“No matter what happens, keep on beginning and failing. Each time you fail, start all over again, and you will grow stronger until you find that you have accomplished a purpose—not the one you began with, perhaps, but one that you will be glad to remember.” ~ Anne Sullivan Macy
Last week, I felt a bit demotivated.
I found it hard to meet my deadlines and complete tasks on my to-do list. I still managed to push myself out of my comfort zone and tried my best to keep my eyes on the vision I created at the beginning of this year.
I’m not sure where this temporary lack of motivation came from, though.
Maybe it’s because the weather outside is grey and depressing, or maybe it’s because I put too much on my plate. It could also be because I’m impatient, but it might also be because the reward for my work is not here yet.
Unhelpful Conditioned Beliefs
When I was young, I was told that I was talented but lazy. This led me to believe that I didn’t have to work hard to achieve things; they would just happen to me. At the same time, I was also told that not knowing things is a reason to feel ashamed because people will laugh at me. This conditioned me into believing that asking for help is not acceptable, nor is admitting that I lack some knowledge.
Stepping onto the entrepreneurial journey was new to me, something I had been drawn to for a long time, but I had no role models in my family to guide me on how to start and stay on track to achieve success. I had to challenge these two childhood beliefs on my own.
Challenging my Self-Limiting Beliefs
First, you need to put in the work to see results. Talent is not enough.
If I don’t set up goals and consistently complete them, nothing magical will happen.
Second, being an entrepreneur is often a lonely game, but without other people, things are even harder.
I need a community of like-minded people, so I don’t completely isolate myself into a hermit mode. Plus, it’s good to know that it’s not just you; others face similar struggles.
I need a business coach or a mentor who keeps me accountable, so I keep moving in the right direction, especially when self-doubt kicks in. I need a biz-buddy with whom I can share both my success and celebrate it or a failure so they can pat my back and help me keep my spirits up. It’s good to surround yourself with people who are ahead of you so you can learn new things and get inspired or motivated.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
I know something other people don’t, so I can teach them. Other people know something I don’t know (yet), so I can learn from them. This banishes my false belief about asking for help and not knowing everything. Not only is it okay to ask, but it’s also a reminder that my knowledge can be valuable to others.
I need to remember that it’s okay to be a student. Actually, you are a student of life. You will never know everything, and there will always be something new to learn.
Lessons from a Motivation Slump
Losing my motivation last week forced me to accept the fact that I am only a human, an imperfect human being who is trying her best but sometimes gets tired.
I managed to slow down, take it easy, and get some rest rather than quit.
I didn’t shame myself for not achieving my weekly goals. I appreciated the efforts I took and saw how far I have come. I know there is more ahead, and I know there will be days like this again when I lose my motivation and won’t be as productive as I plan.
However, I’m not afraid of going slowly anymore.
As long as I keep moving, I am making progress, and this is what counts.
I have my eyes on the bigger picture, and I regularly reconnect with my purpose.
I adjust to new opportunities and circumstances.
The fear of success is stronger than the fear of failure. I know how to fail and rise. What I don’t know is how to work hard on something that matters to me, stay on the course, and succeed. And that is my new goal. Keep going, no matter what, and see what happens. I might discover my new purpose that is worth remembering.
