How To Get Your Drive Back?

September 10, 2012 in Personal Development with 12 Comments

How To Get Your Drive Back - Motivation Concepts

Internal motivation and drive is a funny thing. It can come and go without much notice. When it does leave you, have you ever wonder how to get your drive back? I sure have!

I have found that figuring out how to get your drive back isn’t as hard as I used to think. However, it does require a counterintuitive approach. This is probably the reason it’s so hard to figure out how to get your drive back once it leaves.

There are two things I do to get my internal motivation and drive back.

First, I do NOT try harder to get my internal motivation and drive back. Sorry, but figuring out how to get your drive back is not primarily about exerting more effort or energy. It’s not about pushing harder or trying harder. Instead, the first thing I do to get my drive back is slow down and give myself space to find my motivation and drive.

In other words, the first secret to how to get your drive back is to take time to intentionally and proactively look inward at your life. I call this approach leading your life from quiet. This is a discipline I practice everyday and, like taking time to stop and put gas in my car, leading my life from quiet is taking time to stop and put fuel in my life. Some key things I do during this time that fuel my internal motivation and drive include writing in my blessings journal, reading positive books, and reviewing my purpose statement and goals.

Second, I continue moving by taking little, positive steps. Yeah, I know I just said that I slow down every day to refuel, but I didn’t say I completely stop moving. I continue to chase after my drive by taking little, positive steps each day.

Notice I didn’t say big steps; I said little steps. You see, most people wait for motivation before taking action. They think they need motivation to start moving. Sorry, but this equation is backwards. Energy is often a result of action, not vice-versa. Once positive steps are taken, even tiny little steps, energy builds! (To read more about the power of taking little actions each and every day, check out BIG Is Little and Little Is BIG.)

Question: What do you do to get your internal motivation and drive back?

 

 

  • http://danblackonleadership.com/ Dan Black

    I listen to music that moves me and touches my heart. I also read and listen to motivational teaching that inspires me to keep moving forward. Great post and ideas.

    • http://www.liveitforward.com/ Kent Julian

      I like those, Dan. Great ideas!

  • http://www.jmlalonde.com Joe Lalonde

    Sometimes I quit. I put away what I’m doing and go do another activity. After awhile, the motivation comes back and I get back to the task I quit.

    • http://www.liveitforward.com/ Kent Julian

      I hear you, Joe. I have found the two practices describe above help me more than anything else. Slow down to lead my life and move forward one little step at at time.

  • http://twitter.com/RandellMark Randell Mark

    Great tips Kent, It’s interesting, just last week I did a video for my blog
    http://randellmark.com/?p=955 discussing a very similar topic, and my response is similar to Dan’s, in that I re-listen to presentations that have motivated me in the past.

    • http://www.liveitforward.com/ Kent Julian

      Excellent insight, Randell. And great video! Thanks for sharing, my friend.

  • Tracy Sullivan

    Thank you for this reminder, much needed at this time. I get lost in trying to take BIG steps and forget smalls can move me along too.

  • conniefoster

    Great suggestions, Kent. I’ll give them a try. Suffering from a bit of empty nest syndrome (son married on Aug. 18th) and finding it hard to get my rhythm back. But, hey, slow I can do!

    • http://www.liveitforward.com/ Kent Julian

      Every season brings new challenges and, even better, new opportunities. Play to the opportunities and you’ll overcome the challenges :)

  • http://www.seeincolors.com/ Lisa Nelson

    Here is one thing I do. I am a big Evernote user and I have a note called “Why”. When I feel like I am losing steam I do a search on “Why” and up pops my note. My “Why” note describes why I started my business. My “Why” note says “I am in business to add value and to spread a good message. I am in business to add value and spread a good message. I want to put a spotlight on a message that may go overlooked. I want to create, recreate, repurpose and show what I love and believe in with creativity.” This reminder helps me get going again. I got the idea to make a “Why” note after hearing Michael Hyatt say “When you lose your why, you lose your way”.

    • http://www.liveitforward.com/ Kent Julian

      “When you lose your why, you lose your way!” I love this Lisa…