"I give up! I just can't do it anymore!" Everyone has said this at least once in their life. But before you throw in the towel, tell yourself these 10 things to give yourself the last ounce of motivation you need to accomplish the impossible:
1. This is a challenge for you
It's OK to admit something is difficult. You don't have to stay in denial. Accept your challenges and decide to face them with confidence and optimism.
2. Be grateful
List at least one thing you're grateful for. It can be tough to come up with things you're thankful for when you feel like the world is crumbling, but take a moment to focus on the good in your life.
3. Take a break
Get up, stretch and take a brief walk. Even taking a few minutes away from a stressful situation can help you come back with a fresh mind and determination to tackle your difficult task.
4. You are doing this for a reason
Remember why you started. Maybe you picked up a second job to provide for your family or maybe you volunteered to bake 50 cookies to support your child's bake sale on Saturday. No matter the task, remind yourself why you need to follow through. Remembering the purpose behind your daunting load can give you the motivation to carry on.
5. Asking for help doesn't make you a failure
Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness; it's a sign of humility. Don't be afraid to ask for help when needed. The people who love you want to help you any way they can.
6. You can do hard things
What you're going through is difficult, but you can get through it. Things always seem more challenging when you're in the thick of it. Remind yourself it's possible even when it doesn't feel like it is.
7. You've gotten through hard things before
You can certainly accomplish this hard task, because you have faced and conquered challenges before. Surely you can do it again.
8. Here's the plan
Break your large project into smaller tasks to make it easier to accomplish. For example, if your goal is to have a clean home, focus on one room at a time. Looking at the project as a whole can be overwhelming and leave you stressed and unmotivated to continue. Tackle one thing at a time, and you'll be surprised at how much you can accomplish.
9. Be confident
Try changing your posture to increase your confidence. Amy Cuddy, a social psychologist at Harvard Business School, conducted an experiment with posture and how it related to power and stress. She found that people who took a "high-power pose" experienced a 25 percent decrease in stress, whereas people who took a "low-power pose" experienced a 15 percent increase in stress. Low-power poses make yourself smaller, (hunching your shoulders) and high-power poses include sitting up and leaning forward.
Try out the Wonder Woman pose. Stand up, place your hands on your hips and push your shoulders back. With this posture, you'll feel like you can do anything, just like Wonder Woman.
10. Release negativity
Give up things that are holding you back - negative thoughts about yourself, frustration, worry or whatever else. You will find it's easier to focus when bothersome thoughts are pushed out of your mind.
Whatever your challenge may be, you've got this. You've done hard things before and you can do it again. Assume your Wonder Woman pose and conquer your responsibilities like the super hero you are.
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