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.
Batchtown Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareOne of the common elements you see in almost all... Read More
Ten years ago I went into the studio and recorded... Read More
Anytime you are making ground and moving toward success, there... Read More
Your Head, think about what you want and move towards... Read More
IF and WHEN were friends. Every week they met and... Read More
Identity theft!We've all seen them. The commercials use the voices... Read More
Have you ever thought about how you want to live,... Read More
Thoughts move faster than the speed of light.Expectations jump faster... Read More
Do you sometimes feel that you're living a boring life?... Read More
Make a game out of reaching your goals Go to... Read More
Unexpected life changes. Anticipated transitions. Long, sleepless nights. What do... Read More
People say: "One can't help one's thoughts." But one can.... Read More
Routinely, I rise out of bed before the birds, and... Read More
Can anyone become a successful businessperson? I am asked this... Read More
Does your life feel less than fulfilling? Are you waiting... Read More
Does the thought of failure send a cold shiver down... Read More
No matter how young or old you are, you must... Read More
What makes you unique? Answering this question will provide the... Read More
I don't need to be a gypsy fortune teller to... Read More
What do you need to have for a successful business?... Read More
If you are sick and tired of the dreaming phase... Read More
Every one of us lives with a ceiling, a belief... Read More
"I am the greatest warrior. I have fought with gods... Read More
To make change effective, you have to BE what you... Read More
If you were to evaluate the major influences in your... Read More
shuttle from Midway Munster are ..Success is something that happens all by itself once you've... Read More
Perfect the fine art of the end run From time... Read More
Let me ask you a question? What must happen for... Read More
Visualize success, and what you'll do to reward yourself A... Read More
People have a tremendous capacity for outstanding achievement. There are... Read More
I am unashamed to copy the peak performance techniques of... Read More
To achieve what you want, what you desire, needs a... Read More
When you look into the eyes of a winner, what... Read More
Why is true success so rare?Why does research show that... Read More
What would one initially think about someone who dropped out... Read More
Did you know you can literally program your mind so... Read More
Clown around Among the Plains Indians, heyoka, or sacred clowns,... Read More
This past Memorial Day weekend I decided to revisit my... Read More
One of the questions that I am asked most often... Read More
1)Failure is normal.Everyone has faced failure. Some people talk about... Read More
One of the inevitabilities of University life is the examination.... Read More
Your personal image: It's the most important YOU asset you... Read More
What does success look like to you? Our culture often... Read More
Hey Future Millionaire,There's so much value in reading about the... Read More
Recently, I have been riveted by the amazing reality show... Read More
Greatness is all around us. From Oprah to Bill Gates... Read More
There is one big "secret" to success that can help... Read More
(Excerpted from the 1999 Weekend Seminar audio/CD series)Parents, leaders, employers,... Read More
Before we can unlock human potential, we need to know... Read More
The ten-year period which followed the stock market crash of... Read More
Success |