Colleen Kettenhofen is a Phoenix, Arizona motivational speaker on managing people, effective leadership, dealing with difficult people, and presentation skills. She has spoken in 47 states and six countries for top corporations and associations since 1995. She is contributing author of “The Masters of Success,” featured on NBC’s Today Show and Fox News. Colleen is available for keynotes, breakout sessions, training and seminars.

How to Get Motivated and Stay Motivated
By Colleen Kettenhofen

Discover 9 keys to get motivated and stay motivated! Learn easy ways to motivate yourself to overcome procrastination, practice patience and perseverance. Eat better, exercise, and make a decision to choose to be happy in spite of your circumstances. Here's how...

"Most people ask for happiness on condition. Happiness can only be
felt if you don't set any condition.
Arthur Rubenstein

1. Practice patience, perseverance, and prayer. There's a story of the person who prayed, "God, please give me patience, and hurry!" In this day and age of cell phones, fax machines and instant gratification, it's easy to want what we want NOW. No one is willing to wait for anything anymore. However, as we mature, we discover that it often takes patience, perseverance, and a lot of hard work to get the things we really want. Whether it's a promotion at work, losing weight, or having that great relationship. If you believe in God, pray for patience, persistence and guidance. God sees the big picture. We don't. Often, looking back, we see that many of the circumstances we just "had to have" go our way weren't really right for us in the long run.

2. Learning how to overcome procrastination helps you get motivated and stay motivated. I believe deep down most people know what they're supposed to do to improve their lives. But we procrastinate doing that activity. We just don't want to do it. Whether it's getting rid of the clutter in our home or office, cleaning up our eating habits or cleaning out the garage. Most of us know there's something we need to do that we've been procrastinating. Yet, by procrastinating a task, we end up cluttering our minds further by thinking about what we should be doing.

If you have certain spiritual beliefs, just ask for the courage to do it. Turn to God. This is not something I discuss in my speaking engagements as my audiences are diverse businesspeople from different backgrounds. But asking for strength works. By admitting your weakness you will often gain strength in overcoming procrastination. And you'll supernaturally be helped in many other areas of your life as well.

Stop trying to do it all yourself. Give yourself a break. Give up some of the control. Take it in baby steps. For example, clean up just half of the garage. Or, begin that exercise program just three days a week for 30 minutes a day. Too often we fall into the "all or nothing" mentality. If we can't do it all at once, well, we simply don't do it at all!

3. Practice positive thinking. Think about what you're thinking about! I read on the internet that the number one thing people would like to change for the new year is to have a more positive attitude. Thoughts lead to words. Words lead to actions, and your actions determine your approach to your career, relationships, health and just about everything else. Positive thinking is something you often have to practice.

I am a worrier. And of all things, a motivational speaker! It's my job to help people become more productive, improve morale and stay motivated. In many cases, it's also my job to help them increase profitability. Worrying is a habit I've tried to consistently break. After all, worrying is really negative thinking. Worry doesn't solve anything. It doesn't add a single day to your life. I make a conscious effort to think about what I'm thinking about. I shift my thinking to the positive whenever possible and it's becoming more of a habit. Becoming more aware of your thoughts is half the battle.

4. Eat right in order to feel happier, healthier, and stay motivated. We all know what to eat and what not to eat, but often need to be reminded. Too many junk foods produce junky negative thoughts. Start your morning with some protein to stabilize your blood sugar. Increase your daily intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Switch to organics whenever possible to avoid exposure to harmful pesticides. If you travel a lot this isn't always easy. Do the best you can. Remember, moderation is the key. The minute you have that all or nothing approach, you set yourself up for disaster by beating yourself up for not being perfect.

See your doctor to find out what types of vitamins and minerals you should be taking. Studies show that even when we're eating at our healthiest many of us are still missing vital nutrients. Drink more water. If you're under a time crunch, and who isn't these days, try eating raw nuts such as almonds or pumpkin seeds for protein and iron. Dried fruits such as apricots, raisins and cranberries contain vital nutrients and add lots of flavor. I do this all the time when I'm conducting day-long speaking engagements. It's vital for me in keeping up my energy and blood sugar levels not to mention improved mental acuity. Find out what works for you because everyone is different.

How To Get Motivated and Stay Motivated...Choose To Be Happy In Spite of Your Circumstances

5. Make a decision that you will be happy in spite of your circumstances. Don't wait until everything is going your way in order to be content. Otherwise you will spend much of your life discontented. Avoid the "when script." For example, "When I get that promotion then I'll be happy." Or, "When I get pregnant and have children then I'll be happy." How many times have you heard people say, "Once the kids are grown and out of the house THEN I'll be happy!"

There's always that illusive "when script" projecting into the future. And just because you count on something positive to happen, doesn't mean it always does. People are fallible. You can lose your job. Your money can disappear. Things won't always go your way. It's okay to plan ahead and set goals for where you want to be. Just make certain you're also happy where you are now.

6. Don't compare yourself to others. We tend to compare the worst in ourselves with the best in others. Don't compare your insides to someone else's outsides. This is especially true for women. In our society, we are bombarded with magazines and media projecting an unrealistic standard of what we are supposed to look like. Not to mention that many magazines feature ads with supermodels who are six feet tall. Even worse, the photos have been airbrushed and retouched dozens of times. Focus on developing your own unique gifts and talents. If you're too focused on trying to be like other people, you will become discouraged, give up, and lose sight of your dream.

7. Rest, relax, and recharge completely. It's one thing to get motivated, but to stay motivated you need downtime to rest. If you're sleepy on a weekend afternoon, take a nap.In our fast-paced American society, this is virtually impossible during the work week. America is one of the few countries in the world that does not take an afternoon break. Lots of scientific research has shown that lack of sleep negatively affects mood, stress levels, mental acuity, weight, and overall performance. And if you're tired, you're more likely to snap at your colleagues and loved ones. You won't be a pleasant person to be around.

8. Exercise plays an important role in getting and staying motivated. Many participants in my speaking engagements tell me that walking outdoors during a short lunch break is enough to reenergize them. Exercising outdoors is especially beneficial in helping reduce depression during the winter months.

While you're exercising, or driving to and from work, listen to your favorite music. Music is medicinal to the soul. One of my favorite songs is "It's On," from Boney James "Pure"CD. It's very upbeat with lots of saxophone and serves as a huge energy booster and mood lifter. I'll often play it after finishing a task I'd been procrastinating. It's a small but very positive reward for me.

9. Get out of yourself. Be grateful for what you have. Do you have enough clothing, food, and a roof over your head? Practice an attitude of gratitude. Do some volunteer work, or spend time listening to a friend or family member in need. By helping others you realize how lucky you are and that the problems you face, whatever your "trauma of the day" happens to be, really isn't so important. In order to have a happier, healthier life, focus more on what you have, not on what you don't have.

February 14, 2007

You are free to reprint or repost this article for use in your newsletters, association publications, or intranet provided Colleen Kettenhofen's contact information (name, website, and email) is included with the article. Colleen Kettenhofen is a Phoenix, Arizona motivational speaker, trainer, & co-author of "The Masters of Success ," featured on NBC's Today Show, along with Ken Blanchard and Jack Canfield. For free articles, video clips, and e-newsletter, visit http://www.ColleenSpeaks.com. Colleen's area of expertise are leadership, managing people, life balance, difficult people, presentation skills. Colleen is available for keynotes, breakout sessions and seminars.

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