Tips for Self-Motivation and Moving Forward in Your Career

Listen to this article

As a recent college graduate, I find self-motivation to be the most important thing a person can do in order to keep moving forward in their careers. It’s not always an easy task, but I truly believe that if you dig deep enough you’ll find that spark within yourself to recognize your potential. Here are some things I’ve learned along the way:

First, you should stay positive and repeat affirmations to yourself. If you remain negative and have it in your mindset that you can’t achieve, you won’t. You have to identify your abilities and strive for what you really want. Instead of saying I can’t do this or I can’t do that, start saying, “I can,” and “I will.” By confirming that you and your skills are enough, your chances of moving forward and accomplishing all that you wish to accomplish are much higher.

Understanding your strengths and weaknesses is an imperative part of being successful. Your strengths should be recognized and made even stronger with each and every career move you make. Try not to think of weaknesses as negative qualities, but rather as opportunities for growth. For instance, I tend to be impatient and usually expect to see results right away. However, I’ve learned that taking deep breaths and analyzing the situation from a different perspective can really help. By acknowledging your weaknesses, you are showing that you’re open to new ideas and ways of thinking.

Paint a clear picture of your past and future achievements. Look back on all that you’ve accomplished and think about what led to those successes. Was it your belief in yourself? Your natural abilities? The well-meaning people that you surrounded yourself with? I’ve noticed over time that it’s usually a combination of all three of these things. Once you realize this, think about other opportunities that you would like to pursue and go for them. If you have a clear idea of what you want to achieve, anything is possible!

In addition to setting goals for yourself, you should also consider looking at the bigger picture and taking risks. There will come a time in which you’ll have to take initiative and that will help to set yourself apart from the rest. Show that you’re truly invested in a project by using your creativity to your advantage and showing your true valor. For example, I have a keen eye when it comes to grammar and punctuation, so I use that as a way to show that I’m different, that I’m an asset.

Another good way to motivate yourself and move forward in your career is to stop comparing yourself and your achievements to someone else’s. It’s only natural that people do this. I compare myself to my peers all the time, but it’s not healthy. Everyone accomplishes things on a different time frame and it’s not fair to compare what you and/or someone else is doing. Surround yourself with people who truly believe in you and want to see you succeed. Those who encourage you to keep moving are the ones who will be your best allies.

Tell us what motivates you. How do you help to motivate yourself and others? Share your story with us and we’ll share it with our readers. Send to [email protected].