Have you been feeling uninspired lately? Seriously unmotivated? Or just can’t find your creative edge?  We all go through it but how do we overcome it?

Let’s be real, no matter how hardcore we are, we all go through phases that leave us drained. You’re not sure how to get out of your funk but you do know you need to get your groove back. I mean come on, we have relationships to forge, lives to impact and empires to build!

Motivation is the innate desire to get things done. It’s the silent push we need to get us into action and the difference between sitting on the sidelines watching everyone else go after their goals or making it happen.

There are a number of reasons we can feel uninspired but here are 5 of the biggest motivation killers and how to fix them when they come creeping your way.

MOTIVATIONAL KILLER 01 | MINDSET

Mindset is EVERYTHING. It’s how you see life. How you react to what happens to you in life. And how you show gratitude for what’s happening in your life. Having a positive mindset allows you to turn the worst of things into the best of things and a positive mindset allows you to navigate through life without getting stuck.

While a healthy dose of fear can light a fire under your behind and push you to make a way out of no way, continuing to let fear and doubt overwhelm your thoughts is a recipe for disaster.

THE FIX: Acknowledge what is making you fearful, then ask yourself, “What is the worst that can happen?” For example, I used to hate public speaking so much that the thought of recording a video, hosting a webinar or getting in front of an audience in any way, would literally bring tears to my eyes. I was so scared I would make a mistake, be judged or come across as a fraud and it was sabotaging my income, my impact, and my influence. I would turn down speaking engagements and collaborations because I did not want to be forced to speak live in front of people.

But one day I said, “What is the worst that can happen?” And no matter what scenario I came up with it just wasn’t anything that was going to kill me. So I started looking at things from a different perspective. Instead of thinking about all the bad things that could happen I began to focus on what good could come out of what I was doing. And at the end of the day, those “good” things far outweighed the bad.

MOTIVATIONAL KILLER 02 | COMPARISONITIS

Guilty, Guilty, Guilty! I think we are all guilty of comparing our success (or lack thereof) to the amazing, wonderful, perfect life of other entrepreneurs.

You’ve heard the expression comparison is the thief of joy? Well in business comparing yourself to others can steal a lot more than your joy, it can steal your profits as well.

Why? Because, if you’re inflicted with a bad dose of comparisonitis, you risk not just becoming dissatisfied with your own business progress, but you risk slowing down your business and sabotaging everything you have worked so hard for.

So what is comparisonitis?

Well, the official definition is the compulsion to compare your achievements (or lack of!) with those of others. And it’s something that is common particularly for entrepreneurs who are in the early stages of building their businesses. Here are some signs you may be suffering from it:

• You obsess over your competitors’ social media accounts.
• You torture yourself by looking at their perfectly put together website and sales pages.
• You feel like giving up when you see their promotional campaigns.
• You feel the compulsive need to change what you’re doing so it looks more like so-and-so’s.
• You can’t help wondering ‘why’s that not me?’ when you read about their successes.

If any of these feel uncomfortably close to home, you may be suffering from comparisonitis.

So why is comparisonitis so dangerous?

Well first off…let’s get to the truth: you’re rarely making an honest comparison.

Often times what you are comparing are your fears, your lack of progress and the perceived failures of your own business, with the apparent success of others. But this isn’t fair, or accurate and it can really be damaging to your success…

THE FIX: Know (and believe in) YOUR worth. If you find yourself envying “the life” of others. STOP. It’s okay to look at others and admire their success but when you begin comparing your apples to their oranges, it’s not fair to you and the journey you are on. True motivation comes from achieving the goals you set for your life and business. You get to set the standard, so focus on you, what you want, and what is most important to you then work every day to live your best life.

MOTIVATION KILLER 03 | LACK OF CLEAR PURPOSE

Know your why! This is the driving force behind everything.

He who has a why can endure any how.

There are a million ways for you to start a business, but there should be only ONE reason why!

For many, the primary purpose of their business IS to make money. Others are motivated by influence, to move up the professional and social ladder. Still, others start their biz for a cause, believing that there is a greater purpose of their work, attempting to make a difference in the world—to leave a mark in some way.

If I asked you to tell me in one (short) sentence why you do what you do, why you want to be or are an entrepreneur, would you be able to give me a good answer?

If the answer is yes, then I’m sending you a virtual high five but the truth for most entrepreneurs is that they are not clear about what their why is. If you’re reading this thinking “yes that’s me” then this lesson is for you.

Knowing your why is an important first step in figuring out how to achieve your goals and create a life you enjoy. Only when you know your ‘why’ will you find the courage to take the risks needed to get ahead, stay motivated when things get rocky, and move your life (and biz) onto an entirely new, more challenging, and more rewarding direction.

A clear sense of purpose enables you to focus your efforts on what matters most, compelling you to take risks and push forward regardless of the odds or obstacles.

THE FIX: Take an honest look at the times when you failed, didn’t follow through or didn’t finish something. What happened that caused you to fall short? You may find that your desire wasn’t strong enough to get you through the finish line. That is why it is important to make sure you know WHY you want to achieve your goals and that there is a purpose that drives your daily actions.

MOTIVATION KILLER 04 | INCONSISTENCY

Consistent action creates constant results. If you are always starting something only to stop, you condition yourself to never finish and it becomes a part of your DNA. The longer you are not in action mode, the easier it is to lose motivation. Just think about your exercise routine. You promised yourself you’d work out 4 days a week. For a few weeks, you are on top of it. Then something gets you off track and you miss a day. There’s a split second when you debate putting it off another day and if you do, that one day you missed turns into one week, then two weeks, then a month.

THE FIX: One of the things that helps me to stay consistent is the 5-second rule. The 5 Second Rule is something I learned from world-renowned motivational and mindset expert, Mel Robbins. It’s super simple. If you have the instinct to act on a goal, you must physically move within 5 seconds or your brain will kill it.

So, when you feel yourself hesitate or have a moment of pause or doubt before doing something that you know you should do, all you have to do is start counting backward to yourself: 5-4-3-2-1. As soon as you reach “1” – push yourself to move.

The counting will focus you on the goal or commitment and distract you from the worries, thoughts, and excuses in your mind. I know, it sounds too simple to be true, but it works and it will help you progress toward your goals even on the days your unmotivated to most.

Want more? Download my FREE Livin’ Your Best Life Worksheet Here.

MOTIVATION KILLER 05 | NOT HAVING SUPPORT

Becoming an entrepreneur is always a risk and that’s why having a support system is so important to your overall success. Successful entrepreneurs surround themselves with like-minded people who challenge them, brainstorm with them and motivate them.  Anyone who has built a wildly successful business has done so by working with others, and constantly opening themselves up to new ideas.

THE FIX: It could be a cousin or a colleague, but eliminate anything and anyone who is not in your corner. Your dreams are YOUR dreams, so be careful who you share your dreams and aspirations with. Join online communities, Facebook groups, go to meet-ups or masterminds but find at least one like-minded person you an truthfully talk to about your aspirations.

Remember that above all else, your dreams, your goals, your aspirations are yours and yours alone. Cherish them, know why you are chasing them and then do everything you can to become the person you need to be to crush them!

If you need a little push figuring out your best life and what success looks like to you, I’ve created The Livin’ Your Best Life Worksheet to help you write down once and for all, what you are truly trying to achieve!

WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST MOTIVATION KILLERS?  Share them with us below in the comments so we can work through the struggle together!