To the Future and Back

What Motivates You

Last time in Your #1 Motivator, I asked you to think about the things that motivate you. Some of you sent me your answers via email (love that, by the way), and here’s a sampling:

• Walking through my garden in the morning
• Going to the gym and working out
• Learning something new
• Making progress on a project I had been procrastinating on
• Playing the piano.

Glad to hear the wheels are turning! Today I’ll share a quick technique you can use to motivate yourself daily.

To the Future and Back

This three-part exercise takes only a few minutes:

(1) Go out to the future. Any point in the future will do, whether it’s a week from now, six months from now, or fast forward through the years. Picture an everyday event (you’re in a meeting at work or having dinner with your family) or imagine a special occasion. See yourself having accomplished a goal or having come through a challenge successfully. Whether you’re envisioning something realistic, ordinary, or outlandish doesn’t matter. Don’t think too hard! The point is to simply and quickly transport yourself to the future and see something playing out in a positive manner. Feel the good feelings associated with that. What are you feeling? Where in your body do you feel it?

(2) Come back to the present day. Despite any difficulties that you’re currently dealing with, what is one thing you appreciate in this moment? Be specific. Fully feel the feeling of gratitude for a few moments.

(3) Take inspired action. Go into your day informed and guided by your trip to the future. Release the probability of whatever you imagined and value it for the possibility it invites you to entertain today. Let it influence your selection of priorities, your emotional state, mindset, and attitude. What action does it inspire?

Visioning Made Easy

One of the reasons I like this technique is that it’s a quick path to motivation in real-time. Creating a vision that motivates you becomes a daily habit instead of an overwhelming or elaborate undertaking.

This Week’s Call To Action:

• Between now and the next issue of In the Current, start your day with this exercise. Notice how it affects your choices and motivation level throughout the day.
• Experiment with applying this technique in different ways. For instance, it can be integrated into a prayer or mindfulness practice as you begin the day. With a few tweaks, it could be used as a motivational exercise with your staff or team. Do what you like with it to make it your own.

Imagine what could be. Appreciate what is.
Take inspired action.