I was chatting with a good friend the other day. She was telling me some of the things she’d like to do now that her kids are older—one out of the nest and the other more independent. She had several ideas she’d been toying with, ways to put her interests into action. But then she kept saying, “I’m having a hard time getting motivated.”
I couldn’t help it; I put my coaching hat on. My response? Don’t wait for motivation. The truth is, it’s unlikely to show up out of the blue and push you into action.
It’s actually often the reverse: Take one small step toward your goal and the motivation will follow. Because taking action, any kind of small action, is huge. That first step feels good. It reduces the anxiety that may be keeping you stuck. It helps you show yourself what you’re capable of. It encourages you to take another step, and another step. The momentum propels you. And guess what? Your motivation grows.
Action is the key to motivation. And that motivation keeps you moving into action. It’s a wonderful virtuous cycle.
YOUR TURN: What heart-held goal have you been putting off because of a lack of motivation? What’s one small step forward you can take right now to launch your own virtual cycle?
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