In this blog, I’ve gathered 150 motivational quotes that speak to different parts of your journey, whether you need a quote for motivation to tackle your goals, powerful motivational quotes to snap out of a bad day, or motivational quotes on life to find meaning in the mess. These aren’t just fancy lines to scroll, they’re reminders. Reminders that you’re capable, that this moment isn’t the end, and that short motivational quotes can spark big shifts. I recommend the best quote platforms like Quotend and Motivation Matter to read regular motivational quotes. So, whether you’re chasing success, healing from something heavy, or simply trying to keep your head up, these top motivational quotes are here for you. Keep them close. Read them often. Let them lift you, one word at a time.

Daily Motivational Quotes

Mornings can be tough for anyone. Maybe you just open your eyes, and there is a reel playing at the back of your mind, thinking everything you’re about to do today might go wrong. The day could be different if you could just start your day with a motivational quote. Before you scroll through your phone or open the emails you got overnight, dive in a dose of inspiration.

Are you wondering if that would help? Why not start trying it for the first few days and observe how it hits you differently. They may not fix everything for you instantly but would definitely help when you keep going.

1. “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” — Confucius

2. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill

3. “Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” — Sam Levenson

4. “One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.” — Arthur Ashe

5. “All you need is ignorance and confidence and the success is sure.” — Mark Twain

6. “Failure is a part of success.” — Hank Aaron

7. “Man needs his difficulties because they are necessary to enjoy success.” — A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

8. “One secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.” — Benjamin Disraeli

9. “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” — Albert Einstein

10. “Success is a science; if you have the conditions, you get the result.” — Oscar Wilde

11. “Success makes so many people hate you. I wish it wasn’t that way. It would be wonderful to enjoy success without seeing envy in the eyes of those around you.” — Marilyn Monroe

12. “The more control you have over your life, the more responsible you feel for your own success — or failure.” — Arthur C. Brooks

13. “The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow.” — Robert Tew

14. “You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice.” — Bob Marley

15. “You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.” — Margaret Thatcher

16. “Don’t wish it were easier. Wish you were better.” — Jim Rohn

17. “A diamond is a chunk of coal that did well under pressure.” — Henry Kissinger

18. “You don’t drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.” — Edwin Louis Cole

19. “Study the past if you would define the future.” — Confucius

20. “Find the right people, not the best people.” — Jack Ma

Motivational Quotes for Success

Setbacks are like stepping stones to success. They may be challenging, but they help you grow and achieve your goals. So when you chase something, it becomes obvious that there could be times when you feel everything is stuck. Your hard work is not bringing immediate results, self doubts start building, and you feel lost. 

In such situations, motivational quotes have a great impact on how success could become a daily routine in your life. One good line can hit you at the right moment and shift your whole mindset. Those little reminders build something stronger: focus, confidence, discipline.

21. “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” —  Steve Jobs

22. “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” — Thomas Edison

23. “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing.” —  Pelé

24. “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” — Maya Angelou

25. “Don’t wait for opportunity. Create it.” — George Bernard Shaw

26. “The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.” — Vidal Sassoon

27. “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” — Booker T. Washington

28. “The secret of success is to do the common thing uncommonly well.” — John D. Rockefeller

29. “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” — Zig Ziglar)

30. “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” — Dalai Lama

31. “If I can’t do it through the front door, I’ll go through the back door. And if I can’t go through the back door, I’ll go through the window.” — Mae Jemison

32. “The brain is like a muscle. When it’s in use we feel very good.” — Carl Sagan

33. “Success is most often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable.” — Coco Chanel

34. “Get busy living or get busy dying.” — Stephen King

35. “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'” — Muhammad Ali

36. “Luck favors the prepared.” — Louis Pasteur

37. “If you’re offered a seat on a rocket ship, don’t ask what seat! Just get on.” — Sheryl Sandberg

38. “Autocorrect my failures? No – let them stand as warnings.” — Gretchen McCulloch

39. “Every ‘that’s impossible’ is just a dare in disguise.” — Zohran Kwame Mamdani

40. “When clouds appear, wise men don their cloaks.” — William Shakespeare

Motivational Quotes on Life

41. “As far as my journal, I want to share tour life with my fans.” — Natalie Gulbis

42. “A free life cannot acquire many possessions, because this is not easy to do without servility to mobs or monarchs.” — Epicurus

43. “Being the first to cross the finish line makes you a winner in only one phase of life. It’s what you do after you cross the line that really counts.” — Ralph Boston

44. “I came from a broken home, so my mom was a major influence in my life.” — Julius Erving

45. “I can’t complain about my life. I have a really nice life. I have a great family and I live in a gorgeous part of the country.” — Mary Decker

46. “I don’t recognize my former self. Like I’m on the outside looking in at my life. Who is that guy?” — Victor Cruz

47. “I just think I’m blessed. I love the Lord Jesus Christ. I have a great grandmother that passed away at 104 and two grandparents that passed away at 97 and 95, and they never worried about protein. They just enjoyed life, and that’s what I’m doing.” — Herschel Walker

48. “I was told my whole life, you’re fat, you’re ugly, you’re never going to amount to be anything.” — Tonya Harding

49. “I’ve always said you have to go through a lot of heartache in life to feel joy.” — Doug Collins

50. “In life you need either inspiration or desperation.” — Tonynn Robbins

51. “Life and death are important. Don’t suffer them in vain.” — Bodhidharma

52. “Life deals you a lot of lessons, some people learn from it, some people don’t.” — Brett Favre

53. “I am Maradona, who makes goals, who makes mistakes. I can take it all, I have shoulders big enough to fight with everybody.” — Diego Maradona

54. “Life is about growth. People are not perfect when they’re 21 years old.” — Bill Walton

55. “Once you’ve wrestled, everything else in life is easy.” — Dan Gable

56. “People try to make a Greek tragedy of my life, and they can’t do it. I’m too happy.” — Curt Flood

57. “You must pass your days in song. Let your whole life be a song.” — Sai Baba

58. “You’ve got to be the best person you can be in your life.” — Jeff Gordon

59. “A happy childhood has spoiled many a promising life.” — Robertson Davies

60. “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” — Jackie Robinson

Quotes About Life Challenges

61. “There are always new, grander challenges to confront, and a true winner will embrace each one.” — Mia Hamm

62. “It’s lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself.” — Muhammad Ali

63. “Everyting negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise.” — Kobe Bryant

64. “I love overcoming challenges and fear.” — Laura Wilkinson

65. “I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.” — Michael Jordan

66. “I have an instinct for survival, for self-preservation. ” — Julian Barnes

67. “I’m happy with what I’ve done but it’s a challenge to try to win more.” — Jennifer Capriati

68. “When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what the storm is all about.” — Shah Rukh Khan

69. “Sometimes all you can do is laugh at the absurdity of life’s challenges—and then keep moving forward.” — Tom Hanks

70. “When you love what you do, challenges stop being obstacles—they become part of the journey.” — Lionel Messi

71. “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” — Confucius

72. “If you seek to reach your destination’s crest, first learn to walk through oceans on your chest.” — Allama Iqbal

73. “Every failure is just practice for your next success.” — Justin Trudeau

74. “I don’t focus on what I’m up against. I focus on my goals and ignore the rest.” — Serena Williams

75. “Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” — J.K. Rowling

76. “If you can’t imagine it, you can’t have it.” — Toni Morrison

77. “Turn your wounds into wisdom.” — Oprah Winfrey

78. “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” — Khalil Gibran

79. “Persistence can change failure into extraordinary achievement.” — Matt Biondi

80. “Do not wait; the time will never be ‘just right.’ Start where you stand.” — Napoleon Hill

Motivational Quotes for Yourself

81. “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” — Oscar Wilde

82. “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

83. “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” — Steve Jobs

84. “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.” — Bernard M. Baruch

85. “The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.” — Michel de Montaigne

86. “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” — Louisa May Alcott

87. “It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” — E.E. Cummings

88. “The most powerful relationship you will ever have is the relationship with yourself.” — Steve Maraboli

89. “Self-awareness and self-love matter. Who we are is how we lead.” — Brené Brown

90. “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” — Buddha

91. “The better you know yourself, the better your relationship with the rest of the world.” — Toni Collette

92. “Find out who you are and be that person. That’s what your soul was put on this Earth to be.” — Ellen DeGeneres

93. “Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.” — M. Scott Peck

94. “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

95. “Be gentle first with yourself if you wish to be gentle with others.” — Lama Yeshe

96. “Self-compassion is simply giving the same kindness to ourselves that we would give to others.” — Christopher Germer

97. “The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely.” — Carl Jung

98. “You are very powerful, provided you know how powerful you are.” — Yogi Bhajan

99. “You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere.” — Buddha

100. “The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday.” — Anonymous

Short Motivational Quotes on Success

101. “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” — Theodore Roosevelt

102. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” — Steve Jobs

103. “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” — Nelson Mandela

104. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill

105. “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

106. “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” — William James

107. “Energy and persistence conquer all things.” — Benjamin Franklin

108. “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” — Helen Keller

109. “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” — Wayne Gretzky

110. “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

111. “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” — Arthur Ashe

112. “Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.” — Will Rogers

113. “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” — Albert Einstein

114. “Dream big and dare to fail.” — Norman Vaughan

115. “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” — Peter Drucker

116. “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” — C.S. Lewis

117. “Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you.” — Walt 

Whitman

118. “The only journey is the one within.” — Rainer Maria Rilke

119. “Whatever you are, be a good one.” — Abraham Lincoln

120. “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow is our doubts of today.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt

Motivational Quotes by Pluto

121. “Don’t let your size define your worth. Even the smallest among us can have a big impact.”

122. “Being different doesn’t make you any less valuable. It makes you unforgettable.”

123. “Embrace change and adjust your path accordingly. Life is all about adapting to new circumstances.”

124. “You don’t need to be the center of attention to be important. You are valuable just the way you are.”

125. “Sometimes, being in the shadows can make you shine even brighter. Don’t underestimate the power of perseverance.”

126. “Never underestimate the power of small things. A tiny planet like me can still have a big heart.”

127. “Your orbit may change, but your purpose remains the same. Stay focused on your goals.”

128. “Don’t compare yourself to others. You are unique and irreplaceable.”

129. “Every setback is an opportunity for a comeback. Use your failures as fuel to propel yourself to greatness.”

130. “Be a shining star in a dark universe. Your light can guide others and bring hope to those in need.”

Motivational Quotes for Life Lessons

131. “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” — Aristotle

 132. “The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be.” — Socrates

 133. “First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.” — Epictetus

 134. “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” — Aristotle

 135. “The greater the difficulty, the more the glory in surmounting it.” — Epicurus

 136. “Every child is born an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist as we grow up.” —       Pablo Picasso

 137. “You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.” — Rabindranath Tagore

 138. “The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all directions.” — Chanakya

139. “Don’t rely on palm lines, Ghalib — even those without hands have destiny.” — Mirza Ghalib

 140. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” — Lao Tzu

Powerful Motivational Quotes on Challenges

141. “If you want to shine like the sun, first burn like the sun.” — A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

 142. “A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.” — William G.T. Shedd

 143. “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” — Theodore Roosevelt

 144. “Do not wait; the time will never be ‘just right.’ Start where you stand.” — Napoleon Hill

 145. “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” — Nelson Mandela

 146. “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” — Milton Berle

 147. “Be like the flower that gives fragrance even to the hand that crushes it.” — Ali Ibn Abi Talib

 148. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did.” — Mark Twain

 149. “If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.” — Jim Rohn

 150. “Build your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs.” — Farrah Gray

Can motivational quotes change a mindset?

It might seem insane to perceive how a few words on a screen really shift how we think. But here’s the thing, they can. And there’s real psychology behind it. Our brains are wired to respond to repetition, emotion, and belief. When you read motivational quotes often, especially ones that speak to your struggles or dreams, you start to feel them. They remain. They shape how we talk to ourselves.

Psychologists call this “self-affirmation theory”, the idea that when you repeat positive, meaningful thoughts, you actually begin to believe them. Experts say even small mindset shifts can change behavior over time. A quote won’t fix your life, but it might be the thing that gets you out of bed. It might be what helps you try again after a bad day.

You can have quotes taped to your mirror, scribbled in journals, saved on your phone, because some days, you just need a voice, even a borrowed one, to remind you who you are and what you’re capable of. That’s not fluff, that’s fuel.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, what matters to us is a ray of hope. The motivational quotes are like a ray of hope for us. These quotes are not just words; they are the inspiration for us not to limit ourselves. Some lines may erase the occupied mind full of impulsive decisions and stress, when you’re after big goals.

These quotes may light the way when you’re going through tough times and long days. So when you are reading those lines, pick that hit you and make you more confident. Let it guide you to success and remain your best buddy in the journey.



Author Bio

Mohammad Inzamamul Hossain is a content strategist, writer, and entrepreneur who loves sharing ideas that help others. He writes about many different topics like fintech and e-commerce, and always looks for ways to inspire people through his words. Even when he makes mistakes, he keeps moving forward and never gives up. You can connect with him and see more of his work at inzamamul.com.

The post 150 Motivational Quotes for Daily Inspiration appeared first on Get a Dose of Inspiration | Motivation Matter .

If you are always criticizing yourself, and seeing the world from a negative perspective, then you are most likely to lead a life of stress, low self-confidence, anxiety, and poor health.

Negative thinking also affects your productivity at work and in life in general, in addition to destroying your relationships.

Some people have dug themselves so deep into negativity that they know no other way of thinking. However, nothing is irreversible, with these practices, you can change your thought process and as a result, change your life.

Practice Gratefulness

“Gratitude is a powerful catalyst for happiness. It’s the spark that lights a fire of joy in your soul.” – Amy Collette.

John Kralik is the author of 365 Thank Yous. At the age of 53, he had gone through a divorce, his firm was failing, he was drifting apart from his children, was living at a cheap apartment instead of his own home, million-dollar jury verdict that could have bailed him out was nullified, and his girlfriend had just broken up with him.

He got an inspiration to be grateful for what he had instead of what he lacked. Kralik decided to write 365 thank-you notes in the coming year, and his life took a positive turn. He experienced financial gain, true friendship, and inner peace among other positive changes.

Rather than sit in sorrow on what you do not have, learn to appreciate what you do have. Practice deep gratitude. By shifting your focus, it makes you develop a more positive attitude towards the world and life. It acts as a catalyst to change your thinking pattern from negativity to positivity.

Motivation Tip

Keep a gratitude journal. At the end of each day, instead of complaining about the traffic, or the nasty encounter you had with your boss, write about the good things that happened. It’s never that bad. Tell someone ‘thank you.’ There is always something you can be grateful for.

Cultivating a habit of gratefulness improves your optimism, happiness, and health. 

Use Positive Affirmations

According to an article published in 2005 by the National Science Foundation, the brain produces between 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts daily 95% of which are repetitive and 80% are negative.

These negative thoughts are an indication of the views and beliefs people hold of themselves and their abilities. Such thoughts can be countered with positive affirmations.

It’s incredible how much people underestimate the power of affirmations. Numerous studies have indicated that positive affirmations give people a positive self-view and any threat to perceived self-competence is met with resistance.

Affirmations act as suggestions to the subconscious mind which then actualizes the desired results.

Affirmations can be negative or positive. When you are repeatedly thinking and saying to yourself, “I can’t do this” or “I am not good enough” you are literally blocking your path to a better life.

Motivation Tip

Learn to use strong positive affirmations on yourself such as “I am capable,” or “I will complete this project.” Most important, believe in what you are saying, and your thought patterns will motivate actions that lead to the manifestation of your affirmations.

Exercise

Besides making you healthier, stronger, and confident in your appearance, exercise can help you change your thoughts and the perceptions you have about yourself.

According to the results from the Penn State University researchers, the physically active participants were more excited and enthusiastic compared to their less physically active counterparts.

“You don’t have to be the fittest person who is exercising every day to receive the feel-good benefits of exercise” David Conroy, Professor of Kinesiology at Penn State University.

When you successfully follow a fitness routine, you increase your confidence in your ability to get things done. Exercising involves setting goals. Repeatedly achieving these goals increases your belief in yourself.

Motivation Tip

Physical activity causes your body to release endorphins a feel-good chemical that gives you the feelings of positivity and overcome negative thinking. It also takes your mind off any stressing issues you may have and hence prevents you from overthinking and making a mountain out of a molehill.

You don’t have to become a bodybuilder; simple aerobic exercises can work just fine.

Practice Self-compassion

“When you are compassionate with yourself, you trust in your soul, which you let guide your life. Your soul knows the geography of your destiny better than you do” – John O’Donohue.

Compassion means showing warmth and kindness towards the suffering of other people. It also means showing understanding when other people make mistakes. Self-compassion means giving yourself the same treatment you give others when you are faced with similar situations.

According to Dr. Kristin Neff, an expert on self-compassion, being compassionate to yourself decreases your likelihood of experiencing depression, anxiety, and stress. It makes you happier, more resilient, and optimistic about the future.

Soothing your pain triggers the release of oxytocin which causes feelings of trust, safety, calmness, and connectedness. It also increases your ability to feel warmth and compassion towards yourself.

Rather than criticize yourself and judge yourself mercilessly for making mistakes and failing, practice self-forgiveness.

No one is perfect, so don’t treat yourself like you should be perfect. Just as you would treat a friend who made a mistake by forgiving them and showing them understanding, do the same to yourself.

Motivation Tip

If you are facing hard moments, do not blame yourself or think of how you were born to suffer. No. Comfort yourself like you would comfort a friend. Treat yourself like you would a loved one and embrace your humanness.

Learn to Forgive and Let Go

“Forgive others, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace.” –Jonathan Huie.

In 1974, a 10-year-old Chris Carrier was abducted, stabbed repeatedly, and shot in the head with a shotgun. Surprisingly, he survived the ordeal. Years later, he came face to face with his attacker and forgave him.

Chris Carrier comforted the man who was in the final days of his life and had no one to look after him, few people can do this. The act brought closure to Chris and his attacker. Forgiveness is not easy, but it comes with physical, mental, and spiritual health.

Psychologists describe forgiveness as a conscious and deliberate decision to release negative feelings of resentment or vengeance toward someone who has caused you harm, even when they do not deserve your forgiveness.

In a study  by Charlotte vanOyen Witvliet, Ph.D., a psychologist at Hope College, she had her subjects remember someone who had caused them pain. The psychologist checked their sweat gland activity, heart rate, blood pressure, and facial muscle tension as they thought of the hurtful experience.

Results showed physical arousal indicating that it was stressful for them. When Witvliet asked the subjects to picture emphasizing with and forgiving their offenders, the physical arousal dropped.

Forgiving and letting go, is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Holding on to anger turns you into a bitter and resentful person. It takes its toll on your physical and mental health and reduces your productivity and happiness.

Motivation Tip

One quick approach to forgiveness is to empathize with the person who hurt you. They probably had no other choice but to act as they did. Thoughts such as “I want to see them suffer” or “I will never forget the hurt they caused me”, are not the stuff that builds strong personalities.

There are Two Sides to a Coin

There are always two ways to look to every situation, the positive and the negative. For instance, if your house burned down, why don’t you focus on the fact that no one was in it. Be optimistic.

Optimism is a key player in stress management and general wellbeing. Change your outlook of life. It does not mean ignoring your problems but approaching them more productively and positively.

Be conscious of the thoughts that run through your mind and ensure they are positive. Positive thinking can increase your lifespan, reduce depression, reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and make you better at coping with hardships.

Avoid worry and expecting the worst out of every situation. It only incapacitates you and robs you of the joy of living.

As part of Cornell University’s Legacy Project, author of 30 Lessons for Living and professor of human development at the University, Karl Pillemer asked hundreds of older people on what they regretted in life, the answer he got – “I wish I hadn’t spent so much of my life worrying.”

Motivation Tip

It’s never too late to stop worrying about every little thing, focusing on how bad it could turn out instead of the good that could happen. Various studies have indicated that 85% of things we worry about never happen.

“My life has been full of terrible misfortunes most of which never happened.” – Michel de Montaigne.

Get into the Right Environment

“Our environment, the world in which we live and work, is a mirror of our attitudes and expectations.” – Earl Nightingale.

The things surrounding you influence your thoughts. Results from a study by the San Francisco State University indicated that the outside environment affects your thoughts. “Our conscious thoughts seem protected from our surroundings, but we found that they are much more tightly linked to the external environment than we might realize and that we have less control of what we will think of next,” Ezequiel Morsella, associate professor of psychology and co-author of the study.

Motivation Tip

Learn to subtract the things that lead to useless and harmful thoughts from your life, and this includes the company you keep. The negative people you interact with influence negative thoughts in you. The gossip on social media fills your mind with useless information.

Limit your interaction with the people you cannot eliminate from your life. Hang around people who inspire and challenge you. Interact with people who are positive-minded and think of progress.

Replace the fashion magazines that remind you of how slim you should be with books that inspire you to be a better person.

Concluding Thoughts

If you want to bring positive changes to your life, changing your thoughts is of paramount importance. To start with, learn to appreciate what you have. Start your day with positive affirmations, believing in your ability to be and achieve what you utter.

Treat yourself as you would a friend, get more active physically, and practice forgiveness. Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you and always stay positive.

You can improve your life if you propose to make the necessary changes.

“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” — Marcus Aurelius

The post 7 Effective Ways to Change Your Thoughts to Change Your Life appeared first on Get a Dose of Inspiration | Motivation Matter .

Build up a scenario in your head, knitted around twin brothers who have come into this world in the late 1950s. They are birthed in an abandoned building without adequate medical facilities, and are hastily wrapped in a blanket and put up for adoption. 

The children grow up without ever knowing who their parents are. Instead, they are raised by their adoptive single mother, whose house runs on welfare from the state. 

One of the two boys does great in the school. But the other struggles at even the basic concepts and is thus held back two times. The struggling boy is eventually told that he has a learning disability and that he is EMR: educable and mentally retarded. 

What do you think happened to the EMR twin? Did he have a subpar life and died in obscurity?

Shockingly, no. The child stuck around and worked twice as hard to become a world-famous motivational speaker, author, and inspiration to millions. 

The child’s name? Les Brown. 

This Les Brown inspiring story is enough to move anybody. But the real reason behind his success is the wide array of Les Brown motivational speaker quotes that embellish the internet with their relatability. He says that success is a state of mind and gives his listeners the motivation necessary to master the art of success. 

But since it has been many years since the speaker’s beginning days, many of his fans wonder what happened to Les Brown motivational speaker. Brown is going strong at age 78 and is still as witty as ever. 

Let us derive motivation from Les Brown books and pinpoint five motivational lessons that you need to adopt in your life to succeed. Think of it as some much-needed 2023 motivation! 

Les Brown Motivation: It Is Not Over Until I Win 

“There are winners, there are losers, and there are people who have not yet learned how to win.” 

We aren’t saying this; Les Brown is.

Brown is a motivational speaker but with realism infused in his speeches and books. He does not ask his listeners to dive head first into whatever battle they come across, but rather adopt a winning attitude to life. A winning attitude does not always entail folding up your sleeves and indulging in things you cannot win. Such an attitude to life is not led by determination but delusion! 

Brown says that there are some battles in life that you are not equipped to win. Admitting this is the first step to winning them. True determination is not taking on things without giving them a second thought but rather taking a step back and chalking out a suitable plan of action. 

Think of it this way: your friend is getting beaten up by a group of bullies. Do you listen to your emotion-driven side and get into the battle circle unarmed? Doing that would do your friend no good: you two would only get beaten up together. So, do you take a step back to arm yourself or call the police? The bullies run away at the distant sound of the police siren, and you and your friend only get a few bruises. 

So there are no losers in life, only people who have failed to devise the right plan of action to win. If things don’t go your way in life, it is not because things are not meant to be. It may be because you are not thinking out of the box to do them the right way. And keep in mind: the right way is not always the conventional way. 

Invest In Yourself 

Do you remember the Les Brown speech where he motivated all of his listeners to invest in themselves instead of prioritizing investing in stocks and real estate? Investing in yourself translates to equipping yourself with the academic, professional, and social knowledge needed to thrive in this world. 

This can be done by reading a ton of motivational books, attending various educational seminars, listening to radio programs, and finding other ways to embark on a quest for self-improvement. 

Make learning a priority in your life to increase productivity, and things will come naturally to you. Learn from the internet instead of scrolling your life away, and surround yourself with learned people who can help uplift you from oblivion into the light of knowledge. 

Review Your Goals Twice In A Day 

If you google “Les Brown: If you want a thing bad enough,” you will come across a genius tip for living a successful life. This tip is to remind yourself of your goals twice every day. The psychology behind this act is simple: you only work hard if you want a thing bad enough. And reminding yourself again and again what you want is the only right way to want it more. 

Les Brown says: “Review your goals twice every day in order to be focused on achieving them. Goals help you channel your energy into action.”

We all know the popular saying: out of sight, out of mind. So make sure you keep your goals where you can see them every day, and watch your motivation to achieve them peak. 

Sit Amidst Winners

The company matters a whole lot when it comes to winning. Brown seldom talks about the importance of surrounding yourself with winners. The five people you spend the most time with can significantly affect your attitude, success, and even income, so make sure you choose them wisely. 

A general rule of thumb is that if someone is not helping you, they are no good to you. It may seem rude, but Brown articulates this notion perfectly.

Les Brown quote: “It’s necessary to get the losers out of your life if you want to live your dreams.”

Get the people who weigh you down out of life, and nothing can stop you from floating upwards. 

Stretch Yourself 

Stretching yourself does not mean physically stretching your body here but rather pushing yourself out of your comfort zone so you have various avenues to learn more about the world and yourself. You cannot succeed while hiding in your bubble, which is why it is essential to burst it yourself and embrace the world with open arms. 

Les Brown eloquently says: “If you put yourself in a position where you have to stretch outside your comfort zone, then you are forced to expand your consciousness.”

You can effectively change your lif and spirit by changing how you view it. When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. Simple. 

Challenge yourself by putting yourself in situations you have never been in before, no matter how daunting they may seem. You cannot grow in your safe house, which is why it is essential to step out, meet new people, try new foods, go to places you are too scared to go and give yourself new chances. 

Summing Up 

Widely hailed, Les Brown is the most influential motivational speaker of the century, and rightly so. He built his positive outlook on life from scratch, and following it can help you take the reins of your life in your hands and steer it toward success!

The post Top 5 Les Brown Motivation Lessons to Adopt in Your Life appeared first on Get a Dose of Inspiration | Motivation Matter .

Carefully devised mindfulness and relaxation techniques can change your life for good and get rid of all the troubling thoughts in your head. The last few decades have seen a substantial increase in mindfulness and anxiety research, and it has bore fruitful results for anxious people like us. 

So, what are these mindfulness techniques for stress, and how can we implement them in our lives? Let’s get learning!

What Is Mindfulness?

How can we get into mindfulness techniques when we don’t know what mindfulness is? Mindfulness is simple: it is vowing to live your life to the fullest, overcoming hindrances as they come your way but never letting them knock you down. Life is like a race, and mindfulness is the key to winning that race while keeping your surroundings and needs in view. 

Simply speaking, you are mindful when you are attentive and present in the moment. It is being aware of your emotions, feelings, and actions instead of dismissing them. 

Now that you know what mindfulness is, take a breather and think about your day today. Were you receptive to your needs? Were you aware of your actions? Did you try to understand the emotions you were feeling? If the answer to all of these is yes, you are mindful. If it is a no, which is most common to be, you have to learn about some quick mindfulness exercises for anxiety. 

Do Mindfulness Techniques Really Work?

Most people who believe in clinical medications and behavioral therapies do not pay attention to mindfulness techniques. How can you cure yourself? They ask. But the truth is, mindfulness exercises for anxiety are therapist aids. Most clinical psychologists recommend such mindfulness techniques, so who should we judge?

However, it is true that mindfulness is not an established clinical domain like cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and other medications for depression. But that does not make it any less real! 

You can think of anxiety as the evil twin of mindfulness. They have a connection but are both very different. Mindfulness is the epitome of goodness, while anxiety is evil. Anxiety traps people in their own minds, while mindfulness frees them. Anxiety forces negative thoughts onto people, and be a motivation killer, whereas mindfulness tells them to live their lives fully and positively. So mindfulness meditation and anxiety are polar opposites. 

But mindfulness is not Superman; it is not a physical entity with superpowers. So, how does it defeat anxiety and stress? The mechanism is very simple. 

Anxiety forces us to worry about intangible things in our lives. In fact, we are sometimes anxious without even knowing why! Mindfulness diverts the mind’s attention to tangible things around it, prompting it to use its senses of touch, smell, taste, sight, and hearing. With your heightened senses, you can better experience the world around you instead of focusing on intangible thoughts coming from another dimension. 

Are you sold out on mindfulness’ effectiveness? It is impossible not to be. Let’s look at free mindfulness exercises for anxiety so you can kick anxiety out of your life once and for all. 

Best Mindfulness Techniques To Overcome Anxiety

Set An Intention 

If you have something due soon that is giving you anxiety – like a difficult school essay or a long work meeting, make sure to set your intention for it. This can help you narrow your goals for the day or week down and act as a reminder bell to make sure you know what your efforts are directed to. 

For instance, you can set up an intention to cut yourself some slack before heading out to dinner with your friends. 

Buy An Adult Coloring Book 

If you find it hard to concentrate on yourself during yoga and meditation, you are not alone. A lot of people face difficulty meditating while doing nothing, which is quite a paradox in itself. So, if yoga feels too isolating for you, there is a better alternative. 

You may find this weird, but buying an adult coloring book can help you practice mindfulness. Coloring books are also great tools for mindfulness meditation for kids, as they help you focus on the tangible stuff around you without completely emptying your mind. 

So, if you are the kind of person who needs to engage themselves to wind down, going for a doodle or coloring book is a great option. Also, it is fun! Who doesn’t like reminiscing about their childhood and whipping out some fun coloring pencils?

Get Adeqaute Guidance For Meditation 

Meditation does not always require finding a guidance specialist or visiting a gym every day. It can be as simple as finding a quiet room in your house and spending a few moments to reflect on yourself. 

You can even download an app for effective mindfulness techniques. There is nothing wrong with getting guidance when you need it!

Wish For Someone To Be Happy 

This mindfulness technique is so wholesome you cannot help but try it. This activity comes from former Google pioneer and author Chade-Meng Tang and does not require you to do anything physical. 

All you need to do is take ten seconds out of your life, think of a person, and wish them happiness. They can be someone very close to you, someone you barely know, or even someone who is not in this world anymore. Wish them happiness, and watch how this simple technique reflects happiness back into your life. 

Go Out For A Walk 

Nature is one of the best avenues you can choose to practice mindfulness, and throwing in exercise is just like a cherry on top. Breaking your monotonous routine and heading outside for a walk works wonders for anxiety, and all mental health specialists say the same!

Nothing can compare to the soothing sensation of the wind caressing your face while you soak in the fresh smell of grass and trees around you. It is best to leave your phone and headphones at home or not use them even if you bring them along. Just focus on your breathing and your surroundings, and feel the stress leaving your body (and the fat, too!)

Let Some Tea Take Away Your Troubles 

Brewing a cup of tea when you feel low is a common tradition in several parts of the world, especially in South Asian cultures. The elaborate art of brewing tea in the fast-paced world of instant coffee can be humbling and soothing. Tea is a great alternative to caffeine and other energy drinks. It eases your insides, and the process of brewing it brings out such a beautiful concoction of smells that it is impossible to not love it. 

Stop Looking Down 

We modern humans have surely explored some of the vast expanses of the universe and yet spend a big chunk of our lives looking down, hunched over our computer screens and laptops. Changing this habit, even for a few seconds, can drastically change your approach to life. 

Whether you are walking towards your car after work or taking out the trash, stop, take a breather, and look at the sky. Whether you see the sun or the stars, spend a few seconds soaking in the beautiful world you live in. This will not only make you more mindful of your surroundings but also appreciative of nature and the beautiful life bestowed upon you. 

Summing Up 

Anxiety paralysis is very real, and you are completely justified in feeling it. It can hamper your daily life activities, making even the simplest tasks a colossal feat to conquer. 

But you do not always have to resort to medicines or clinical therapies to get rid of it: small life changes can make you more mindful and help combat feelings of helplessness that usually come with anxiety. The reins of your life are in your hands; you only have to be mindful enough to hold them. 

Happy living! 

The post Top 7 Mindfulness Techniques for Anxiety and Stress appeared first on Get a Dose of Inspiration | Motivation Matter .

1. Joy 

Image source: Joy

Loosely based on the life of Joy Mangano, Joy is the story of the inventor of the miracle mop. This is an inspirational movie for any business enthusiast and also offers some gripping life lessons. Joy overcomes several obstacles throughout the movie. Her resilience and ability to fight through rejections, bankruptcy and failure, and emerging successful on the other end is heartwarming and motivating for anyone who’s looking for a dose of inspiration to start a business. While this movie offers several lessons, the most important one is perseverance. 

2. The Pursuit of Happiness 

Image Source: Sony Pictures

The Pursuit of Happyness has been recognized as one of the most inspiring movies ever made. It recounts the true story of the single father Chris Gardener and son Christopher, trying to make life better for the two of them, and redeeming the family from a life of poverty. This movie provides a clear and important message about hard work, regardless of the situation. The motivational movie beautifully shows that everyone needs to adopt a more appreciative attitude towards life and not take anything for granted, and be prepared for every outcome. Instead of feeling helpless, you need to learn to work hard and never shy away from any opportunity in our pursuit of happiness. 

3. Shawshank Redemption

Image Source: Amazon.com

This thriller yet motivational movie is a great watch that leaves you feeling inspired long after the it ends. The central characters, Andy Dufresne and Ellis Boyd Redding make an inspiring team. With their wit, cleverness, and partnership they manage to persevere and attain their kind of justice and revenge. This movie gives several lessons like not giving weight to what others think about you, being persistent and always focus on your dreams, and treating everyone with respect. 

4. The Blind Side 

Image source: IMdB

The Blind Side is another film that goes down in the list as one of the most inspirational movies of all time. Viewers can immediately relate and connect with the characters in this motivational movie, primarily due to the fact that it is based on a true story of NFL star Michael Oher. The movie is an uplifting piece of sports drama but centers on numerous messages of importance including family, hard work and inclusivity. The movie is inspirational mainly because it shows the struggle of both its protagonists and portrays that with enough willpower anything is possible and achievable in this world. 

5. Million Dollar Baby 

Image source: Rotten Tomatoes

Million Dollar Baby is the inspirational movie and story of a female boxer and an underrated coach. This movie has a plethora of motivational messages and dialogues that inspire the audience to reflect on. The movie preaches owning one’s weaknesses and strengths to overcome obstacles. The main lesson is that, growth can only be achieved by challenging and driving yourself towards what you want. 

6. The Social Network 

Image source: Movie Posters

The Social Network is one of the best films made to demonstrate the entrepreneurial mindset and what inspires leaders. This motivational movie recounts the story of Mark Zuckerberg and the birth of the gigantic social media network, Facebook. The movie tells the story of the inspiration, hard work, and endeavors of the college student Zuckerberg in bringing his idea to life. His life story teaches us the lesson of hard work and patience as the main ingredients for success. The movie recounts all the hurdles faced by Zuckerberg in developing Facebook into what we know of it today, and also shows that there is no easy way to succeed. The movie gives the inspiration to entrepreneur audience to develop the millionaire mindset to succeed in their goals. 

7. Dead Poet’s Society 

Image source: IMdB

The main theme of Dead Poet’s Society is “carpe diem” i.e., seize the day. The main lesson of the movie is to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way regardless of the differences among ourselves. The main character Professor Keating inspires and motivates his students in making their dreams a reality by focusing on their actions more than anything. This heartwarming and motivational movie inspires the audience to achieve their life goals, dreams and hopes in life. 

8. The Greatest Showman 

Image IMDB

The Greatest Showman is an uplifting and inspirational movie about society’s misfits and how they all come together to create something magnanimous. The movie is filled with motivational lessons, the most important one being that anyone can rise beyond their station in life.  The film delivers a strong message of empowerment and owning one’s self. This motivational movie is a must watch for whenever you are feeling down and need something to uplift your spirit.  

9. The Bucket List

Image source: Rotten Tomatoes

The Bucket List is a story of two men from opposite backgrounds, learning that they have terminal cancer, both decide to make a bucket list and achieve them. To escape from the cancer ward and fulfill all the things they wanted to do before they die. This is one of those motivational films that makes you reflect on your choices and inspires you to go after your dreams before it’s too late. The positivity and can-do attitude of both characters leave the audience feeling inspired. 

10. Whiplash 

Image source: Whiplash

Whiplash documents the story of a 19-year-old drummer and his pursuit of becoming the world’s greatest musician. The story portrays the complicated choices made by the protagonist, his obsession with being the best, and his resilience in proving to his mentor that he is the best. This movie delivers several life lessons that everyone can incorporate into their lives, and helps in overcoming feelings and thoughts of demotivation. The character Andrew demonstrates that one should always persevere and never give up in the face of difficulties. The film also addresses the importance of maintaining relationships in one’s life while going after your ambitions. This one theme is reflected throughout the movie as Andrew doesn’t let any challenge or adversity get in the way of his pursuit of his goals. 

So, which motivational movie have you watched from the above list? Did we miss any out? Let us know in the comment below. 

The post Top Ten Motivational Movies to Inspire You appeared first on Get a Dose of Inspiration | Motivation Matter .

The most difficult thing when battling depression is to stay motivated. It takes mountains of courage to get through the day with depression but an ounce of motivation can make you feel better by a large margin. Yes, it gets difficult and yes, you’ll often feel like giving up but push yourself to stay motivated and you’ll see all your depression symptoms wither away in the passage of time.

You shouldn’t refrain from seeking medical help for your mental problems but it’s understandable if you feel shy at first. It’s important that you don’t let the symptoms get severe though, by researching on how to get motivated.

To help you battle your demons, here are some ways that can be beneficial. Simple practices to stay motivated when fighting depression:

1.       Push yourself to start the day

A little morning motivation goes a long way. When your brain is filled with deep, dark thoughts, waking up can be a big challenge every day. Don’t give up though and avoid staying in bed for long hours after waking up. Try to think of motivational quotes like ‘One step at a time’, ‘I’ve got this!’ and ‘I will win’ because they’re sure to uplift your mood.

How you start off your mornings plays an important role in how the rest of your day goes; so make sure that you get up on time, have a nice long shower, and treat yourself to a grand breakfast.

Your brain feels what it absorbs from its surroundings, so start living your life with positive thoughts and watch your depression symptoms fly away!

2.       Physical activities

You might have heard of the quote, ‘An idle man’s brain is the devil’s workshop’ and immediately associated with evil thoughts. That’s not the only con of staying idle though, because sitting and staring into nothingness will only give you more depressing thoughts.

Fill up you’re your free time with walking, jogging, or an intense workout and the positive results will immediately be visible. The endorphins released during rigorous physical activities will help you stay motivated and leave you with a much happier perspective about life.

3.       Celebrate small things

Congratulate yourself on cooking a meal. Leave notes around the house which tell you to look at the positive things in life. It doesn’t matter if you can’t complete a dozen of tasks every day; even reading a page with such conditions is an achievement to be proud of.

This will not only boost your self-esteem but also help you stay motivated.

4.       Take a break from all the tragic happenings in the world

You might be watching the news to stay informed but the world is not a pleasant place anymore. With famines, wars, and natural disasters occurring all over the planet, the news is always buzzing with sad events.

It’s great to update yourself with current affairs but feeding yourself such negative information can have the same impact on your mental health. Constantly absorbing such information can give you a hard time if you wish to stay motivated.

When you’re already going through a tough phase yourself, the last thing you want is to burden yourself with other people’s miseries. Avoid reading or watching such stuff so that your thoughts aren’t bothered with negativity.

5.       Draft a proper routine

Spend time writing down the good parts of your routine and keep adding more to it. Stick it onto your refrigerator and follow it to the T. This helps in reducing panicky situations and also gives you more time to explore new activities.

A mismanaged routine is a disaster enough for healthy people, add to it depressive thoughts and you have the perfect way of worsening your mental health. To stay motivated, make sure you craft a healthy routine so that your negative thoughts don’t get the time to simmer.

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses which often makes its way into our bodies. Many times a depressed person doesn’t even realize that he’s not mentally healthy. It’s not anything to be ashamed though, as stigmatized for many years. You’re not alone if you have depression and you definitely can get out of it. All you need is a little bit of willpower and self-awareness. Don’t lose hope because this guide will take you through how to get motivated when you’re depressed. So sit back, grab a cup of coffee and brace yourself for a journey that heals you!

The post How to Stay Motivated When You Are Depressed appeared first on Get a Dose of Inspiration | Motivation Matter .

The brain isn’t static and you have the power to direct the needful change in the way you think, and release your emotions and actions. If you are mentally strong, nothing can beat or stop you. It is the mental power that channelizes your body, spirit, and emotions. What you need is the right direction from your brain to carry forward yourself either in an easy or difficult phase. Here are some powerful brain hacks that can help you in boosting your mental power and spirit!

Your 30 Minutes a Day

It is pivotal to keep yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually active. You can make simple habits a part of your daily schedule such as setting 30 minutes a day for yourself. You can pick any of the following suggestions, or a combination of a few.

• Taking simple brisk walks or exercises like yoga, Zumba
• Engaging in meditation, listening to ambient music
• Taking adequate rest and sleep,
• Speed reading, reading out loud and confidently,
• Mind-mapping, practicing awareness, quizzing yourself, solving puzzles,
• Revitalizing creativity, playing memory booster games,
• Learning new skills,
• Building vocabulary,
• Maintaining cleanliness,
• Practicing detachment with regard to your emotions,
• Learning to drag out the negative baggage,
• Silencing your mind, controlling the mind from wandering,
• Letting go of your emotions by writing them down,
• Striking a power pose,
• Practicing kindness, happiness, and spirituality can bring out fruitful upshots.

Never Doubt Yourself

There is a need to fire up your inner saboteur by “innercising”. First up is to replace the defeating negative thoughts with empowering positive thoughts. Challenges are part of life and overcoming them just requires your right thinking, patience, hard work, smartness, effort, and good deeds.

Secondly, try to bring out your focus on the good and bright sides of life. For example, if you find yourself thinking the grass is greener on the other side, then stop staring, comparing, and complaining. It’s better to start watering the grass you are standing on. You know what I mean.

Unless you try to overcome the difficulties, you won’t really know about your latent capabilities, skill sets, potentials, and inner spark. Your sheer strength of conviction is how you shut down the voice in your head that says, “I can’t or I’m not good enough”.  Progress isn’t achieved by luck or accident, but by working on yourself daily.

Reboot to Boost Up Your Mood

One of the most powerful brain-hacking activities is to elevate your mood.

From dancing, singing, and listening to music to working out, playing a sport, getting outdoors, and interacting with your loved ones, you will find that the simple acts of smiling, giving compliments, and having friends can actually lift up your moods.  

What’s more, by turning off the blues, and turning on the adventure mode by taking a walk/jog/run in the park can reboot your mood. Alternatively, some people prefer lighting a candle to relax, eating mood-boosting foods, laughing it off by watching comedy shows on the TV, etc. Such time alone can also be a positive channel for hacking your brain waves.

Not only will you be disconnecting from the negativity, changing your perspectives, letting go of grudges, choosing joy in every single moment of happiness, and finding a self-care ritual, but you will also reboot your power of thinking. You can also troubleshoot your problems by helping someone out in need and incorporating random acts of kindness in your everyday life.

Flip off Your Thoughts in 5 Seconds

Another brain hack is by turning off your thoughts in 5 seconds. You can revamp your performance, get rid of negative thoughts, purge bad habits, and beat procrastination by directing your brain to flip off your thoughts with a strong command 5-4-3-2-1-Action!

Mel Robbins’ 5 Second Rule helps in laying all your focus on the goal that you are trying to achieve. As you count from 5 to 1, you are hacking your brain to come up with reasons to activate yourself and do the task you want to complete.

Learn to Mind Yourself

The hectic lives we are living, with omnipresent distractions, don’t give us much time to reflect upon ourselves. Rather than being absorbed by distractions, we should give ourselves moments to ask ourselves how we are doing. Learn to be mindful of yourself by asking these questions:

• Am I physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted?
• Can I snatch up some minutes of rest?
• How can I learn to say “no”?

You need to learn and practice mindfulness by journaling, listening to your body and taking adequate rest, decluttering your personal and professional space are some of the ways. Other ways brain hacking with mindfulness are using positive affirmations, reading voraciously, and self-care daily is essential in order to de-stress.

Ignite Your Passion

When you work on your passion, you release vibrant energy and vibes that give you a sense of purpose and create new brain waves. Taking out some time for your passion by driving out the distractions or useless things from your schedule can reawaken your passion.  Surrounding yourself with the right people, remaining eager to learn new things, embracing new adventures, overcome your fears are some of the ways to ignite your passion.

Wrapping up

Finally, understand that the brain is the most important part of your body. It’s up to you to help make it flourish and be a channel for positive thoughts. With powerful brain hacks and techniques, you will be able to make it a limitless tool for building a better life for yourself. So why not help yourself create a positive and healthy environment for your mental health?

Author Riya Gulati

Qualifications: LL.M (Intellectual Property & Information Technology) from University College Dublin (Ireland) + BA.LLB from Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University (India). 

Photo by Bret Kavanaugh on Unsplash

The post Simple Powerful Brain Hacks to Empower Yourself appeared first on Get a Dose of Inspiration | Motivation Matter .

Set Clear Goals

The first step to feeling motivated about your goals is to set crystal clear goals. If you know exactly where you want to go and why you want to go there, it’s easier to avoid procrastination. While setting goals, think about their purpose and how they align with your values.

Start Each Day with Power and Intention

It is tempting to check social media or email first thing in the morning but it’s not the best start to your day. A wholesome morning routine has the potential to change your life. Indulge in some me-time before you start your day to help boost motivation and feeling positive. The best way to do this is to spend a few minutes checking in and setting your intentions for the day. Setting intentions is a powerful daily exercise because it is the intentions that allow you to take control of your life instead of passively reacting to it.

Avoid Multitasking

Multitasking is not as glamorous as it is made out to be. The human brain is not made for handling multiple thought processes simultaneously. So, when you multitask, your brain essentially switches between different tasks. This is not the most efficient way of using your brainpower.

You might feel like you got a lot done in a short time but chances are, you will end up burning out much faster. Monotasking or doing just one task at a time is the way to work efficiently. It ensures that the brain is focused on only one thing, so the quality of work is much better. Your productivity will also be higher in the long run.

Focus on the Most Important Tasks (MITs) First

One of the most important habits to boost motivation and productivity is prioritizing tasks. It’s imperative that you learn to get yourself out of the daily grind and focus on what is important to you.  

As you prepare your to-do list, you will need to put in a lot of tasks that are not aligned with your goals. This can dampen your enthusiasm. Next time you plan your day, prioritize the top three tasks. These should help you reach your life goals. When you work on your goals daily, your motivation levels will rise too!

Keep a distraction list to stay focused

Do you find yourself bombarded with too many thoughts just as you sit for work? It happens to the best of us. Distractions are our brain’s way of reminding us of other things that need to be done. Making a distraction list is an easy way to deflect these thoughts and focus on the task at hand.

Start by keeping a notepad and a pen handy. Write down all the thoughts that come to you as you work. Once you are done with the task, go back to the list. If any of those distractions need to be handled, you can get to them now or schedule them for later.

Develop a Positive Mindset

Building habits that boost motivation and productivity is a long process. Despite your best efforts, there will be days when you feel demotivated, and procrastination creeps in. But it is important to develop a growth mindset to stay positive. You will get there one step at a time.

Attend Fewer Meetings

Meetings are a major time sink. They drain your energy without getting a lot done. Startups are increasingly encouraging fewer meetings to boost their employees’ productivity. Here’s how you can reduce your meetings

1. Communicate asynchronously when possible. Send emails, make Loom videos, or drop a note on Slack.
2. Excuse yourself out of a meeting if it does not apply to you
3. Block work time on your calendar so that others cannot schedule meetings for you
4. Use tools like Evernote, Magic Meeting, and similar to set agendas, meeting goals, and wrap-ups.  

Use the Eisenhower Matrix to Plan

Prioritizing tasks can be confusing. A lot of things can seem urgent and important. The Eisenhower Matrix is a simple yet effective tool to decide which tasks get high priority. In this method, you classify your tasks into four buckets:

1. Do: Tasks with deadlines. These are the tasks of the highest priority.
2. Schedule: Tasks with no deadlines but contribute to long-term success. For example, taking a leadership course. These are a close second to the highest priority tasks.
3. Delegate: Tasks that need to be done but do not need your skillset.
4. Delete: Tasks that are neither important nor urgent

Source

The matrix gives a fresh perspective on urgent vs important tasks.

Disable Notifications

It is difficult to stay focused when your phone keeps chiming. Email, social media, and other apps on the phone are the major distractors for most of us. To keep yourself from falling into a digital black hole, turn off the notifications on your phone. You can turn them back on once a major work for the day is accomplished.

Stay Organized to Boost Productivity

If you want to feel positive to boost motivation and productivity in the long run, staying organized is the way to go. When you are organized, you spend much less energy and time on mundane things. This frees up precious headspace for important tasks.

Here are some simple habits that will help you to stay organized:

1. Create a to-do list every day.
2. Update your calendar.
3. Reduce clutter, both physical and mental.
4. Schedule time for focused work
5. Schedule time for email and phone calls

Focus on Self-Care

You can prevent or at least reduce burnout by focusing on self-care. While pulling all-nighters to accomplish tasks can be enticing, it is not sustainable. Consistent work towards your goals every single day is the secret to success.

Self-care need not be complicated. Simple, healthy habits and self-discipline are all it takes.

1. Sync to the circadian rhythm: The sun is a source of energy. Our bodies are naturally in tune with the sun’s rhythm. Our energy peaks in the morning and gradually decreases towards the evening. Make the most of your day by syncing to the sun’s rhythm.
2. Get enough sleep: Sounds easy? Turns out it is not. We often compromise on sleep. Pay attention to your sleep timings. Are you getting enough sleep? If not, prioritize it. Sleep does magical things to your energy levels, motivation and, in turn, productivity.
3. Have some physical activity: Exercising regularly pumps your body with endorphins. Endorphins are happy hormones. They help produce positive feelings. So, move your body and keep the blood flowing!

Take Breaks to Boost Motivation

Breaks are an understated yet important part of the motivation regimen. To improve productivity, try to take regular breaks; take them even if you feel like you do not need one right now. The brain needs to rest for a bit too. It is only then that new ideas pop up in your head!

Sometimes short breaks every 30 minutes and a longer break every 2 hours are all that require a recharge. Here are a few ideas for taking breaks that will help you declutter your mind: Spending time with family or friends, taking a walk, reading a book or meditating are some great options for break time.

Learn From Others

Look around, and you will find people who stay motivated most of the time. What are they doing? What can you learn from them? You can also turn to many successful people who share their secrets to sustained motivation and productivity online. Some of these motivational people and their tips can help you with tried and tested methods.

Create a “Green” Workspace

Green represents nature. It produces a calming effect. The green color is known to have a positive impact on your productivity. Adding desk plants or creepers to your workplace can help you stay focused and improve productivity. What’s more, green looks great too! It goes with almost all colors. So, you don’t have to worry about disturbing the aesthetic. A plant will fit right in anywhere.

Learn from Successes and Mistakes

Mistakes are not bad; they are necessary to show you what does not work for you. They can be turned into valuable lessons. Most entrepreneurs swear on how their mistakes helped them grow. Reflect on your successes and failures. What worked and what did not? Use these insights to fuel your personal growth.

Break Tasks into Smaller Pieces

Big and seemingly impossible tasks are motivation killers. It is likely you feel hopeless even before you start. They can cause stress and lead to procrastination. The best advice is to break these tasks into smaller chunks. Accomplish the task bit by bit. This will not only reduce stress but also increase your self-confidence because you have now completed a task that seemed humungous.

Work Before You Get Motivated or Inspired

Motivation can be elusive. Most people tend to build up tasks in their heads. It can get difficult to be motivated about starting it. The trick is to start working before motivation hits. That way you will see that it is not too big for you. Your self-confidence will go up, and so will your productivity.

Find Repeatable Shortcuts by Automating Tasks

Do you find yourself doing the same mundane thing every day? Most people engage in repeated tasks regularly. These time sinks take up a lot of effort and energy. Look at your daily schedule and identify such tasks to automate and free up your time. You can stay focused on the tasks that really matter.

For example, instead of going to the grocery store to buy milk every day, you can get it delivered. Many businesses offer services that you can leverage to automate some tasks.

Time Difficult Tasks Efficiently

Not all tasks are the same. Some are more challenging and demand better focus. Time these difficult tasks for the most productive part of your day. Some people find that their best work happens in the morning, while for others, it can be in the evening. Identify when your motivation and productivity are at their peak, and schedule difficult tasks for this time. You do not want to waste this important window performing less consuming work.

Make Fewer Decisions

Do you know why Mark Zuckerberg wears the same grey T-shirt every day? It’s because he does not want to waste one decision on what to wear. Our brain can only make a finite number of decisions a day.  

Make the most of your brain power by saving it for important things. To minimize the decisions you make daily, try to simplify the process as much as possible.

Don’t Make Your Morning Workout a Chore

Your morning workout gets the blood flowing. It is a generous dose of motivation. Ensure you look forward to it. Invest in workout clothes, join a gym with good equipment and trainers, and pump your body with endorphins every morning.

Eliminate Inefficient Communication

Inefficient communication just eats up your time and energy. Saying or explaining the same thing repeatedly can be frustrating. For example, you might send an email to your team with tips on preparing for an important business meeting. But it is of no use if no one checks their email. Use easier and quicker tools like Slack for communicating.

Plan for When Things Go Wrong

Make room for buffers in your plan so that when there are unexpected events and setbacks, you will be ready for them. Buffers will ensure that these setbacks will not derail your plan completely. Nothing demotivates more than a plan falling short.

Make a Clear List

Your to-do list sets the tone for the entire day. It is only natural that it should be clear. Use verbs and write exactly what needs to be done. For example, “clean the car” is much clearer and more actionable than “car” or “car clean”. And don’t forget to prioritize!

Write or Say One Goal x 10 Times

Positive affirmations are great. They convince your brain that what you are saying is true. Once your brain is convinced, you will accomplish it. Affirm your goals by repeating them regularly. You can write or say them out loud, whichever method works for you.

Set Your Alarm 60 Seconds Earlier

Waking up early is not fun for most people but did you know, getting out of your comfort zone is necessary for professional success or personal growth? Besides, it gives you some valuable me-time first thing in the morning. So, go ahead and set that alarm a little earlier than you need to.

Finding motivation in everyday life maybe difficult at times but once you get the hang of these habits, it will become easier with time. Look at the end result, and you’ll find that it is worth it because it will not help you get organized, productive, but also stay focus to achieve your life goals. So, which of these will you adopt first? Let us know in the comments below.

Feature image: Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

Author Bio

Prakash CVS is an experienced writer and motivational speaker who is passionate about helping people achieve their full potential. With a background in motivational speaker, they have developed a keen interest in topics such as motivation and productivity. In their latest article, “10 Simple Habits to Boost Your Motivation and Productivity,” they share valuable insights and practical tips that can help readers take their work routine to the next level.

The post 26 Simple Habits to Boost Your Motivation and Productivity appeared first on Get a Dose of Inspiration | Motivation Matter .

With the gift of instantaneous wireless knowledge comes the detriment of our natural instincts when not handled properly, can control your thoughts. The vast amount of streams of intelligence can become overwhelming to our psyche and cause our material world to be a confusing place when we try to manage thoughts. This is why our ability to focus is imperative as a conscious function we all possess that links to how we manage our thoughts . When we focus our thoughts, we concentrate our attention on a particular idea or object. The purpose of focusing on something is to get a clear understanding of a point of the matter, which can be anything in existence and help us manage our thoughts. 

Everyone’s mind has a different capacity for what it can retain and adapt to, but regardless of the difference in our brain functions, we all can be better at focusing. With the amount of information floating around us, life can become blurry or a grainy photograph devoid of higher resolution. For the picture of life to become high definition, we must adopt techniques to build our focus abilities. Here are ways to better control everyday chaos with a more enlightened way of thinking and control our mind. 

State Of Environment

Minimizing distractions in our work zones allows us to complete tasks more efficiently. More than likely, the gossip that coworkers are engaging in isn’t as important as the duties that need to be fulfilled. We can manage our thoughts and control our immediate environment by adapting and funneling outside noise that may not correspond to the task at hand—for example, putting our phones away and setting a tone with others on when it’s ok to chat and to be left alone, respectfully. Setting standards needs to be implemented to mitigate miscommunication in our workspace with others who may indirectly want to control our thoughts. Our level of focus only goes as far as what we allow to come in and out of our productive flow of excellence. 

• Make sure coworkers understand when it’s time to chat and time for work in your work zone.
• Quiet is good.
• Put away the phone if you can.
• Keep items neat and organized.

Even as I typed this article, I knew that the game was on, and I would want to watch it. But I need to finish this article, so I remove myself from one area of my apartment to another where there is no T.V. to tempt me. Now the mind is at ease and can pay attention to one project. Sometimes it’s best to remove ourselves from an area if possible. When it comes to the environment, the more prepared you  are, the better you can control your mind. Whether it’s organizing our desks an hour early before our shift starts or taking the long way to the library to get extra study time in because that route has fewer people, the more we shape our environment more healthily, the better. Healthy settings produce positive results. 

Cognitive Training

Our brain is like a muscle that can develop instinctual reactive memory-based patterns that affect how we manage our thoughts. How we train to gear our thoughts is how we approach our goals. Our ability to focus on work or an idea dramatically is related to how we view ourselves and the world around us. How can we give our full and undivided attention to something when our mind is too busy trying to break down information detrimental to what we should focus on? 

Mindful meditation is a free and easy practice that requires us to close our eyes and apply breathing techniques. Mindful techniques are staying in the present while accepting thoughts that unwillingly come and go. When we can be still and compartmentalize our thoughts to what is essential and not, being still in the moment becomes more natural to manage when so much is happening around us. The more we embrace mindfulness, the more of an inclination we have towards grabbing hold of thoughts and appreciating them no matter how chaotic the world around us can get. 

• Everyone can benefit from therapy.
• Give yourself space to breathe 
• Stay in the moment 
• Make your world smaller

Another option to consider in this field of cognitive awareness training to control your mind for the better  is ensuring we are in good mental health standing from the psychological perspective of a trained professional. Mental health-related concerns such as anxiety or depression greatly affect our ability to focus for long periods. There is no shame in considering talking to a therapist who can answer questions about the habits of our minds we cannot understand on our own accord. There are regions of the brain we need guidance navigating, or else we will be lost in the same repetitive storm of delusions and assumptions that will negatively control our thoughts. There is always much more to learn from a professional who can peel back the layers and give us clarity on what may have been bothering us to the point we have more space to focus on interests we love. 

Exercise to Manage Our Thoughts

Most of us know that any amount of physical fitness activities are good for our bodies. However, it takes the mind to tell the body what to do. Committing to exercise routines instills discipline and paves healthy, productive pathways in the brain. Making sure our technique is fundamentally sound, the right amount of weight is added to the barbell, and keeping count of the reps and sets takes paying attention to small details.

• The mind influences the body
• Our brain is a muscle that needs exercise
• Always set new goals 
• Some pain is good

Whether going for a run, holding a strenuous yoga pose, or squatting heavy weight, we must balance our emotions and critical thinking while performing the workout. Exercising builds mental toughness, not just abs for the beach. You must control your mind to finish a task that introduces physical pain while relying on our fortitude to focus on the workout. 

It is not about trying to do more than another person when exercising, it’s about being more efficient to manage thoughts. The personal fitness goals we set for ourselves force our minds to work toward a reward. This reward system gears our minds to act the same in all areas of life, not just the gym. We can focus much better when our thoughts become hyperactive to break past a limit adding an element of excitement and self-fulfillment. 

Conclusion

The mind is far more intricate than we truly understand and how we manage thoughts. For that fundamental fact, we need to use the resources mentioned above to better our ability to access the long-term capabilities of understanding, which is the core of focusing. Not only is inhibiting the activity of long-term attention good for our survival, but it allows us to see life and all of its small beautiful details we may miss out on. The photograph of life will become crystal clear, like the clearest waters to see the magnificent gems at the bottom of the ocean of answers when we dedicate our lives to the process of handling our thoughts. 

The post How to Manage Our Thoughts to Focus Out The Blur appeared first on Get a Dose of Inspiration | Motivation Matter .

The road to achieving your life goals is a tough one though. It puts you through all sorts of tests, be it physical or mental. You might break a bone or two if you’re an athlete and you’d also face a mental block if you’re a corporate worker.

Each person’s road to success is different, depending on what they want to achieve and how they measure their success. However, the important thing is to stay focused. If you don’t have enough motivation to keep going forward, you’d find yourself facing triumphs often.

How to stay motivated on this road though? Let’s read through various ways which you can use to muster motivation while achieving your goals:

1.       Stop prioritizing money

It is great to value money but making it your driving force is not a good idea. Your achievements should not be determined on the basis of how much money you’re making. Once you stop giving so much importance to finances, you’ll notice how your approach becomes much more positive and less stressful

2.      Stop watching other people’s life goals

A friend told you all about his life goals and now you feel like you have the same aims? This is the biggest mistake that people make. After listening to life experience of a successful chef, you start feeling like cooking is your domain too. That’s not how it works.

To stay motivated, you need to have ambitions that stem from your personality. Yes, the chef made it big in the industry; but if you’re not really passionate about cooking and just pursue it because some other person was successful, you’d find yourself losing motivation sooner than you expect. It’s good to get inspired by others but make sure that you’re self-aware as well.

3.       Keep the end product in mind

The best way of staying motivated is to keep imagining the end result. If you’re an athlete, bring up that finishing line and trophy in your mind every time you feel like giving up. Same goes for other people as well because when you’re down with negative thoughts, there’s nothing better than visualizing yourself achieving your life goals.

4.       Set shorter deadlines

No matter how impossible your goals seem to be, understand the importance of one step at a time. Take breaks if you need after completing each task and congratulate yourself. This will not only decrease the pressure on you help you stay motivated in the long run.

5.       Surround yourself with positive people

Your outlook towards different things in life largely depend on the people you spend time with. If your company is made up of individuals who are negative and hopeless, you would eventually lose motivation too. On the other hand, if your group regularly talks about the things they’re passionate about, you’d notice a major difference in the way you perceive things.

6.       Shower yourself with appreciation

Self-validation can play a major role in achieving life goals. Remember: no one can love you more than you can love yourself. Keep telling yourself that you can make it and soon you’ll watch it come to reality! Reading up on good things happening around the world and motivational quotes can be super helpful as well.

7.       Become a discipline guru

Great things come to those who don’t let their laziness get to them. Its fine to have days off but make sure that you develop a habit of self-discipline and follow a schedule on most days. This doesn’t mean that you should have a strict time-table that rejects all sorts of leisure; it simply means that you should get up on time, have your meals and be punctual in order to maintain a healthy balance in your life. This will help you focus more, eventually checking the boxes of your life goals.

8.       Stop overthinking failures

There’s no good of dwelling in the past. Don’t get disappointed by the things that you are unable to get; instead, learn from your mistakes. Life goals are not about how quick you get somewhere or how big of a celebrity you become; they’re more about how you never gave up.

Achieving your life goals is no piece of cake, but what matters at the end of the day is your grit. The more you stay focused, the more you strive for them, the more chances you have of fulfilling your dreams. Online sites, self-help books and guides like these can tell you exactly how to set life goals. Good luck on your journey!

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