By Colin Dunbar
Someone I know maintains that "motivational words are great coming from philosophers, but that's because they're not in the real world." The power of words can be an incredible aid to helping us remain motivated and focused.
Abraham Lincoln certainly was in the "real world". So was Henry Ford. Napoleon Hill, Anthony Robbins, John Kehoe, and so the list goes on.
For most of us, the words we read have little impact on us and our lives, and especially on the setting of our goals. Here I hope to offer another way to look at words, and hopefully give the value of what words can mean with our goals and our lives.
The enormous amount of motivational material available - books, articles, motivational quotes - can (and does) help us to develop a positive attitude. But this does not occur by reading them as a novel or short story, that is, reading it once, and then never returning to the material.
When we use the concept known as spaced repetition, which is the reading of material repeatedly, but with breaks in between, words, and in particular motivational words become a powerful aid. This has an exceptional effect on our subconscious mind (and also works well with learning new material).
How much effort is there in that?
To use an example, consider the following motivational quote: "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it." Let's consider how these words can help us to develop a positive attitude, and as result make us more content.
"If you don't like something, change it."
Example, are you in a job that absolutely drains you mentally, and emotionally? Have you seriously looked at changing jobs? And here the key word is "seriously". Do we really investigate all our options? Do we consider dropping in salary (in the short term), but have work that stimulates us? Do we make a concerted effort to look for other positions?
Now for the second part. "If you can't change it, change the way you think about it."
Do we have any control over the petrol price? Do we have any control over getting a flat tyre? There is no way in the world we can change these occurrences by moaning about them.
Too often we throw up our hands in frustration, or drop our head in desperation. And what is the value of that? Does it rectify the problem? Absolutely not! So why do we allow outside influences to affect us detrimentally? Accept that which you have no control over, and your attitude will soar proportionately.
In practice, using spaced repetition, committing these words to memory, when the occasion arises, we almost automatically retrieve these words and the whole situation looks entirely different.
This is where the value of words comes into its own. A while ago, while pulling away from a traffic light, I was too slow for the driver behind me. He hooted and showed me to move. My first reaction was to become annoyed, and I was "talking" to him - in no uncertain terms. Then I asked myself what effect does that have on the situation? And realizing this I relaxed I continued on my journey. By the time I reached my destination, I had all but forgotten the incident.
Words can be of real value to us, if we use them correctly. Give it a try, and see the effect it has on your attitude, and on you as a person.
As Rudyard Kipling said: "Words are the most powerful drug used by mankind."
A friend of mine read the first part of this article, and dryly made the comment, "So what?"
At first it didn't concern me, but a few days later I began thinking about his comment. I had obviously not made the point clear, and therefore I decided to expand on this concept. And that is what you are reading here.
Words, as such, have no value apart from communicating an idea, belief, or instruction to our readers. But, combine words with the mental capacity only we humans have, and the power of words become awesome.
Ok, what am I on about here?
In my first article, I briefly touched on the concept of spaced repetition. This is such a powerful and useful technique that I will expand on it here. I came across spaced repetition early in high school, and used it throughout my high school career.
It works like this: you read something (for not more than 45 minutes), then you take a break, with something totally unrelated; then you return and re-read the same material. You alternate this with reading different material, or doing something totally different, and you will be amazed at what your retention level is. I never studied for a single exam throughout high school! I only used spaced repetition.
Back to the power of words, and using spaced repetition. It is fair to say that we do not like to be negative, or feel depressed. By taking something as simple as a quote, we can improve our mental state, and thus our attitude. Reading this with spaced repetition, it becomes ingrained in our memory, and when the situation warrants it, we practically automatically retrieve it from memory.
Similar to this exercise, we can use words in the pursuit of our goals. One of the first instructions we are given by the motivational masters is write down our goal. But, what many of them forget to tell us, is how we should use this written goal. Some say we should read it at least once a day, or that we should place it where we will see it regularly.
Use your written goal with spaced repetition, and success is practically guaranteed.
I read somewhere that Anthony Robbins says more than half the people who buy his material, do not even open it! What an absolute waste. Having such valuable material in your hands, and then not even opening it, not to mention not using it.
It is a known fact that affirmations (auto-suggestion, self-suggestion) have produced incredible results by persons who use this technique. All that this is, is repeating something to yourself spaced over a period of time.
Using words with spaced repetition has an awesome power, whether it is to motivate us, encourage us, or help us reach our goal.
Make it your goal to...
Find a motivational quote (you can find one here), and write this down. Give it a read at least twice a day - you'll be surprised at the result.
Choose a quote, write (or type) it out, and make it your affirmation. Try this for 21 days and see what happens. It must be 21 days though, and don't skip a day.
About The Author
Colin Dunbar created the eaziGOAL system, offering you 11 practical and proven goal setting tools to enable you to get what you want. Manual and workbook with goal setting worksheets.
http://www.eazigoal.com/goal-setting-tools.html.