Be Accountable and Make a Change
April 19, 2012 in Inspiration Station
Original image by Wade Griffith
Do you sit here and read this blog a few times a week; get motivated to do something/change something/embark on something, and then another week goes by and you wonder what happened to that idea from the previous week? If not, congratulations! You’re one of the few that acts on their motivation alone and gets things done. If you are, join the club (I’m right there with you).
I am often inspired by amazing game-changers. People that are doing something so incredible that I wonder what I’m doing with my meagre little life. Why am I not creating something that will blow people away? Why have I not started my journey to greatness by doing X, Y, Z when I said I was going to do it six months ago?
It’s not that we’re necessarily lazy, it’s just that motivation and inspiration can only take you so far. Determination and pure stubbornness is sometimes needed to get things done. Anyone can feel motivated but not everyone can take that motivation and use it to steamroll over the largest roadblock – their fear.
No matter how incredible anyone is; whatever they’ve said or written that inspires you, won’t make change happen. Even if something they say or write sparks a fire in your belly and it is then further fuelled by other writers or supportive friends, this doesn’t mean you will make it happen.
I have found the best motivator for me is to be held accountable. I am constantly doing this on my blog (because otherwise nothing would get done). Every week I have the 52 Delights Project in which I say what I’m going to trial that week and then I have to report back on how it went the following week. It means that I have to follow through because I know that you will be asking me how I found it or how it felt! I posted that I was going to stop biting my nails back in December and it was the only thing that has worked in 26 years. 26 years people!
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I want you to write something in the comments, something that you desperately want, no NEED to do STAT. Something that will move your life in the direction that you’ve been dreaming. It doesn’t have to be a big step, it can be a tiny shuffle. But it has to be something you’ve struggled to achieve, something you’ve been putting off and can’t quite seem to tick off the list.
You then have a fortnight to get this in motion. I am going to email you. Yes, every single one of you to follow-up and make sure you’ve made that step. Accountability is a powerful tool and we’re going to use it to get some sparkling, explosive, positive action in your life!
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I can’t wait to see what your step is – leave one in the comments and we’ll all be accountable.
What a great idea!! Funny how these things come up at the same time – at the end of pilates today, during meditation, our teacher was talking about a similar thing, that we should focus on something that we want to let go, a habit that we want to change, etc. So many things went through my head but the one thing for my life that resonated was to replace feelings of anxiety with confidence.
So often I feel like I am in too deep, especially while learning new things medicine related and interacting with patients – and I realise that acting confident is a massive part of improving and making people feel confident in me, especially when I am holding something sharp ;) Not sure how can be implemented in this regard in 2 weeks but being held accountable will be fantastic!!!
On a project sort of level, I am still working on releasing a cookbook for fellow students (that I planned to get out in January), and I think 2 weeks is long enough to make some serious progress! Thanks for the motivation and for another inspiring post!
Thanks Jas! It is always fascinating to see the universe reminding you of what needs to be done/changed in different places, isn’t it? I hope this post has acted as a little nudge and will keep those goals in the forefront of your mind. I’ll be emailing you soon to check! ;)
This is awesome. I love that I found your blog. It is truly inspiring!
For me, it’s YOGA. I’m the most unflexible person… and I horseback ride. I need it for that. For probably 4 months I’ve been saying I need to stretch, I’m going to stretch and then don’t.
This is the time. I need to do this, I want to do this.
Thank you for the push!
xoxo
Oh wow, thank you Jasmine – thrilled to hear that you’re a fan! :)
I know exactly how you feel re the commitment to yoga. It’s always the first thing to fall off in my wellbeing routine which is silly because it’s one that always showers me with benefits when I take the time to do it. Hope the push has been a good one! x
Great idea! I need to start meditating and doing yoga. Stat. Like…yesterday. My anxiety and lack of inner peace is getting a lil’ ridiculous. Thanks for this, love your blog!
Great to have you on board! Inner peace is a wonderful change to aim for Rachel – can’t wait to see how you’re going with it! x
This is so true!!
Like the other two above, I’ve been telling myself for the past four months now to go back to Zumba (the only form of exercise I’ve ever gotten into or ever enjoyed). My anxiety and poor physical health as a result of this has stopped me, and now well I’m just scared that I’m not strong enough – even though I know I am.
Two weeks – it’s on!
x x
Ooh I do love me a bit of Zumba. You are definitely strong enough Taylah! Hope you’re kicking those fears to the curb! xx
What a great idea!!! I agree, no matter how many inspiration boards someone makes, motivation always has to be upped a little more to really accomplish something. I find that accountability doesn’t ALWAYS work for me – sometimes, it does the opposite effect because I’ll start to feel nagged and intruded upon and I’ll kind of subconsciously rebel against accomplishing it (crazy, I know) – but I think in this case it’ll work.
What I need to get done in 2 weeks: apply for summer jobs! Seriously, I should’ve gotten this done over a month ago, even if retail stores are only looking at summer hiring in the next few weeks – I still should’ve been on the game during spring break 2 months ago. In the next 2 weeks, I want to apply EVERYWHERE I can think of in the downtown area, give in my resumes in person, fill out an application and give it in in person, email my resume, or fill out an application online, whatever the store requires.
Thanks for helping with the accountability part! Maybe I’ll pass it on to my own blog, I’m sure it’ll help someone…
- Laura :)
You are definitely right re motivation, and it’s one of the hardest things to manifest I think. I hope my little email doesn’t come across as bagging or intruding! ;)
I think having someone checking in on you can be great because you are aware that someone is keen to see you progress and wants to hear about the outcome. Best wishes for the job hunt! xx
Awesome post! Couldn’t have said it better myself! ;)
I NEED to get that e-book finished. I have written more than 3000 words already, and I think it’s going to be awesome. But then life happens and I’m always super busy.
THIS TIME.
Darling, I KNOW it’s going to be awesome – get it out there!! xx