. So, build a Happy Life on the firm foundation of your own values, virtues and Life Skills. When you become a freaky fan of your ideal you start nurturing grandiose indulgences and imitating that person makes you a slave of their ideas, styles and way of living. 

Be the change that you want to see in the world. What you dream and expect for yourself, give it to others as well. It makes you dissipate love and positivity, you will get the same in return but if you spread anger and hatred you will receive the same.

Be proud of yourself, identify the elixir, you are bestowed upon with and radiate from within!

Mistakes are Learning Experiences to Keep You Growing in Life

What Makes You Hesitate In Admitting Your Mistakes?

“Life is too short to keep complaining about others’ mistakes and too long to keep hiding your mistakes.”

It’s very natural to make new mistakes with new challenges, while accomplishing new tasks and growing. Why to hesitate or feel embarrassed in making and admitting mistakes; many of us believe that accepting your mistakes will make you a loser or a naïve so they don’t want to admit their mistakes publicly. On the contrary, wise people never hesitate in accepting their mistakes, they focus on practicing how to maintain their self esteem even after admitting their mistakes and take pride in learning from their own mistakes as well as from others’.

Flexibility in Your Attitude

Learning from your mistakes and accepting them make you more flexible and ready to adapt. Everyone around you- friends, family, colleagues or mentors can be protective in consoling you that it wasn’t alone your fault but you know that the buck stops with you. And when you develop this attitude, you become resilient and imbibe flexibility in your life. You start believing that there is no right time to make a change, nor a wrong time to rectify a mistake. You understand that mistakes are learning experiences to keep you growing in life. People may fail despite having abundant resources and Strong Support System if their attitude cannot help them charting a course of excellence and such attitude can be developed only by admitting your mistakes and learning from them.

Helps You Develop A Stronger Self-belief

It brings a positive change in your self-belief when you learn to accept your mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes but not everyone dares to admit; once you admit, you develop an inclination how to mitigate the damage done due to that mistake and to be perfect in your next effort. You start addressing your inner critic to guide you and you grow with the self-assurance in trusting your own abilities, capacities, strengths and decisions. When the mind is anchored in the self, it lights up life, widens the opportunities and removes the Fear of Failure and ignorance. Your self-belief plays a predominant role in handling this fear positively and makes you feel accomplished even after making mistakes.

 

Your Casual Approach Can be the Biggest Deterrent

Akrasia, a Greek word that explains the concept supporting the idea of free will, kind of temporary weakness of resolve or a collapse of determination which drives you to do something you are fully aware is wrong. People with free will or casual approach take the mistakes committed by them for granted or a part of mundane activities which results into complacency and lethargy that eventually impedes their growth trajectory. Everyone who does something is liable to make mistakes but repeating the mistakes, or not improving with the mistakes can prove to be a deterrent in your growth. Cultivating a casual approach to let go your mistakes and ignoring the consequences may lead to other serious problems and when one is unfazed by such incidents, can obstruct one’s own path of success.

 

It is rightly said that “Mistakes have the power to turn you into something better than you were before.” But people with fixated mindset on ‘Mistakes means Failures’ never take them positively and fail to turn themselves into their better versions. They avoid speaking about them and instead of learning, they invest their efforts and energy to evade and hide them; which can be self-destructive in long terms.

When you accept your mistakes, you learn and grow with them; accepting them doesn’t prevent you from making more mistakes in future but it certainly teaches you how to use these stumbling stones as pathfinder to walk your journey faster.

Having the courage to admit that you have done something wrong implies that you haven’t done it deliberately and you don’t want to repeat the same again. When you have this trait in your personality, you may experience bouts of disturbance, but it will not deter you from reaching your personal fulfillment. Mistakes are just tools to grow and learn better, errors are inevitable and always happen with some benefits and it depends on us what we take away from our mistakes and how we learn not to commit the same mistake again. Let’s acknowledge our mistake rather than covering it up, denying or pushing it aside so that we can shift our perspective towards our learning process. Always ask these questions to yourself before you analyze your mistake- What went wrong? What didn’t work and why did it go wrong? This analysis will help you to see the bigger picture and help you develop resilience. Mistakes are learning experiences and evidences to prove that you are trying something coming out of your Comfort Zone.

“The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.”

-Elbert Hubbard

So stop fearing! Keep trying harder, keep making mistakes and just be Compassionate to yourself after making one!

Self-Motivation is the Launch Pad for a Successful Life

Before I begin, I would like to quote from the movie, ‘The Theory of Everything’- “However bad life may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at. While there’s life, there is hope.” And to keep our faith alive in hope, and be optimistic, we must stay self-motivated even in the direst situations. Everyone knows that self-motivation is the launch pad where your life takes off to the highest yet it’s very difficult to learn, imbibe and practice self-motivation. How to motivate ourselves; is a very simple but an arduous question to answer. The theories and quotations on motivation seem worthless when we face difficult situations in life so let’s work on the real practices to cultivate self-motivation in LIFE.

Cultivating Self-Motivation is Different for Everyone

When the term, ‘SELF’ is associated with an individual; it’s apparent that it will be different for every individual and the same is with Self-Motivation. There will be no rule like ‘one-size-fits-all’ for self motivation. Everyone feels motivated in different situations or with different catalysts so just sit down, think and reflect what motivates you the most and what demotivates you, who motivates and who demotivates you. Answer these questions before you start on your journey of attaining a high level of self-motivation. Your answers will be based on your experiences and choices; try to recall any incident of your work or family life when you felt highly motivated and what was the reason of that motivation. What were the factors that motivated you in that particular moment? When you find your answers, just try to reconnect yourself with those factors and boost your morale.

Faith and Intellect

Faith and intellect go hand in hand and faith gives soul to your intellect; it gives an immeasurable power to your mind that it can keep its morale high even in the worst situations. Faith and intellect can mitigate the anxiety of accepting loss and work as two wings to help you accelerate and rise with your self-motivation. Without wisdom, faith is blind and without faith your intellect is meaningless, so keep Strong faith in yourself to stay motivated.

What Helps You Bounce Back in Life?

Let’s discuss the next question i. e. what helps you bounce back in LIFE? For many the answer could be family, friends or role models but the reality is the individuals themselves so always remember you fight back and you rise after every fall not because of others but because you want to. Self-motivation helps you build realistic goals and keep you away from impetuous vision of transforming yourself over night. It propels you to take baby steps, gradually and steadily and helps you realize, how dedicatedly you complete small tasks, how quickly you adapt to the new circumstances and bounce back from the days that disenchanted you. When you start small, with an open mind you soon become equanimous and resilient to change and eventually learn to set realistic expectations for yourself.

Why Self-Motivation is Important?

To understand this concept better, let’s observe and analyze the levels of motivation of two Women who go to gym; one who only goes to gym when her friends force her to go or her doctor is strongly recommending her to exercise to get healthier. The other woman who likes to do workout because this way of life makes her happy and feel good about herself, is actually self-motivated because she doesn’t require any encouragement or external force to schedule her time for gym. In both the cases, the outcomes are clear and we can understand that when the driving force comes from within, it always yields desired results but when you are motivated to achieve the standards set by someone else; you can't expect your goals to be achieved and must be ready to accept that you are not self-motivated.

The concept of waiting for auspicious days for new beginnings just like birthdays or New Year is hardwired into our psyche. Even if we ardently desire some change we have a tendency to hold ourselves back and keep waiting for good time. Self-Motivation helps us evade such outlook and propels us to start immediately.  Self-motivation makes you competent and equips you with self-efficacy which ultimately helps you set your personal standards and evaluate your ongoing performance.

The conclusion is, you know all the answers of this ubiquitous question: "How to keep yourself motivated during tough times?"  But the only thing you lack is to ask yourself the right questions at the right time and that’s the crux of all the theories of motivation. Most often, it’s easy to conquer the world but very difficult to conquer our SELF and the same theory is applied when you try to motivate others; always remember a true leader and motivator always leads by example and not by quotes. So Practice What You Preach and demonstrate before you dictate and stay always motivated from within if you wish others should get motivated from you and to set it right that self-motivation is the launch pad for a successful life.