The Breathing Prosperity blog

We so often hear words and phrases like goalsetting, commitment, motivation and persistence that they have become modern-day cliches. Have you noticed that they have also become ‘bad’ words in some ways?

Somehow these concepts have been bandied about in so many success seminars and by so many personal development teachers, that they have lost their meaning, or worse, have come to invoke negative feelings in people. More than one otherwise positive person has passed a motivational poster – say, a picture of a mountain climber with a ‘go-get-‘em phrase printed on it - and rolled their eyes.

Perhaps this is because these words and phrases have become synonymous with words like winner, achiever, top performer, success and happiness…so if you are not, or do not have, these things in your life – yet – then how do those words make you feel? Awful! Inadequate, not-enough…one way ticket to Loserville. Instead of being inspiring, these concepts then become intimidating, overwhelming and de-motivating.

How can we fix this, and is it worth it to try? The answers can only be found in one place – within ourselves. Coincidentally enough, it is when we compare ourselves to others and feel we come up short that these words take on negative meanings for us. If, instead, we turn our focus inward and decide what is important enough to us that we choose to strive for it with all our efforts and intention, then and only then will we feel the internal motivation and inspiration that caused these words and phrases to be coined in the first place. If we are defining success by any standards other than our own, it is no wonder we feel overwhelmed and under-inspired. Who wants to run at full-tilt to accomplish someone else’s goals?

The key to having these words sparkle with joy and deep meaning for you is to create your own, very personal goals based on the life YOU want to live, and the things YOU want to experience in it. No one else can decide any of this – only you. The rewards will be worthwhile, because they are decided and accomplished by you. TRY IT – YOU’LL SEE!