National Motivation and Inspiration Day
Kickstart Those New Year’s Resolutions with National Motivation and Inspiration Day
You made those resolutions for New Year’s Day, and now it is the second day of the New Year and time for …. Motivation!
Motivation Day was initiated after America’s history changed forever with the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Congress passed H. Res. 308 on 12/18/2001, and National Motivation and Inspiration Day became an official observance.
The founder of this day tells the story, “I created National Motivation & Inspiration Day after the tragic events of 9-11, because in all of the loss, despair and sadness, I saw Americans working side-by-side to accomplish amazing things,” says Kevin. L. McCrudden, who is also President of Motivate America.
Mr. McCrudden continued, “I have traveled all across America over the past decade and have spoken to a lot of people and many of them do not establish personal goals. I just feel that’s not right; that in a great country like America, where truly almost anything is possible, everyone should have their personal goals or ambitions, and the beginning of the year is a great time to begin that process.”
Great Motivators
– and what they have to say…
Zig Ziglar
“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing–that’s why we recommend it daily.”
“When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal; you do not change your decision to get there.”
“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great”
“Make today worth remembering.”
“Outstanding people have one thing in common: an absolute sense of mission”
“You are what you are and you are where you are because of what has gone into your mind. You change what you are and you change where you are by changing what goes into your mind.”
“Attitude, not Aptitude, determines Altitude.”
National Motivation and Inspiration Day
Seth Godin
“If a lens makes a penny or a nickel or a dime a day, it doesn’t seem like much until there’s a million of them.”
“You’d be amazed at how far you can go, if you commit to doing it, not merely talking about it.”
“The linchpin is an individual who can walk into chaos and create order, someone who can invent, connect, create, and make things happen. Every worthwhile institution has indispensable people who make differences like these. ”
“The indispensable employee brings humanity and connection and art to her organization. She is the key player, the one who’s difficult to live without, the person you can build something around. ”
Andrew Carnegie
“Take away my people, but leave my factories, and soon grass will grow on the factory floors. Take away my factories, but leave my people, and soon we will have a new and better factory.”
“The first man gets the oyster, the second man gets the shell.”
“No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself, or to get all the credit for doing it”
“Aim for the highest.”
Leo Barbauta
“The beginning of the year is a great time for renewal of energy and taking on the things we’ve always wanted to tackle — clutter, fitness, work we’re passionate about, debt, and so on. But it’s also a great time to clear out your life, starting out the year on a blank page that’s ready to be filled.”
“The life you have left is a gift. Cherish it. Enjoy it now, to the fullest. Do what matters, now.”
“Always think positive. Squash all negative thoughts. Monitor your thoughts. Be aware of your self-talk. We all talk to ourselves, a lot, but we are not always aware of these thoughts. Start listening. If you hear negative thoughts, stop them, push them out, and replace them with positive thoughts. Positive thinking can be amazingly powerful.”
Motivational Essentials
Succinct inspiration from the writer of “Zen Habits”, Leo Barbauta. His blog is one of my favorites for inspiration. The way it gives wisdom for paring away the frass and frustrations is really helpful.
A Good Nights Sleep
– is all the motivation some people need…
Sleep has been found to be important in many ways not dreamed of in years past. Benjamin Franklin wasn’t kidding when he coined “early to bed, early to rise, makes man healthy, wealthy and wise.”
Tips for Finding Motivation
Implement these on National Motivation and Inspiration Day.
- Get a Motto, or chose a Slogan for your year. Let it focus you.
- Keep a “Good Memory” box. It doesn’t have to be a box- it can be a journal, or a scrapbook, but it should be something where you regularly record and have a keepsake of good memories. Refer to it when you feel deflated and uninspired.
- Change direction. Do something different, if you feel in a slump.
- Don’t let excuses and distractions derail your goals, instead make a plan to say “no” early on to the easy slips and detours to your plan for the year. Instead make space for planned rest and a novel activity, after which you return to the tasks at hand.
- Clear, edit, and otherwise delete the too many demands on your life and time. Yes, do it again.
- Exercise… and eat a healthy meal. It might just cure the slump this time.
- Listen to something positive: music that is uplifting, a motivational sermon or teaching. Watch a motivational movie. Jumpstart!
Suggested Watching for Motivation and Inspiration Day
This is my husbands favorite movie… and he often says that when he is ready to throw in the towel, he remembers this scene: “just one more…”
Watch “Facing Giants” when you need inspiration and a heartwarming story.
January 2nd is National Motivation and Inspiration Day
A day dedicated to helping people set achievable goals each and every year
Motivational Biographies
Read Inspirational Stories from History
Real life stories can be stranger than fiction, but all the more inspirational to think that a person can impact their world when viewed in the perspective of history. Whether their story is one of success, or overcoming handicap, any of the ways that the human spirit reaches for the stars serves to motivate in our daily lives.
Some are famous people, others are people made famous only in the telling of their stories, but each biography can contribute to our realization that boundaries are often simply figments of imagination, and that we can reach beyond them to be the kind of person, with the kind of character, that we envision.
Biographies also serve to balance our view of what it takes to live a worthwhile life, or overcome difficulties. Understanding that not everyone has “the luck of the draw” but puts in “sweat, blood, and tears” effort to build their dream and vision into reality.
That can truly be inspiring.
Record and Track Your Goals for Success
“Statistically, we know that the top 3% of highly successful people write down and track their goals on an annual basis. If we know this to be true, then why doesn’t everyone establish annual goals and then set out to achieve them?” asks McCrudden, the founder of National Motivation and Inspiration Day.
More
Links to check out on National Motivation and Inspiration Day
- Motivational Speakers Hall of Fame
Motivational Speakers Hall of Fame – features and honors the worlds leading motivational speakers and keynote speakers - :zenhabits
Clearing Your Life for a New Year
