With this business in mind and my impending graduation, setting goals for myself is critical.
But as I’ve mentioned before, I’m really bad at finishing what I start. So as I’ve been obsessively researching freelancing, I’ve also been obsessively researching how to stay motivated. I’ve been practicing The Law of Attraction, saying positive affirmations out loud, and scouring through inspiring Pinterest quotes. Honestly, they’ve been kind of working! But reading Morgan Harper Nichols quotes daily, as uplifting as they are, aren’t quite enough to keep the negativity at bay.
A Stroke of Inspiration from an Impulsive Newsletter Sign Up
Enter: The Good Trade‘s daily newsletter, The Daily Good. Every morning I get sent an email that links to emotionally moving songs, podcasts, aesthetically pleasing photos, and articles from the online magazine.
The first article I read was eerily exactly what I was looking for. The writer, Emily Torres, wrote about how to set meaningful and achievable goals in 2019, and I couldn’t have clicked the link fast enough.
I was expecting a list of steps and clichés, but what her advice resonated with me. The gist of it is: the only way to have the motivation to achieve your goals is to find your why.
It’s simply asking yourself why something is your goal, instead of only asking yourself how you’re going to achieve it. Why do you need this goal? Why is it so important? If you can find something meaningful in your why, it gives you a reason to actually put forth the effort, rather than just getting it done.
Finding My Why
Let’s take my freelance writing for example.
I could say “I want to freelance write because I want to make money.”
Well, working at McDonald’s could make me money. So I have to dig deeper than that.
“I want to freelance write because I want to make enough money so that I don’t have to work for someone else.”
A little better, right? But still not deep enough to make me jump out of my chair. Freelance writing is going to take a lot of dedication and hours, so focusing purely on money won’t be enough.
Now, my why is:
“I want to freelance write so I can have money for my freedom. I’m not looking to be rich, just independent. I want to keep my septum ring, get tattoos when I want them and not have to ask if that’s socially acceptable. I crave the freedom to travel; I’ll either take my work with me or take a day off without having to ask someone. I’d be able to have a sick day without having to get it approved. I’d have the ability to take a mental health day if I need it.
I can spend time with my significant other and ultimately (far down the road) I’ll have time to spend with our kids. I can work in my PJ’s or dress up a little and sit in a coffee shop. I’ll be able to set my own hours because God knows I’m not a morning person. And I’ll finally find the time to workout….but I’ll have to find my why for that too.”
Get it? Getting to the root of my goal is what is going to motivate me. Maybe for some people money is their motivator and that’s completely understandable. But for me, it boils down to values and my disdain for being told what to do. It’s been that way since I was a little girl and I can’t see that changing any time soon.
Finding Your Why Everyday
Finding your why doesn’t have to be about big goals either, it can be little goals as well. By using this exercise I’ve realized that I subconsciously do this anyway.
Example: getting out of bed so I can go to class in the morning.
Saying “my goal is to go to class so that I don’t get penalized for missing a day” isn’t and never has been a motivator for me. I’ll find some other excuse like “oh someone will just send me the notes” or “someone will sign me in” (that’s cheating don’t do that).
So, my real motivator has to be “my goal is to go to class so that I can get a croissant from the bookstore on my way there.” Boom, motivator. It’s the little things people.
It’s Still Not Easy
Although my mindset is changing, it’s still hard to combat the negativity some days. I’m still anxious I won’t succeed. It is day two of school and I’m already tired when I get home – thus I have to force myself to write. I have to get over my anxiety-hump that’s preventing me from pitching to writing jobs. But I’ll get there. I’ll continue to state my why everyday. I truly believe by keeping this mindset and working little by little, I’ll see my goals through in 2019.
