Motivate Yourself! Part 1: Giraffes, Driving and the Power of Positive Thought

We have all been there. An essay has been set that is in for two week’s time and maybe, after a cocktail or three at 44 Below, we decide with our girlfriends that starting up a daily routine of a run every morning is a fantastic plan.

We are, at first, very enthusiastic - rushing to the library to borrow every textbook that mentions the relevant topic, before heading straight to Sport’s Direct to splash out on some new trainers. And a water bottle. And some lycra. Once at home the desk is cleared and coloured pens are arranged in order of the rainbow, ready for the next morning. Laptop is aligned perfectly parallel to the wall and Post-it notes are lined up neatly, patiently awaiting use. Running kit is laid out, sports bra even tucked behind the radiator to warm it up before the 7am jog with the girls. You head to bed feeling READY.

But at 6:30 the next morning, the snooze button seems a far better idea than jogging down Pennsylvania Road. Besides, the drizzle will just make you cold and ill. So four hours later, eventually up, you think about starting that essay. Misfits was on last night though, and if you don’t watch it on 4od soon, it might be taken down- er Disaster much?! And you really must pop round to catch up with the goss about the hottie your mate took home the other night. Eventually, as Facebook, TV and coffee levels escalate over the following week, we find ourselves staring at an empty computer screen, desperately wondering how our assignment is going to get done by the following day’s deadline. New trainers haven’t even made it out of the box - you feel ashamed and useless.

Girls, it is time to take a stand. Let us no longer be the victims of procrastination and low self esteem!
 
 
The Power of Positive Thinking

Here’s an interesting thought… see what happens when you read the following sentence:

DON’T imagine a blue giraffe skateboarding down Exeter highstreet.

I am willing to bet that a good 99.999% of you definitely DID think of exactly that! The power of negative thought is quite daunting- often, the more we concentrate on the things that we don’t want to happen, the more we swing towards them - which is a good explanation for why, when learning to drive, we end up ‘Line Painting’ or ‘Hedge Trimming’ as my instructor used to put it and not going where we want to go!
 
 
So ladies, time to kick start a ‘can-do’ attitude.

Accepting compliments from others is a skill that I passionately believe should be engrained into ALL young people. I see so many girls in response to praise such as ‘Oh, your dress is gorgeous!’ or ‘I love your earrings tonight’ just brush it off and feel awkward. Next time someone compliments you, instead of hiding from it, simply say a grateful THANK YOU! You won’t come across as rude or cocky - if someone has gone to the trouble of telling you you look good, chances are they genuinely mean it!

You may not be a 1st Class degree, PHD whizz-woman working at NASA, but so what? You may be really arty, or able to cook the ultimate spaghetti cabonara. Focus on what you CAN do, and reap the benefits of feeling more confident and capable in order to achieve the more difficult tasks you are faced with.

(And if any one really does see a giraffe whizzing past Specsavers, then let me know!)