We have all had them as we set and go after our goals, no matter where we are or what our goals may be: naysayers, detractors, people who poke fun or get angry, or who simply tell us we can’t do it.
Contributors get noticed and attract new friends and opportunities easily, and contributing is much easier than you might assume
"Over the course of five years, I've managed to pay off over $35,000 in debt, quit my day job, and go from having nothing saved to fully funding my retirement accounts every year. In the process, I've developed a 14-point philosophy."
The color red can affect how people function: Red means danger and commands us to stop in traffic.
Worried you won't meet your goal? According to research, you'll be more likely to succeed if you make specific plans to implement it.
If you want to make a difference in the world, the single most important thing you can do is consciously and deliberately choose to do work that you are passionate about.
What is a mind map? Put simply, it's a type of diagram, used to help you outline information in a visual format. But really, a mindmap can be anything you need it to be.
But when a task is presented as fun, researchers report in a new study, the same individuals often do worse than those who are less motivated to achieve.
You win some, you lose some. Such are life's ups and downs.
The authors of this study looked closely at the ways beginners versus experts respond to negative or positive feedback.
I make a living doing what I love, and doing what you love for a living is fantastic.
One of the biggest challenges in meeting any goal, whether it be related to productivity, waking early, changing a habit, exercising, or just becoming happier, is finding the motivation to stick with it.
Whether it's sports, poker or the high-stakes world of business, there are those who always find a way to win when there's money on the table.
Unconscious motivation plays a substantial role in how we respond to challenges. Find out how much.
For some people, neither the carrot nor the stick will serve as a motivational tool
Research suggests that it is pro athlete's ability to manage his goals, as well as his skill, determination and motivation that makes him successful.
Reading teaches us a lot, but it’s in the actual doing of things that we do our real learning.
The prolific life has been characterized by abundant inventiveness and limitless creativity, and has been enshrouded in a veil of mystery - the sources of artistic inventiveness are too often viewed as out-of-reach for the average person.
There are a lot of people who read self-improvement blogs and books, but never put them into action. Are you one?
I couldn't motivate myself to do anything important this morning, which is a rare thing for me. I started to doubt myself, and wonder whether anything I do is worthwhile.
When dreaming is believing: Dreams affect people's judgment, behavior
Too often we get stuck in inaction -- the quagmire of doubt and perfectionism and distractions and planning that stops us from moving forward.
Procrastination, the habit of putting tasks off to the last possible minute, can be a major problem in both your career and your personal life. Side effects include missed opportunities, frenzied work hours, stress, feeling overwhelmed, resentment and guilt.
Keep refreshing your goals in your mind, so you think about them often. Here are some ways to do just that.
It turns out passion is not as elusive as we think.
A big part of self-discipline comes from social pressure. This is how people in the military can become very disciplined, particularly in special forces. They don’t want to hold their team back, so they have to do their best.
Little research exists in the area of self-talk, although internal dialogue often influences the way people motivate and shape their own behavior.
It's hard to keep yourself going when you don’t feel the same excitement as you did in the beginning.
If you accept a job, a relationship, or a lifestyle that you merely tolerate -- but don't appreciate -- you’re putting other concerns ahead of your own happiness.
Pride in success can prevent us from taking further action toward our goals. We should not allow our brains to convince us that a failure is a success just so that we can stop trying.