Hello,
My name is Hilary Lafon and I'm so grateful that you've joined me today for our pro tip.
Today we're going to be talking about building motivation.
We'll talk a little bit about building motivation and just have a small little mindfulness session to help us to really build our practice and to plant the seeds so that our motivation can grow.
So wherever you're listening to this,
Find yourself in a comfortable position,
Sitting upright in your chair or lying down or walking around.
I encourage you to really just put down your phone,
Your computer,
Focus all your attention on building motivation.
In our society we've been taught to multitask,
But studies show that multitasking doesn't actually work.
So let's focus on one thing,
Ourselves.
This time of year it is very difficult to be motivated.
The seasons are changing.
For some of us it's winter and we're right in the middle of it.
And it's normal for things to die off,
Shed off,
Let go,
Getting ready to create something new.
If you'd like to close your eyes,
But you don't have to,
Have your gaze be cast down.
And just breathe.
Come into your breath.
Take just a few moments to welcome your breath.
Inhaling and exhaling deeply.
Allow yourself to sense these breaths as if it's the first breath you're ever taking.
So maybe a smile comes across your face.
Feel the warmth flow through your body.
Inhaling deeply,
Exhaling completely.
Allow your body to soften and relax as you breathe.
Feeling the muscles around your eyes and your jaw loosen and soften.
Notice if you're clenching your fists or your toes.
Allow yourself to sink into your seat.
Breathing,
Softening.
Just listen to a couple of these suggestions and see if there's one thing you can put into practice later today or this week.
So how do we build motivation when we're overworked,
Overtired,
Have too much going on?
One quick trick is to create some space.
How do we do that?
We let go of something and only you know what that something is.
Something that you do every day or every week that takes up a lot of your time that you'd rather not be doing.
Create some space in your life for this change,
For this motivation to grow.
One great start for building motivation and creating space is doing exactly this.
Taking a few breaths,
Softening your body.
Taking a moment for yourself.
These mindful exercises can bring so much insight.
So letting go of something,
Creating some space.
Another strategy to build motivation is to get out of your comfort zone.
Browse a library or a bookstore in the self-help aisle and find some inspiration,
Some inspirational words.
I encourage you to hold a book and touch it,
Turning pages with your fingers.
If you are short on time,
You can do this online and scroll and find something that calls to you.
But with a lot of my clients,
They say the act of going somewhere and doing it becomes almost like a ritual.
Going to a bookstore or the library.
You don't have to buy anything.
You can rent anything at the library for free.
Just take some time to find some inspiration.
Breathe deep.
Let go.
Release any tension that has build up.
Another trick is to surround yourself with motivated people.
We all have those friends,
Family members,
Loved ones,
Co-workers.
We have at least one person around us that we know that we would like to have some of their qualities.
I encourage you to spend more time with them.
Have a meeting,
Have a walk,
Have a cup of tea.
Make this fun for yourself.
Surround yourself with motivated people.
If you have a lot of friends or acquaintances,
Maybe create a support group where you all meet once a month to talk about strategies that work for each other.
And the last suggestion today is to either focus on a morning ritual or an evening ritual.
Carve out 15 minutes in your morning or in the evening where you devote the time to yourself.
Breathing,
Relaxing,
Softening here.
Again I encourage you to pick one thing.
Creating some space,
Letting go of something or going to the library or a bookstore to find some inspiration.
Carving yourself with motivated people or creating a morning or evening ritual.
Let's end our time together.
Taking three deep breaths,
Exhaling all your breath out,
Inhaling peace,
Motivation and exhaling all that which does not serve you.
Letting something go.
Two more times inhale and exhale.
And this last time as we inhale,
Be kind to yourself.
Try not to judge.
And as you exhale,
Let go of any unkind words to yourself or judgments,
Things that you should be doing,
Could be doing.
Be your best friend.
Support yourself and you will find the motivation you need to have the life you want.
When you're ready,
Open your eyes.
Thank you so much for allowing me the precious gift of your time.
Until next time.
