When it comes to inspirational works and motivational materials, I enjoy them but find so much of it is difficult to incorporate in any meaningful way. So what do I mean by that? I mean that when I hear a great talk or read an inspiring quote, I feel a momentary uptick in my spirit. But that tends to be all it is – momentary. Then that good feeling fades and things return to normal.

Life has a way of doing that. Things tend to regress to the mean. When things are super low, life tends to eventually bring it all back up. And when we experience that big high, we should expect to come back down to earth at some point. Those motivational ideas lift us up for a period of time. Then inertia sets in and brings us back to our usual and our normal.

Those books and speeches and quotes can all inspire and spark a fire in us. I liken them to matches. You strike the match and you get a flame, but then the match burns out fairly quickly. You have to actually apply that flame to something else in order to start a bigger fire and keep it going. Motivational materials are usually just like that. You get all excited and you feel desire to take action. And that is the key word – action. Most of us will simply let that feeling fade away.

The true goal is to actually do something that changes your life for the better. You have to take action and use the motivation in a productive, meaningful, and long-lasting way. But that is way easier said than done.

That is a simple truth, however hard it is to face. We tend to stick with what we know, and we tend to fear both change and the unknown. And those two often go hand in hand. That is why it is so difficult to really grow and evolve. That takes work, and a bit of introspection and self-evaluation. It is way easier to just accept things and move on. But that is also why there are so very many self-help books, blogs, podcasts, etc. Many people do want to improve their lives in some manner. Many people want to be happier, or feel better, or do more with their lives. Many people wish to be in a different place.

So we turn to these various forms of inspiration. We love that feeling of being motivated. We have desires and goals, and it feels good to think about them. We enjoy the concept of achievement. But those things are all just matches burning quickly.

You have to light a fire inside yourself. You have to take on the responsibility of motivating yourself. And sometimes it needs to begin with a simple step. So these are 4 ways in which to both start those fires and keep them burning:

1. Don’t take on too much at once – that is a set-up for failure. This means that you need to take those proverbial baby steps and allow for both the time to grow and the space to change. Set small goals that you can achieve more easily, sometimes by breaking up a large goal into smaller parts. Make things easier on yourself. You don’t have to  do things all at once, and usually that is impossible anyway.
2. When you do find yourself motivated in some fashion, change your mindset into one of action. And the easiest action to begin with is visualization. Think about the goal and what it will feel like to reach it. Envision the steps you go through to achieve the goal. Think about the details as well, as they are very important in the process. See all of this in your mind, and repeat it over and over. And learn to change things as you evolve – this mental picture is not static. Athletes commonly use this technique to master their skills – golf players envision that perfect shot down the fairway, the perfect put dropping in the cup. Basketball players envision the ball going through the hoop. And this can be used on most any type of goal, project, skill, or art form. Think of the term “visionary” and what that implies – it all begins with a vision!
3. Another simple action to adopt is that of using mantras. Come up with a mantra that supports your goal and motivates you, and say it daily (at least). You can say it out loud and just say it in your head. This is very similar to visualization, in that you are thinking about something that will motivate you to achieve an end result of your choosing. Mantra have been shown to be effective in changing your mindset and altering your neurologic pathways in a positive manner.
4. Along these same lines, another effective tool is the simple act of writing things down. Make an Action List with the things you wish to accomplish. This works on many levels. First, when you write it down it becomes a more concrete goal, not just some fleeting thought. Also, you reinforce the visualization as you connect your goals by seeing them written down. And you can look at this every day. And lastly, you motivate yourself to achieve that goal so that you can check it off your list. It is so fulfilling to make progress and know you are on the right path.

These are some rather simple techniques that will help you on a path to self-motivation and success in whatever you are trying to do. This works with business tasks, financial goals, family matters, relationship changes, and simply evolving as an individual. No matter what you are dealing with, these ideas can be valuable in pushing you forward and keeping you moving in the right direction. So don’t just light the match. Instead, learn to keep a bonfire going inside you!