How to Keep Moving Forward-Part One

This topic is driven from a question one of my students asked "how do you stay motivated?"
The answer to the question was easy, I don't. Now that wasn't the answer expected so, being in a session the students know the power of questions so they asked a better one: "How do you stay Inspired?". 
 
There lies the difference - Motivation is fleeting; Like a bath, it starts great but then gets warm and cold & dirty. Inspiration however, when true -will last as long as you decide its inspirational or fits your level that you need to be inspired to.
 
Here are the tools I use to stay Inspired. You may not need all of them. Just take the ones you need for any given life event and put it to work.  You may find that one works all the time, or another doesn't fit your passion, and that's okay - it's like being a carpenter: Have enough tools for whatever you need to build or enough tools to share.

• Have a Compelling Reason

                These are your goals. This is what drive you . The why you stay up late, get up early can't live without reason you do what you do. If you don't see it every day, feel it every moment its merely just a wish. Write it down, put a date on when you will accomplish it and share it with someone who will help you move forward in getting it.

• Grow Your  Mind
  

                This is where I read or listen to stories of other successful people and their journey. Use others examples of how they overcame adversity and the struggles they faced on their  way to success and victory.  
                Ever read or hear a story and get goose bumps? That's the story touching and inspiring you. You feel it and know its truth. Even better, did you get misty eyed? That means that you see that story in your own life and find meaning that you can relate to.

• Grow Your Body

                Get up and move! Sitting around in quiet contemplation doesn't work. Your mind and body are one. When one is healthy so is the other. Ever wonder why you get a great idea in the shower?It's because your body is working on a task that doesn't need  your mind 100% focus on, so it wonders off on its own.
                Hit the gym, go for a walk, climb a cliff face, swim, beat up the bag - Just take some kind of action your mind will reward you for it.

• Change Your Plan

                I love this military quote: "No plan ever survives first contact with the enemy".
You are constantly at war - Negative thoughts, setbacks, and a lack of ambition are the opposing force and you need a battle plan. You have your plan, now make a back-up plan. When things don't seem to be going your way- change direction.

• Reward Your Progress

                Often you can gain a feeling of success if you just step back and reward yourself for a job well   done. You don't have to wait until your finished, just make benchmarks. " when I get this page   done I can have ice cream". Make the reward proportional to the amount of work done. It doesn't make any sense to go buy a car when your business or job makes its first hundred dollars.

• Refuel & Hydrate

                This is where a proper diet and plenty of water is important. If you're eating foods that don't supply the proper nutrients to the brain and organs it's not going to run properly. certain foods will make you feel sluggish & weak. Start with water- it cleanses the body and flushes toxins. Then eliminate junk food while you are trying to be productive. Potato chips while you're trying to write a report or business plan won't help you. I snack on sliced cucumbers, carrot sticks, almonds and avocado while I'm in production. Basically anything in the "smart" or "super" food category.
 
With these first six principals applied and turned into habits anyone can be inspired to move forward with positive, life-changing momentum

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