How I stay motivated and positive

Some days are more difficult than others. It can be easy to fall down a hole of negativity and desperation. As someone who has struggled with anxiety and self-doubt, it has taken years to learn to accept myself and recognize triggers. In this post, I want to discuss how I stay motivated and how I strive to maintain a positive attitude. This can be applied to work, life, exercising, eating healthy, etc.

Sometimes I will think back to 2022 when I needed emergency surgery. This puts life into perspective from a "I need to take care of myself" sense. The purpose of this blog is how I get myself out of slumps now.

Set attainable goals and have a clear path

It can be difficult to find motivation without having a sense of direction. I think of it as getting in a car, in a new city without a map. Where are you going? How are you going to get there? What is the best way to get there?

A short term goal I have set for myself is to go for a walk (sometimes I run) every morning to start my day. For now I have started at at least 15 minutes but I plan to increase the time and increase intensity with time.

The clear path that I have here is that it will increase my fitness level in the long run.

It helps to have an organized calendar of what needs to get done. That way, you can effectively plan and make time for those goals.

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you.” – Walt Whitman

Stop looking for excuses

It is easy for me to shut my alarm off in the morning, go back to sleep and not go for my daily morning walk. However, what is my excuse? That I want to continue sleeping? In those moments when I have to make a choice to either get up or continue sleeping, I think about how great I will feel once I finish my run. I think about how sacrificing 15 minutes to go for a run will improve my mood and productivity through out the day.

There can be excuses with anything you do. Maybe you do not want to take the opportunity because it seems to difficult. But the worst that can happen is that you may fail but then you get back up again. The point is to try and not let excuses keep you from what you really want to do.

After I lost both fallopian tubes from endometriosis, I could have completely given up and found every excuse to be depressed. But, I choose every day to use it as a strength and stay motivated to live a happy and healthy life. When I start spiring into negativity, I take a breath, pull away and reset my mind. This allows me to focus on the positive and not dwell on what I cannot control.

Now there are instances when certain things are not physically or realistically possible. I am more so referring to things we have control over.

Have a purpose and write it down

Having something to look forward to helps. Personally, I have a journal where I write down my goals. I don't journal every day but for some, this really helps. Writing things down, telling somebody you are doing something in the near future, helps keep you accountable. Also, having a strong support system (family, friends, co-workers) is a great way to stay accountable. Don't forget to check in on your people's goals, ask them how they are doing, how you can help, it goes a long way. Then in turn, they will do the same for you.

This also gives you something to look forward to. I believe that living a life with purpose is better than just existing. Maybe you have a big job interview you are prepping for, an exam, fitness competition, project at work. Whatever that may be, do it with purpose and intention. Do what makes you happy and enjoy the journey.

Me this morning before my morning run

Take the time to appreciate how far you have come

I also make sure to celebrate my wins. Taking the time to look back and see the difference from a few weeks, months, years will really help, especially if you are making positive progress. A year ago, I would not think that I could be waking up early going for runs before starting work. Much less, did I think I could wake up with enough energy to do so.

Positivity comes from seeing your progress. For me, I take pictures and videos often, so I can look back and notice a difference in my happiness. This is also why I have started vlogging. Creating videos of my days, adventures, journey helps look back and remember the great memories I have made.

Check out my YouTube channel for my vlogs!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpxRbQJFfXenUqwwxBs5QNg

In short, believe in yourself

Whatever it is you are trying to achieve, you can do it. You can only do it though, if you actually try. Sure, it is easy to remain comfortable and not take on new challenges, but the risk will be worth it. There is nothing worse than wondering "what if" or thinking about where you could be if only you believed in yourself to remain motivated and positive. Also, life is too short to not take the risks. I am happy to talk through any challenges you may be facing and if these tips helped you!