Super Motivated Mindset
by Dr Eugene Sern-Ting Tan
My Motivation Philosophy
I have always been fascinated by the power of the human mind, because I know that unlocking its secrets can help a person to maximize his or her fullest potential in life. To give you an analogy, a high-end computer with powerful hardware cannot run well without installing the right software.
Over the years, I learnt that it is important to formulate my own philosophy that works for me instead of simply following what the motivational gurus preach. Here, I would like to share the very best of my personal principles and philosophies that have worked well in creating a super motivated mindset that provides a driving force in my life.
1. Set Clear Goals
You have to know what exactly it is you want to achieve in life. A ship without a compass will just float aimlessly in the sea and will not arrive at any meaningful destination. I know there are people who don’t believe in goal setting and prefer to just “take things as they come”. Well, I used to be that kind of person until my junior college years when I started to set goals every year, and amazingly I achieved many of my goals and that was where my life really took off. If I have to rank all the success principles in terms of their importance, goal setting tops the list!
2. Grab Opportunities
Always be on the lookout for opportunities that will enhance or bring your life, relationships or career to the next level. Don’t let such opportunities slip away just because of some hesitation, small conflict, minor difficulty or because other people are not supportive. For instance, there was once when I was given an opportunity to speak at a seminar. I hesitated because it was very close to my exams and I might not have time to prepare for it. But I told myself that it is worthwhile to sacrifice my exam preparation time because such public speaking opportunities don’t come often, and it meant a lot to me. Looking back, I’m glad I made the right decision.
3. Focus
To do anything well, concentration is vital. Sometimes, because of other thoughts that are running through my mind, I may find it challenging to concentrate on the task at hand. But I always tell myself that I must maintain my focus, otherwise I’ll be wasting my time by being very inefficient. This applies especially for studying and preparing for exams. Strategies to improve your concentration include writing down what you need to do later (instead of remembering them), positive self-talk, increasing your motivation, regular exercise and adequate rest.
4. Don’t Compare
When I was younger, I used to always compare myself with my peers especially in terms of academic grades. One day, it dawned upon me that I should compete against myself and not compare myself with other people. This turned out to be one of the greatest philosophies that changed my life for the better and made me a much happier person! Every one of us is born unique, lives in different circumstances and faces different obstacles in our lives. Hence, you should develop the commitment to achieve your personal goals and overcome the unique challenges and obstacles that stand in your way, without incessantly comparing yourself with your friends or colleagues. (Note: This is not to say you should never compare yourself with others. Comparison can also be used constructively, for instance to improve on your shortcomings).
5. Believe In Yourself
If you don’t even believe in yourself, who will believe in you? I believe in my own abilities and I’m always looking to learn more and improve all areas of my life. Having a strong sense of self-belief gives me self-confidence in everything that I do. There is a story about a British medical student by the name of Roger Bannister who was also a track athlete. In the 1950s, scientists thought it was physically impossible for human beings to run a mile in under 4 minutes. However, Roger had tremendous self-belief in his ability to break the 4 minute barrier (in his mind, it wasn’t a barrier at all!), and after numerous failed attempts, he eventually managed to confound his critics and complete the mile in 3 minutes 59 seconds! Supreme self-belief is also key to Joseph Schooling’s historic gold medal and record-breaking triumph in the 100 metres butterfly swim at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”