Think of what it feels like on the day before you leave to go on a long-awaited and eagerly anticipated vacation. It’s a day on which nothing can get you down. You’re happy to work more diligently than usual, because you want to make sure you arrange for everything to continue smoothly while you’re gone. In fact it may be the most productive day you have all year. That’s a good thing, because you have no choice but to get the work done. It simply won’t wait until tomorrow.
What if every day could be like the day before vacation? Just think of how much more you would accomplish over the course of a year. When you think about it, the day before vacation is no different than any other day. The outer circumstances are no different than any other day. The challenges are certainly no less challenging — in fact they’re probably more so. What makes the day different is your attitude.
So what is it that gives you such a positive, empowered attitude? It’s the fact that you have something specific and personally meaningful to look forward to. On the day before vacation, you’re acutely aware of a clearly defined and positively exciting goal, a goal you created by planning your vacation.
The great thing is, you can have that on any day. Think about what excites you, and motivates you, and inspires you more than anything else. Whatever it is, find a way to constantly remind yourself of it by making it into a clearly defined goal. Keep it at the front of your mind.
The goals you set for yourself aren’t nearly so important for what they are as for what they push you to become. We are goal-seeking creatures. We need something to be enthusiastic about, to work toward, to look forward to. Provide that for yourself, and every day can be joyous and productive.
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