The trickiest part of any journey is when nothing is going right and there’s the temptation to give up. At the beginning of any big endeavour there is a thrill of starting something new that you’re passionate about. This was me with my life coaching business. But when the momentum fades and the going gets tough, it is very tempting to give up. I’m looking for ways to get myself out of the weeds.
Questioning My Negative Thoughts
I know that believing my assessment of my situation without looking carefully at the facts, can lead me to think that things are worse than they are. (I have been known to tell myself a negative story or two.) Am I really stuck and not making progress?
Daily Commitment
I was reminded recently with this Instagram post, that it’s only a myth that projects blossom overnight into the full, and successful things that we see today. It will take time. Doing a little every day is important to maintaining momentum. If I leave a project for too long, it makes it much more difficult to pick up again. And much easier to dismiss.
“Done List” Motivation
I believe in what I’m doing, but I think I need a little daily dose of dopamine to keep trucking along. One strategy I found is to keep a “Done” list.
“A “done list” or “anti to-do list” is a log of the tasks you’ve completed. We can often be so focused on our never-ending to-do list that we neglect to celebrate the things we’ve achieved. Focusing on our achievements is a great way to increase motivation and momentum, as well as heighten positive emotions.”*
Define Progress
If progress is movement towards a goal, there are many ways to get there that I may not be taking time to recognize. It’s easy to see the concrete things such as developing documents, organizing websites, and communicating with clients. But there are other less tangible aspects that I need to value too, such as building connections, researching and creative problem-solving.
Creativity isn’t efficient: It involves experimentation, struggle, and a sense of wasting time. But creativity is where breakthroughs occur. And the chances are that you’re over-rotated in the direction of efficiency.”**
Writing Notes To Myself
I am reminding myself to access those skills that I use for others and apply them to myself. I know that positive notes help motivate me. While I’m in this trickiest of stages, I will write myself a little note at the end of my day’s work to prompt myself with a starting point for tomorrow, and to acknowledge that I can do this.
What has helped you to retain your commitment to a project when the going got tough? Comment below.
*https://www.academic-consulting.co.nz/blog/keeping-up-research-momentum.php
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