How to Increase Your Drive

Why is it that some people keep going and keep working towards their goal, even when things are challenging, and others give up? Many people attribute this to motivation which does play a role, however, as a motivation expert, I can tell you that motivation alone won’t cut it. Motivation is defined as, “the general desire or willingness of someone to do something”. Being really clear about “why” you want to achieve something is tied to motivation, however, when you are working towards a goal and things get challenging, it can be very easy for motivation to decrease. Your desire to keep going is challenged when things get uncomfortable because it is human nature to want to stay in your comfort zone. 

Drive, on the other hand, is easier to sustain and can help you power through when things get hard. The definition of drive is, “an innate, biologically determined urge to attain a goal or satisfy a need”. While motivation taps into your “why” for doing something, drive taps into an even more powerful “why”. For example, if you said, “I am going to eat healthy because I want to lose weight”, that is an example of a “why”. However, if you tap into a deeper “why” and say, “I am going to eat healthy because I saw my mother suffer through pain and multiple medical issues before dying at a young age and I never want to end up like that”, you have a much stronger “why”. Your drive to stay on track with your goal will be much stronger with a deeper “why”, and, in this example, will allow you to skip the chips and dip in the immediate moment in order to continue to work towards what you want to achieve in the longer term. 

Drive involves both ambition and determination and is what will keep you disciplined to take action towards your goal, even when motivation dips. When things get uncomfortable, drive will keep pushing you forward when you want to go back to your comfort zone. There are things you can do to increase or maintain your drive. Once you start seeing the payoff of having drive, it is automatically reinforced and becomes easier to maintain.

6 strategies for increasing and maintaining your drive.

• Journal. Every day, journal about why your goal is important to you. Write down what it will look like when you achieve your goal. Then go deeper and write about how you will feel, how it will positively impact your life and the lives of others. Allow yourself to feel what it will be like. Do this consistently to keep your mind focused on the end game so that it does not try to pull you back into your comfort zone.

• Use visualization. Similar to journaling, use visualization to help pull you towards your goal. Sit quietly and close your eyes. Allow yourself to see what it will look like when you achieve your goal, and also allow yourself to visualize how you will keep going when it gets hard. Anticipate the challenges and then visualize yourself managing them and continuing towards your goal. Some people find that a vision board is a helpful tool that allows them to see what they are working towards on an ongoing basis.

• Use past successes. There are likely things that you have achieved in your life that, at one point, you did not think you could do. Have a list of a couple of these things and use them to remind yourself that you can do hard things and that you are capable of doing more than you sometimes think you can. 

• Have routines. When you have consistent routines, it can be easier to take action on the days you are not feeling it. Your brain will be less likely to talk you out of taking action because it will feel more like a habit that you do without overthinking it. In addition to having routines around when you will work on your goal, it is good to keep consistent routines around sleep, nutrition, staying hydrated, and exercise. They all build upon each other and help you feel your best mentally and physically so that you are better equipped to power through challenges.

• Don’t listen to the haters. This is your goal and your life. If there are people who don’t have your level of ambition or enthusiasm for your goal, don’t allow them to fuel any doubts you may already have. Not everyone will understand and that is okay. Just be sure you are not allowing them to airtime in your mind that will result in you backing away from what you really want. 

• Stay optimistic. When you notice your brain wanting to focus on “what if” you don’t achieve your goal, pause, and ask yourself, “what if” you DO achieve your goal. Your brain is wired to focus on the negative things, so when this happens, quickly redirect it to remain optimistic about your success. If you are having a hard time with this, go back to journaling or visualizing yourself achieving your goal. 

Having someone who fully supports you in working towards your goals is extremely helpful as well. This person will help you remember why you are working towards something, will help highlight the progress you are making, even when you feel like you are not where you want to be, and will help you address mindset blocks that may come up. If you don’t have someone in your life who fits this role, consider finding an online community, an accountability partner, or hiring a coach. Having someone else who is rooting for you can make a difference!

Live your best boss lady life!

~ Karen

Karen Vincent Solutions

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