Seize the day! Every day is an investment into ourselves, a chance to take a step in any direction. Days can fly by and be seemingly unproductive. Motivation can be hard to find. Here're a couple tips for being the best you can be at whatever you do!
1. Comparison is the death of joy.
Comparison is an inevitable outcome of looking at others in your field, and can be inspiring and good in some circumstances but it can also be cumbersome of our own accomplishment when taken about in the wrong way. We sometimes get discouraged when witnessing somebody way better than we are at something. This should inspire us, but often is not the case. The thing is, you never know that person's whole story. Maybe that's their entire life, and you really wouldn't have wanted to sacrifice all you would have to dedicate yourself as hard as they did.
The bottom line is there's probably a child prodigy that's way better at whatever you like to do (whether it be skiing, playing guitar, or cutting gemstones) than you'll ever be, so don't let somebody's superior talent discourage you, let it give you direction, goals, and inspiration.
2. Start your day with your passion, end your day with your passion and be willing to stay up for your passion.
Success and sleep can sometimes come in conflict with one another, (yet are essential to each other as well) and learning to balance this is important. Although it's still controversial what the exact function of sleep is upon the human brain, it's generally agreed upon that it's to give us a chance to recharge and let loose for a while so we can come back sharper and more capable once again. I have found, however, that there are certain steps within sleep hygiene that can help us focus on what we really want to focus on.
Studying right before sleeping is great for committing the studied information to memory, as it is widely believed that sleep is a process of encoding all our daily experiences into deep memory. Focusing on what we love and want to do is a great way to spend the ~20 minutes in bed as we fall asleep as opposed to swiping through Facebook or watching TV. I find it’s the best time to meditate for me, and falling asleep isn't really a big deal as having what you love on your mind could catalyze some great ideas to ferment in your dreams.
When you wake up it's nice to try and lay down some affirmations with what you want to strive to accomplish that day, try and commit yourself to getting up on whatever it is you do.
Sometimes a big creative flare will hit us near bed time. What you do is more important than sleep, and these type of creative kicks aren't the type of things to be ignored. Some of my greatest creations were conceived late at night when I had ample reasons to be trying to sleep. What I've found is that the progress you make in the mystical hours of the night are well worth the next day of being exhausted at work (ignore this piece of advice if you have a job that's really important to be awake for, like say, being a trucker).
You only live once, and can always sleep when you're dead. Or the next day, after work. Sleep is important, but many of the greatest achievements of mankind have popped out of excessive all-nighters and countless sleepless nights.
3. Don't let excuses get in the way.
If you look for an excuse, you'll find it. If you look for a way, you'll find it.
This sort of ties back into what I was just saying with sleep.
If you're going to look for excuses, look for excuses to do the things you truly want to do instead of excuses to slack off. I've noticed that I personally have a few favorite excuses that I use to justify slacking off, and I am constantly trying to be aware of these little buggers before they can get to me.
4. Use whatever emotion you're feeling as fuel.
Although we all like doing what we love when we're happy, life isn't always going to deal you a winning hand. Being frustrated or sad can be entirely destructive to our motivation and momentum. But they don't have to be.
Emotions and issues in our lives are quite possibly the most powerful excuses that exist, mostly because these excuses are normally legitimate reasons.
One thing I've found is that it's sometimes possible to change these obstacles into motivation. Say you just got dumped by somebody you really wanted to be with. Although the insecurity and sadness that results from this can make us feel apathetic, that is the worst way to let these circumstances settle in. I've found I can try and focus these negative emotions into a reason to get better.
When I feel frustrated with love, I try to shift it into a reason to work out and indirectly address what I think the issue is. When I was feeling very depressed and rejected, at points in time I let myself mope about it. This involved using a multitude of vices, most of which were really unproductive.
Instead of drinking because you're mad, try and use it as a reason to run. I even catch myself thinking "I'll show them. I'll become so sexy and successful that they'll think rejecting me was the worst decision they ever made!"
Now, negative emotions aren't healthy and I don't necessarily condone them, but life isn't all peaches and cream. When we get rotten lemons we have to make the best use we can of them, and I've found that negative emotions have pushed me through some of the most essential phases in my development.
Another example is when I had a couple close friends die recently. I was hit very hard and ended up grieving and losing a lot of motivation. But recently, as I've come to terms with their passing, I've used the sadness to help me live for them, to do what I do as best I can because both of them loved me doing just that. The very best thing I could do in their memory is do exactly what they both would have wanted me to do: succeed.
5. DO IT!
In the words of Shia Labeouf: do it!
Right now you're staring at a screen. Although you may be feeling inspired by my words (or not), you likely got to this article via social media and are likely to return there after you finish this article. I invite you to get off your computer and go do what it is you love. Those dreams aren't going to go get themselves!
Whoever you are and whatever you do, I believe in you. Many of the greatest started out at a disadvantage. All you have to do is keep trying and seize the day!
