Self Motivation Techniques
Mind Power Secrets - Lesson Three
Do you ever have a hard time starting work on a project you
really need to do - or just getting up in the morning? This lesson
covers self motivation techniques, because if you want to expand
and effectively use your mind power, you have to be able
to motivate yourself. The biggest secret of mind power is preparation
and mental training, and motivating yourself is a crucial part
of that.
(Did you do assignment from last week? Which brain boosters
did you try, and which ones worked best for you?)
Methods of Self Motivation
1. Talk about your plans. If I'm in a writing slump but I
need to get a newsletter put together, I tell my wife about what
I'm going to write. It is invariably something that I am interested
in, so the process of talking about it gets me out of my slump
and back at the keyboard. If there has been anything interesting
to you in this course yet, tell someone about it, and you'll
notice your level of motivation rising.
2. Talk about anything you're passionate about, and transfer
the energy created to your mind power goals. If talking politics
gets you going, for example, do that, and then work on brain
exercises, while connecting the two in your mind (Think "With
more brainpower, I can find a new way to change things politically"
or maybe just that you'll win more arguments). Getting excited
mentally makes changes in the body, and while that energy level
is up you can apply yourself to mental tasks that are less interesting
to you.
3. Strengthen your desire. Seeing the rewards of your effort
clearly motivates you. A good salesman can have you living in
your imagined dream home in minutes, and you'll feel motivated
to do anything to make it real. Learn to be your own salesman.
4. Use pain. Link pain with inaction. (Be careful with this
one - it isn't for everyone.) If I imagine myself on the couch
wasting time, and then see myself looking at a lousy bank statement,
I'm motivated to get to work. You could try seeing yourself in
a room where you are the least intelligent person - and so be
motivated to avoid that fate. Then you might imagine yourself
returning to that room with increased mind power.
5. Be truly interested. If you really don't care about something
in nay way, it will be almost impossible to feel motivated. If
however, it's just a particular task you're having trouble with,
connect it clearly in your mind to the greater goal. I don't
like typing, but when I think about the finished lesson, I'm
ready to work.
6. Have the proper mental state. It's hard to be depressed
and motivated. Resolve some of your negative feelings if you
can. At least take advantage of your ups and downs, by doing
your mind power work when you're in a better mood.
7. Take any small step. There is momentum in action. Any small
step towards your goals feeds your motivation. If I force myself
to write the title and first line of an article, I usually end
up writing the whole article. Commit to five minutes of creative
problem solving exercises, and you might find yourself doing
them for an hour.
Energy for Self Motivation
Sometimes, the biggest problem is a lack of energy. Some of
the above self motivation techniques address this issue indirectly,
but here are some more energy boosters:
8. Music. Different types have different effects on us, so
experiment. When you find music that energizes you, keep it ready.
9. Energy drinks. The verdict isn't in on most of them, but
it's a cheap option to try. I seem to get a boost from the ones
with Ginkgo Biloba in them.
10. Coffee. The original energy drink. Caffeine can make you
more tired if it's abused, but short-term, it can work wonders.
I have problems with taking in too much caffeine, so I tend to
stick to tea.
11. Better sleep. As long as you get at least six hours of
sleep, the quality seems to be more important than the quantity.
This is too big a subject to address further here, but look for
ways to get better sleep (I sometimes cover these in the Brainpower
Newsletter).
12. Deep breathing. Three slow deep breaths through your nose
will help oxygenate your blood, and especially seems to wake
up the brain.
13. Moving your body. Washing the dishes, or walking around
the house can boost energy levels.
14. Hot and cold showers. A minute of hot water, a minute
of cold, alternating for six minutes. This isn't for those with
weak hearts, but it will wake you up. Incidentally, research
shows it also revs up the immune system.
15. Outdoors. Sometimes a little sunshine and fresh air can
be very energizing.
16. Try meditation. I use brainwave entrainment CDs myself,
including the ones advertised below, and find that a short meditation
session helps clear my mind of distractions and gives me energy
to think more clearly - as long as I don't lay down or meditate
to the point of sleepiness.
***
The Meditation Program
Meditate deeper than a Zen monk - without months of practice.
You'll go into a meditative state the first time you try these
CDs (also available as MP3 downloads). They come with support
and a great guarantee (you get to try them out for up to a year
and get a refund if you don't like them). Go get the details
- and listen to the samples while you are at it.
Details here...
The Meditation Program
***
Assignment: Try several of these self motivation techniques
outlined above. Choose one or two that work best for you, and
make them habitual. You can do this by simply using them daily
for several weeks.
Next Lesson: Pills and places and other
ways to make the brain function at a higher level.
P.S. If you haven't subscribed to this
e-course, and you want to learn the other secrets of mind power,
you can go here to subscribe: Mind
Power Secrets
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