Now that we’re into April and the first quarter of 2015 is over, it’s time to revisit your intentions for the year and take stock of what you’ve accomplished so far.
Think back to January… What were the main goals or intentions you set for yourself or your business this year? How many have you crossed off the list or made significant progress toward achieving?
If you’re falling behind schedule or finding it hard to stay focused on your big goals, here are five of my most powerful Success Principles to help you recharge your motivation and sense of purpose – and move closer to achieving success with every action and decision you make.
Consider it a spring tune-up for your intentions!
1. Practice persistence
What’s the one common attribute high achievers share above anything else? PERSISTENCE. When they have a goal, they simply refuse to give up until they reach it – no matter what roadblocks life throws in their way.
Consider the story of Admiral Robert Peary, who attempted to reach the North Pole seven times before he finally succeeded on try number eight. Or screenwriter Craig Borten, who wrote the screenplay for Dallas Buyers Club in 1992 and struggled for twenty years to get his script turned into a movie – which became a huge success and won numerous awards, including the Oscar for best original screenplay.
You can read about them and many other ordinary people who have persevered to achieve extraordinary success in The Success Principles, Chapter 22: Practice Persistence. I encourage you to review this chapter so you can learn from their examples and be inspired by their stories. It’s a great way to reignite your own motivation!
2. Face what isn’t working
If you are going to become more successful, you have to get out of denial and face isn’t working in your life. Are your goals simply too big to accomplish in the time you have available? Are you lacking some essential skills required to achieve them? Are you in denial about the amount of support you need?
Successful people face these circumstances squarely, heed the warning signs, and take appropriate action, no matter how uncomfortable or challenging it might be.
Do you need to talk to someone? Ask someone for help? Find a new resource? Read a book? Call an expert? Make a plan to fix it?
Choose one action you can take and then do it. Then keep taking another action and another action until you get the situation resolved.
3. Transcend your limiting beliefs
Sometimes the biggest reason we don’t move forward is because deep down we don’t think we’re actually capable of achieving our goals – or deserving of the success we long for.
If you have limiting beliefs or negative thoughts holding you back from reaching your goals, take some time to identify what these thoughts and beliefs are and then transform them into an empowering belief using these four steps:
- Write down the negative belief.
- Describe how the belief limits you.
- Decide how you would rather be, act, or feel.
- Create a turnaround statement that affirms your right to be, act, or feel this new way.
For example…
Limiting belief: I have to do everything by myself. Asking for help is a sign of weakness.
Turnaround statement: It’s okay to ask for help. I am worthy of receiving all the support I need – and I know it will help me reach my goals faster.
4. Stay motivated with the masters
Motivation comes from within – but sometimes you need an external nudge to push you forward in the right direction. That’s why I’m a firm believer in reading, watching, or listening to something that motivates you every day – even if it’s only for fifteen minutes.
Whether you’re commuting by car or train, riding your bike, going for a run, or simply find yourself with a few minutes in front of the computer, listening to audio or video recordings can give you the edge you need to excel in virtually any area of your life. You can keep yourself motivated, learn a language, learn management skills, learn sales and marketing strategies, learn better communication, learn about holistic health and more.
By devoting more time to developing success-oriented thoughts and attitudes, you are guaranteed to reach your goals faster.
5. Take BOLD actions to get BIG results
When you start a new project, take on a new venture, or put yourself out there, there is usually some fear. Unfortunately, most people let fear stop them from taking the necessary steps to achieve their dreams.
Successful people, on the other hand, feel the fear along with the rest of us but don’t let it keep them from doing anything they want to do – or have to do. They understand that fear is something to be acknowledged, experienced, and taken along for the ride. And they challenge themselves to take bold action, trusting that they have what it takes to handle the outcome.
That’s why I dare you to think big – and act bigger. @JackCanfield (Click to Tweet!)
By taking a leap of faith in the face of fear, you can transform your life.
So those are my five top “spring cleaning” tips to help you recharge your intentions and keep moving closer to your ideal life with every action and decision you make.
Please share your thoughts or questions in the comments below – and if you know of anyone who would find these tips helpful, please feel free to share!
As the beloved originator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® series, Jack Canfield fostered the emergence of inspirational anthologies as a genre—and watched it grow to a billion dollar market. As the driving force behind the development and delivery of over 100 million books sold through the Chicken Soup for the Soul® franchise, Jack Canfield is uniquely qualified to talk about success. Jack is America’s #1 Success Coach and wrote the life-changing book The Success Principles: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be and speaks around the world on this subject. Follow Jack at www.jackcanfield.com and sign up for his free resources today!
Chicken Soup for the Soul 20th Anniversary Edition NOW AVAILABLE:
Image courtesy of Benjamin Sloth.
