Give yourself a gold star
Remember how rewarding it was in grade school to get back an assignment with a gold star sticker or some other tangible acknowledgement of a job well done? Well you can apply the same psychological boost to your goal-based activities today!
Sure, you could go about this in the literal sense, adding a sticker or some other item that makes you smile, such as a rubber stamp, to your daybook, calendar or goal-tracking sheet as a way to reinforce your successes. But why not get creative and offer yourself a more fitting reward? After all, you're a grown up now and your rewards should reflect this.
Ideas include:
Treat yourself to your favorite pastry or specialty coffee that you resist indulging in regularly.
Get a shirt or hat custom embroidered or screen printed (it's actually fairly inexpensive to do this) that reflects your successes. For example, your hat may sport a self-created logo for your goal, to be worn while actively engaged in goal-achievement activities. Or a shirt may have a message like "Ask me about my success!" to encourage others to help you pat yourself on the back.
Give yourself a motivational award. Businesses do this all the time with "Employee of the Month" mugs and recognition pins, certificates, gift pen sets, etc. These items are available fairly inexpensively at motivation gift stores and websites. Even better, present it to yourself at a fancy dinner (in or out) complete with a short acceptance speech thanking all the "little people" (your friends and family who are dining with you) that made it all possible. Want more fun? Do this for every major milestone on the way to your success!
Purchase some brightly colored window paint markers (available at any auto-parts store or department) and paint inspiring or congratulatory slogans, such as "Oh yeah, who's your daddy!" or "I'm number 1!" on the windows of your home and or vehicle, where you will see them often. Bonus points for painting it big enough to read from across the street - on the big picture window out front!
Buy a face painting or temporary tattoo kit (henna works also) and tattoo yourself with congratulatory or inspirational messages. Better yet, become your biggest fan and paint your whole face up, sports-fan style, in your favorite colors - and root for the home team (that's you) all day long.
Decorate a special dessert (cake, dessert pizza, big cookie, etc) in a congratulatory or inspirational theme with icing, sprinkles, etc. Set your creation in front of your plate to admire all through dinner.
Create a boosting, "rah-rah" set of email messages (or just one that repeats) and load them into an auto-responder mailing program. There are many available on the web, and some are free (their ads appear in your email). "Opt in" to this self-created newsletter of support and at pre-determined intervals, you'll find these little "fun-sized candy bars for the soul" in your inbox.
(c) Soni Pitts
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Soni Pitts is the Chief Visionary Butt-Kicker of sonipitts.com. She specializes in helping others reclaim "soul proprietorship" in their lives and to begin living the life their Creator always intended for them.
She is the author of the free e-book "50 Ways To Reach Your Goals" and over 100 self-help and inspirational articles, as well as other products and resources designed to facilitate this process of personal growth and spiritual development.
one time home cleaning Morton Grove .!Last month Along The Purpose Path was about how to... Read More
Who wants to carry on being a failure?Failure. Not a... Read More
Many years ago, forty to be exact, I started my... Read More
A wonderful quote by author and scholar William A. Ward... Read More
With three kids, a business, a husband with a business,... Read More
If you'd like to fulfill your long-held dreams, try a... Read More
Are you looking for the secret or magical formula for... Read More
Many of us have lost sight of what we really... Read More
Temp your way to the top Want to take the... Read More
Have a therapeutic meltdown It's crunch time: you're two days... Read More
On your journey to moving past using food to cope... Read More
Unexpected life changes. Anticipated transitions. Long, sleepless nights. What do... Read More
The gambling instinct is in every man or woman. All... Read More
When Julie looks through the lens of her camera she... Read More
If you called my office you will hear my voice... Read More
Make a game out of reaching your goals Go to... Read More
My studies of the highly successful prove that they continually... Read More
The entrepreneur game is filled with an amazing variety of... Read More
Courage is something that is reflected and reciprocated, and is... Read More
Does it surprise you that only 400 cokes were sold... Read More
As very few people achieve enlightenment in one lifetime, as... Read More
There is a disquieting trend emerging among women particularly -... Read More
What if I told you that you could be more... Read More
A couple days ago I was listening to a CD... Read More
There's always a first time to meeting people. We want... Read More
one time home cleaning Morton Grove .!I am constantly approached by people when I am speaking... Read More
Let me ask you a question? What must happen for... Read More
Absolutely no one can underestimate the power of the mind... Read More
"And when it rains on your parade, look up rather... Read More
Jim Rohn wrote in his book The Five Major Pieces... Read More
I spoke recently with the owner of a large clothing... Read More
There are no two greater ironic comparisons than that of... Read More
Every single one of us is trying to reach success.... Read More
The entrepreneur game is filled with an amazing variety of... Read More
It has been truly said, and history confirms, that the... Read More
If you're so smart, why ain't you rich?Becoming a millionaire... Read More
The purpose of man is in action not thought -... Read More
Every one of us lives with a ceiling, a belief... Read More
Something For You To Consider?How To Create What You Want... Read More
(Excepted from the book The Five Major Pieces to the... Read More
I wrote an article on this very subject, with the... Read More
Becoming successful is not easy. We all get tossed around... Read More
It's simple and powerful.The philosophy of successful people is often... Read More
Have you ever had such thoughts like "I always fall... Read More
For each of us, how successful we feel will depend... Read More
Are you ready to finally realize your dream? I'm talking... Read More
However there is one success secret that costs nothing. And... Read More
I thought this was unbelievable, but it's true.On average, security... Read More
How can anyone with the brain of a cockroach make... Read More
Friendly competition Get together with a group of like-minded friends... Read More
Success |