I lacked motivation and direction—until I committed to these 8 behaviors

Once, I was a sailboat adrift. No wind in my sails, no compass to guide me. Just me, bobbing aimlessly on the sea of life.

Motivation and direction were foreign to me. I was just floating through life, letting the waves take me wherever they pleased.

Until one day, I decided to take the helm. To chart my own course. To commit to eight new behaviors that would change everything.

And let me tell you, it was no easy feat. But through trial and error, perseverance and patience, I started to see changes. Big ones.

Here’s my story, and how eight simple commitments turned me from a rudderless ship into a steadfast sailor with a clear destination in sight.

1) Embracing self-awareness

I was a ship without a compass, tossed by the winds of life.

That’s until I realized that the compass was within me all along. It was called “self-awareness”.

It’s easy to follow the crowd, to let others dictate your path. But when you’re in touch with your true self, you start to realize that you have your own unique path to follow.

For me, embracing self-awareness was like finding my true north. It gave me a direction, a sense of purpose.

It wasn’t always comfortable. Sometimes, it meant accepting harsh truths about myself. But as I did, I found the motivation that had eluded me for so long.

Suddenly, I wasn’t just drifting anymore. I had a destination, and I had the motivation to get there.

And all it took was looking inward and embracing what I found there.

2) Setting concrete goals

I used to dream big, but those dreams were just that – dreams. Hazy, intangible, and so far away they seemed impossible.

Then, I started setting concrete goals.

For example, I had always wanted to write a book. But it always seemed like a mountain too high to climb. Until I broke it down into smaller, more manageable goals.

I started with just writing a page a day. Then a chapter a week. Before I knew it, I had a completed manuscript in my hands.

By setting concrete goals, my dreams didn’t seem so far away anymore. They were right there within my reach, ready for me to grab hold of.

This was a turning point for me. Suddenly, I had direction. I knew exactly what I needed to do and how to get there. And most importantly, I was motivated to make it happen.

3) Cultivating resilience

Life is full of ups and downs. But here’s the thing: it’s not about how many times you fall, but about how many times you pick yourself up.

Resilience is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. In fact, research has shown that people who actively cultivate resilience are more likely to bounce back from failure and less likely to give up in the face of adversity.

This was my secret weapon. I worked on my resilience, on my ability to withstand setbacks and keep going. And as I did, I found that my motivation and direction grew stronger too.

Because when you’re resilient, no obstacle seems too big, no goal too far away. You see every setback as an opportunity for growth, and every failure as a stepping stone towards success.

4) Living authentically

To be authentic means to be true to oneself. It means embracing your strengths, acknowledging your weaknesses, and aligning your actions with your values.

This was a game changer for me. I realized that I didn’t have to live up to anyone else’s expectations or standards but my own. The only person I needed to impress was myself.

Living authentically gave me a sense of purpose and direction that I had never experienced before. It fueled my motivation, as I was no longer striving for external validation, but for personal fulfillment and growth.

It’s not always easy to live authentically in a world that often expects conformity. But it’s worth it. Because when you’re true to yourself, you’re living life on your own terms, and there’s no greater motivation than that.

5) Prioritizing self-care

In my quest for motivation and direction, I learned an invaluable lesson: you can’t pour from an empty cup.

I used to push myself relentlessly, often at the expense of my health and well-being. But I quickly learned that this was a surefire way to burnout.

So I started prioritizing self-care. I made sure to get enough sleep, eat healthy, exercise regularly, and take time out for relaxation and leisure activities.

And the difference was staggering. I felt more energetic, more focused, and more motivated than ever before. I realized that taking care of myself wasn’t a luxury—it was a necessity.

Because when you’re in good shape physically, mentally, and emotionally, you’re better equipped to navigate life’s challenges and pursue your goals with determination and resolve.

6) Embracing failure

Failure is often seen as something to be avoided at all costs. But I started to see it in a different light.

Instead of seeing failure as a setback, I began to view it as a teacher. It was an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to improve.

Every time I fell short of a goal, I took the time to understand what went wrong and how I could do better next time. This shift in perspective was empowering.

Instead of being demotivated by failure, I was motivated by it. It pushed me to try harder, to dig deeper, and to keep going even when the odds were stacked against me.

Don’t be afraid of failure. Embrace it. Because every failure brings you one step closer to success.

7) Practicing consistency

The secret to success is not in doing extraordinary things, but in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well, over and over again.

I learned that consistency was key. It wasn’t enough to be motivated and have a direction—I also needed to be consistent in my efforts to reach my goals.

Whether it was writing daily, exercising regularly, or sticking to my self-care routine, I made sure to do it consistently. Even on days when I didn’t feel like it.

And slowly but surely, I started seeing results. My motivation increased, my direction became clearer, and my dreams started turning into reality.

Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. It takes consistent effort over time to build something worthwhile. So keep going, even when progress seems slow. Because every step you take brings you closer to your dreams.

8) Cultivating a growth mindset

Ultimately, it all comes down to mindset. I learned that having a growth mindset—believing that abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—is fundamental.

With a growth mindset, obstacles become opportunities for learning, challenges become stepping stones for growth, and effort becomes the pathway to mastery.

This belief transformed my perspective. It gave me the courage to step out of my comfort zone, the resilience to persist in the face of difficulties, and the motivation to keep pushing forward.

A growth mindset is not just about believing you can improve. It’s about believing in the power of effort, embracing challenges, and seeing potential in every setback.

So cultivate a growth mindset. Believe in your capacity to grow and learn. Because when you do, there’s no limit to what you can achieve.

Reflections on the journey

If you’ve come this far, you’ll likely have realized that finding motivation and direction is not an overnight process. It’s a journey filled with self-reflection, trial and error, and most importantly, growth.

It’s about understanding yourself better, setting tangible goals, embracing failure as a learning opportunity, and cultivating consistency and resilience. It’s about living authentically and taking care of yourself.

But above all, it’s about fostering a growth mindset—the belief that our abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work.

As Carol Dweck, a renowned psychologist and researcher said, “In a growth mindset, challenges are exciting rather than threatening. So rather than thinking, oh, I’m going to reveal my weaknesses, you say, wow, here’s a chance to grow.”

So as you reflect on your own journey towards finding motivation and direction, remember this: every step, no matter how small, is progress. And every setback is not a step backward but a stepping stone towards growth.

Because in the end, it’s not just about reaching the destination—it’s about who you become along the way.