5 Steps to Find the Motivation to Achieve Your Goals

It’s one thing to know you want to make a positive change in your life. It’s quite another to overcome the inertia of the status quo and actually take action.

Motivation doesn’t magically appear. It’s cultivated.

This is a topic we’ve explored extensively inside the Connect & Thrive Community, and in this post I’m sharing a few key insights from the lessons library to help you find and maintain the motivation to achieve your most important goals.

Step 1 – Acknowledge Why This Is Important

Before you focus on how, get crystal clear on why.

If you’re not fully bought into the value of achieving this goal, it simply won’t happen. When challenges arise (and they will), your “why” is what keeps you going.

Ask yourself:

• How will achieving this goal change my life for the better?
• What becomes possible if I follow through?
• How does this connect to a bigger vision I have for my life?

If you’re unhappy with the status quo but feeling stuck - or unsure what goals are truly worth pursuing - it may be time to pause and reflect.

The “What’s Important to Me Now?” online course inside the Connect & Thrive Community has helped hundreds of people around the world gain clarity on their personal priorities and understand why those priorities matter at this phase of life. Once you have that clarity, you can begin taking aligned action with confidence.

Step 2 – Design an Achievable Plan

A goal without a plan remains a wish.

If it’s a big goal, be realistic. Set a provisional timeline and work backwards to identify the steps required to get there. You may need to adjust your timeframe - and that’s okay. It’s far better to create a thoughtful plan than to pick an arbitrary deadline before understanding what’s involved.

For example: “I’m going to write and publish a best-selling book in 3 months” may sound motivating - but without mapping out the steps, it can quickly become discouraging.

Estimate how much effort each step will require. Identify dependencies - the things that need to happen before you can move forward. When your brain sees a structured path instead of a vague mountain, motivation increases.

Step 3 – Take It One Step at a Time

Big goals can feel overwhelming. That’s why breaking them down is essential.

Ask yourself:

• What can I realistically accomplish this week?
• What can I complete today?
• What small step would move this forward?

Determine how much time you can realistically allocate each day or week. When are you most energised and least likely to be interrupted?

You may need to rearrange your schedule, ask family or friends for support, or release commitments that no longer serve you. Creating space for what matters often requires letting go of something else.

Small, consistent steps create momentum - and momentum fuels motivation.

Step 4 – Celebrate Your Accomplishments

Progress is fuel.

It’s easy to finish something and immediately move on to the next task without pausing to acknowledge what you’ve achieved. But taking time to notice and celebrate your wins, however small, reinforces positive momentum.

When you consciously recognise your progress, you build confidence.

And on days when motivation feels low, you can look back and remind yourself: I’m making progress - I can do this.

Step 5 – Adjust as Required

Very few plans unfold exactly as expected.

That’s why builders include contingency budgets - they plan for the unexpected. Your goals deserve the same flexibility.

You will likely encounter setbacks. That’s normal. The key is not to interpret obstacles as failure.

If something isn’t working, pause and reflect:

• What needs adjusting?
• Is the timeline unrealistic?
• Do I need more support?

Be kind to yourself. Everyone faces challenges. Reconnecting with your “why” and making thoughtful adjustments keeps you moving forward.

Flexibility sustains motivation.

Final Thought…

Motivation doesn’t precede action - it follows it.

Taking action creates momentum. Inertia keeps us stuck.

Start small. Even five focused minutes toward an important goal can shift your energy and create forward movement.

If you’d like structured support to gain and sustain motivation, I invite you to consider joining the Connect & Thrive Community. You’ll gain access to three core courses, over 30 mini-lessons, and weekly live calls where members support and encourage one another as they create meaningful change in their lives.

You don’t have to do this alone.

Find out more HERE