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.
cheap limo service Lombard .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareThe ultimate expression of life is not a paycheck. The... Read More
Hey Future Millionaire,There's so much value in reading about the... Read More
"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.... Read More
From time to time I receive correspondence from individuals with... Read More
Every one of us lives with a ceiling, a belief... Read More
A few weeks ago I took my boy on a... Read More
Please repeat these four words out loud: "Maximum Impact....Minimal Touch"... Read More
In a recent article (What is The Ultimate Lifestyle), I... Read More
Lesson 1. Category Well Being Plan to do this.Stop blaming... Read More
Everything you will ever have and accomplish in life will... Read More
You have been preparing for months. You are in position... Read More
In 1989, when the Berlin Wall came down and the... Read More
Much has been researched, written and taught about success. One... Read More
As kind of a hobby I like to watch people.... Read More
On March 27th 2005, Oxford won the annual boat race... Read More
1. Differentiate yourself using a Personal Value Proposition. A PVP... Read More
You have complete control over your thoughts. Thought patterns develop... Read More
What if I told you that you could be more... Read More
Far too many of us struggle through life despite more... Read More
It sounds simple- right? You are where you THINK you... Read More
A couple days ago I was listening to a CD... Read More
Understand and apply this one secret to your own life,... Read More
Self-esteem is very important. It is the way we view... Read More
One of the most common refrains I hear from people... Read More
Here are 3 powerful steps you can take to free... Read More
limo O'Hare Glen Ellyn ..With the long-term trend of protecting employees' individual self esteem... Read More
If you were to evaluate the major influences in your... Read More
Wow, what an outrageous claim! Why do I say this?... Read More
If you are not experiencing perfect, harmonious, pressure-free life experiences... Read More
Did you know that your past, present, and future can... Read More
A farmer in Pennsylvania decided to sell his farm, but... Read More
No one wants to fail. But when in business you... Read More
You're considering a new career, new place to live or... Read More
I confess, I love westerns. There is nothing like those... Read More
Why do you need to know your focus when joining... Read More
Most self-help truths are obvious but obvious truths are often... Read More
If you ask most people whether they would like to... Read More
The HungryIn May of 2005 there were over 2 million... Read More
Imagine that right now, right here, today? there is within... Read More
Success isn't all that it's cracked up to be... I'm... Read More
How's the weather there?We use small talk to connect with... Read More
When you are working over time but yet you do... Read More
Self-improvement; A great deal has been written on the subject,... Read More
When you look into the eyes of a winner, what... Read More
Do you feel like your stuck?No matter what you do,... Read More
Choose "impossible" goals When faced with a hard-to-reach goal, your... Read More
Sometimes success is found through the things that you don't... Read More
"Most people don't plan to fail. They just fail to... Read More
Find a higher reason to reach your goal than just... Read More
There is a close link between respect for another person's... Read More
Success |