Academic Survival

Discovering Self-Motivation

Presentation based on:

Downing, Skip. On Course: Strategies for Creating Success in College and Life, 3rd Ed.

Self-Motivation

Successful Students

Discover their dreams providing them with a passionately felt life purpose and consistent motivation.

Struggling Students

Have little sense of purpose, passion, or drive in their lives.

Self-Motivation

Successful Students

Commit to their dreams, visualizing the successful creation of their ideal future.

Struggling Students

Wander aimlessly from one activity to another.

Self-Motivation

Successful Students

Design a compelling life plan, complete with purposeful long- and short-term goals.

Struggling Students

Tend to invent their lives as they live them.

Discover Your Dreams

1. What roles have you chosen for your life?

2. What dreams do you have for each role?

Creating Inner MotivationWhat is YOUR life all about?

What will catapult you out of bed each morning and keep your energy surging throughout the day?

What will give you peaceful, contented sleep at night?

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING THIS LIFE !

What do you want to have, do, and be???

Committing to Your Dreams1. Commit YOURSELF to your dream. When you commit to your dreams, you program your brain to look for solutions to your own problems and you stay committed to your dream even when times are rough.

2. Visualize Your Dream a. Relax b. Use present tense – Imagine yourself experiencing success NOW. c. Use all five senses. d. Feel the feelings of YOUR success.

Design A Compelling Life Plan

Goals help make dreams become realities. They provide a game plan by which your life can be scripted.

Goal Setting: DAPPS

Effective goals display five characteristics:

1. Dated – Specific deadlines for achievement.2. Achievable – Goals must be realistic.3. Personal – Goals must be what YOU want for yourself- not what someone else wants for you.4. Positive – Goals must focus on what you want rather

than what you don’t want.5. Specific – Goals must be stated in specific, measurable

terms.

YOUR Life Plan

SUCCESS

YOUR LIFE ROLES

YOUR DREAMS IN EACH LIFE ROLE

YOUR LONG-TERM GOALS FOR EACH DREAM

YOUR SHORT-TERM GOALS FOR EACH LONG-TERM GOAL

Believing in Yourself: A Personal Affirmation

What characteristics will you need to display in order reach your goals?

Claim these characteristics by stating each of themfor yourself in the affirmative.

Live your affirmation.

Living Your AffirmationLive your affirmation by:1. Realize that you already possess the qualities you

desire.2. Give power to your affirmation by repeating it over and

over until it becomes as familiar to you as your name.3. Say your affirmation while looking at yourself in the

mirror.4. Be vigilant about other words you use to describe

yourself.5. Use your affirmation when life tests you.6. Record your affirmation on a loop tape.