Never Give Up
How to Stay Motivated
Finding your dream can take minutes or years. Some people are lucky enough to find the things they love to do early in life, others try out different things until they find the one that lights them up inside. That may sound strange, but it is true, when you find your passion, it will feel like you’re buzzing with electricity inside.
Finding your dreams happens in many different ways, from seeing it in a movie to trying for the first time. The hardest part is staying motivated, both while you are searching and even after you find it.
Never let anyone tell you that you can’t do it or poison your mind with doubt. There are a few tricks to help you stay positive and motivated.
Tips for staying motivated
- Find mentors, for example, someone you look up to who is experienced in the field you want to enter. Sports, medicine, flying, music, art, writing, engineering, it doesn’t matter what the field, there is someone out there doing it, so follow them.
- Surround yourself with positive people. This can be difficult sometimes and it may take a while to find them, in the meantime watch YouTube clips or listen to podcasts that help you stay in the motivated zone.
- Set a goal, if you have people around you who bring you down then don’t tell them, keep it to yourself, write it down or confide in a mate you trust.
- Allow yourself to change or update your goal. As we grow different experiences can influence us, make us see things differently. As long as the goal remains a happy one that fills you with excitement, it is fine to change it.
- Keep the momentum up, even if it’s just 5 minutes a day. Then the next day try for 6 minutes and keep increasing it until it becomes part your daily routine.
This is not easy, it takes work to achieve your dreams, but we have to start somewhere and you visiting this website can be your start.
One thing to remember is if you do something you love then practicing getting better is fun.
You may need to search until you find the people whose words speak to you. Keep looking, keep listening, keep reading and never give up.
Here are a few people I follow and listen to over and over when I need a reminder or when I need a pick me up.
Some of these people are stars in the own right, but they all have one thing in common, they all worked hard and had to overcome negative comments and trials to get where they are now. Listen, watch and learn.
Audio Books and Journals
The Urbana Gardens Chronicles
Six original audio stories with diverse characters, growth mindset messages and important life lessons.
The story characters will become your child’s role models teaching them about age-appropriate topics such as believing in yourself, empathy, kindness, loyalty and honesty, all in an entertaining way. LINK
Growth Mindset Kit
For Tweens/Teens PDF (ages 11+)
Growth Mindset Printable Kit for Teens
and Tweens is a collection of reflective
writing prompts, posters, activities, and
colouring pages designed for ages 11 and above. LINK
Journals Bundle
Boost confidence and resilience with these fun,
science-based journals for your kids, tweens, and teens.
This bundle includes Big Life Journal
for Kids (ages 7-10) and Big Life Journal
Tween/Teen Edition (ages 11+). LINK
RECOMMENDED PODCASTS
The Socially Awkward
When it comes to podcasts for teenagers, this is one for every teen out there who has ever felt awkward… like ever. Your weird awkwardness is actually pretty normal. LINK
Science Friday
Perfect for teens who dig anything science-related, Science Friday covers everything from the outer reaches of space to the tiniest microbes in our bodies.
Teen Girl Talk
Join siblings Franklin and Susie Cota as they joyfully make their way through a menagerie of media made for teens. We’re talking movies, books, tv shows, music and more. LINK
RECOMMENDED BOOKS
8 – 12 year olds
Matthew Syed
You Are Awesome
Find Your Confidence and Dare to be Brilliant at (Almost) Anything
CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR 2019
Kobi Yamada
Maybe: A Story About the Endless Potential in All of Us.
You are the only you there ever has been or ever will be. You are unique in all the universe.
John Flanagan
Will is small for his age, but agile and energetic. All his life, he has dreamed of becoming a great knight like the father he never knew, so he is devastated when he is rejected as an apprentice to Castle Redmont’s Battleschool.
Rick Riordan
I was just a normal kid, I went to school (got expelled a lot, but that wasn’t my fault), played sports and hung out with my best friend. Until I accidentally vaporized my maths teacher. Now, I spend my time at Camp Half Blood, battling monsters and generally trying to stay alive.
For older kids and more advanced readers
Variety of Authors
Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life for Teens: A Guide to Living an Extraordinary Life.
Chloe Hayden
A neurodivergent’s guide to embracing your true self and finding your happily ever after.
Vernon Brundage JR
A Sport-Inspired Guide To Living Your Best Life.
Use their example to attain success in all of your endeavors?
Andy Cope and Friends
Get motivated, feel good and start making a difference in the world with this inspiring and motivating guide to being young and winning at life.