Today we’re talking about something essential to everyone’s personal growth journey: creating your own motivational thoughts.
Motivational thoughts are not just about positive thinking or reciting famous quotes. While those have their place in shaping our mindset, real motivation comes from within—it’s about finding the thoughts that resonate with you personally and propel you into action.
The first key is understanding exactly what motivational thoughts do for you.
In the simplest form, they help you take action to get results you want. But here’s the thing: what motivates each of us is unique. It's not just about finding a quote that sounds nice or a mantra that feels good to say. It's about experimenting and discovering the thoughts that are most effective for getting you up and moving.
I’ll share some of my favorite quotes that help me align my thoughts with motivation.
“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” —Winston Churchill. He also said, “The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.”
“I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.” —Estée Lauder
“Goal setting is the secret to a compelling future.” —Tony Robbins. He also said, “Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.”
“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work in hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.” —Alexander Graham Bell
“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.” —Steve Jobs. He also said, “Life can be much broader once you discover one simple fact: Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you. And you can change it, you can influence it. … Once you learn that, you’ll never be the same again.”
“You can’t be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute.” —Tina Fey
“Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.” ―Theodore Roosevelt. He also said, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
“Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively; unless you can choose a challenge instead of competence.” ―Eleanor Roosevelt
“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing—that’s why we recommend it daily.” —Zig Ziglar. He also said, “You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”
“I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific.” —Lily Tomlin
“I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.” —Stephen R. Covey
“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” —Warren Buffet
“Worry is a misuse of imagination.” —Unknown
“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” —Henry Ford
“The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” —the author of Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand
And finally:
"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity" - Albert Einstein
Imagine any of your current difficult situations. You don’t feel like dealing with it, and you’re just sitting there, stuck. Now, play around with the idea of opportunity coming from difficulty. Picture yourself in the future, explaining to a friend how you turned this difficulty to your advantage. Imagine the pride in your voice and the feeling of accomplishment as you recount how you overcame adversity. This is one way to create your own motivational thought, unique to you.
Or perhaps, instead of a conversation, you imagine yourself being interviewed someday about how you overcame this tough time. The key is to find a scenario that speaks to you, one that makes the thought powerful enough to pull you out of your slump.
Motivational thoughts are highly personal. The ones that work for you are the ones you need to be thinking.
This is part of the new PEARL creation we do in coaching. The old PEARL deals with how we are handling a situation, but the new PEARL deals with how we want to handle it. Motivating ourselves is important in shifting our paradigm to align with the results we want to achieve.
The second key is to learn how you personally are motivated.
The process of finding your own motivational thoughts is really about getting to know how your mind works. It’s about experimenting with different scenarios and seeing what clicks for you. For instance, I’ve found that explaining my ideas to someone else can really light a fire under me. When I’m feeling unmotivated about creating content, I’ll talk through my idea for an episode with my husband or a friend. By the end of the conversation, I’m usually excited and ready to dive in.
So, how do you learn what motivates you? Start by paying attention to what naturally gets you excited or driven. Maybe visual thoughts are more powerful for you than verbal ones. If that’s the case, try picturing images in your head that inspire you. Jump on pinterest or google a phrase you’re thinking about and see what others are saying about it.
Or perhaps you’re motivated by proving people wrong. When someone says you can't do something, does it ignite a burning desire in you to prove them otherwise? If so, lean into that. Imagine those naysayers doubting you, and let that vision fuel your efforts.
If the thought of financial instability or lack makes you get up and get to work, then keep that thought in your arsenal.
The goal is to get creative in your motivational experiments. Your mind is like a lab, and you’re the scientist. Test different ideas, thoughts, and scenarios until you find the ones that resonate deeply and get you moving. Would it help for you to write out your own motivational thoughts everyday? Or just once and read them out loud each morning? Or to look up motivational quotes each day to get your mind moving?
I love the First 5 app from Proverbs 31 Ministries.
Live in Grace, Walk in Love by Bob Goff
by Christine Caine
And The Well-Watered Woman: Rooted in Truth, Growing in Grace, Flourishing in Faith by Gretchen Saffles
And it goes without saying, look to the Word to motivate you as well.
Proverbs 3:5–6 - “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
2 Timothy 1:7 - “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Jeremiah 29:11 - “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Isaiah 40:31 - “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Philippians 4:13 - “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Joshua 1:9 - “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
It’s also good to know how to motivate yourself through rewards.
Let’s be honest: sometimes, we’re faced with tasks that are just... uninspiring. There’s no thought or scenario that can make them feel exciting or worthwhile. For these moments, a different strategy can be useful: motivating yourself with a reward.
Think about something that truly means a lot to you—something that you’d really look forward to. It could be a trip to the beach, a special dinner, or even something as simple as enjoying a bowl of your favorite ice cream. Promise yourself this reward upon completing that dreaded task, and hold onto that thought. Let the promise of that reward keep you motivated.
It’s all about finding what works for you. The reward doesn’t have to be grand; it just needs to be meaningful enough to motivate you to persevere.
As we wrap up, remember this: motivation isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s personal, it’s unique, and it’s entirely up to you to discover what thoughts propel you forward. Whether it’s imagining future successes, proving doubters wrong, or simply looking forward to a reward, the thoughts that work for you are the ones that matter.
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