How do i keep myself motivated to keep going in hard times in life

It can be very difficult for us to feel motivated when we don't feel like we are the most financially stable. When our basic needs are met, it allows us to focus on everything else that we need to focus on-including our mental health. And during the recent years, the cost of living has gone up tremendously so it is understandable if you feel this way. So us figuring out our budget needs and ways to make adjustments can be helpful so that we can meet our basic needs for survival. Firstly, I would encourage you (if you haven't already) to get familiar with resources in your area. Many counties offer utility and sometimes even rent assistance for people in need. Many times, there are requirements and a certain income needed to qualify, but these can provide much assistance in times of need. In addition, there are many great food bank and clothing resources that may help you obtain some support. It may not feel like much help, but every little bit can help you save money. One of the best ways to find resources in your area is by calling 211 or using their online support database. Many times this can provide you with extra support as you try to save your money for others thing that you may need. Just something to think about or explore.

In addition to managing our basic needs, motivation often stems from how we feel about ourselves and our lives. But it can be very discouraging to feel motivated when we don't necessarily see the results that we wanted. When we have a lot of stressors, unhelpful thoughts may get the best of us. Some of these thoughts may consist of us not feeling like we are good enough or worthy of getting our needs met. Thus, it is important that we really think about where these thoughts are coming from. Did someone make us believe that we weren't worthy? Or is this just our interpretation of how things are going? We need to figure this out as it will help us better understand where these thoughts come from. But once we sit with them a bit longer, we may realize that they are inaccurate, but also very unhelpful. So instead, learning to reframe our thoughts into something like, things are not turning out the way that I want right now, but it doesn't mean that things won't improve for me, can help increase motivation as it will allow us to feel hope.

And sometimes the way that we feel may not encourage us to feel motivated to work toward our goals. For instance, people who experience depression or sadness may not feel encouraged to work on their goals as their mood is not feeling very great. And having this awareness can come a long way. If we know that we are prone to this, it is important that we identify this so that we can catch ourselves when it happens. By doing this, we can implement a plan to change the behavior so that we feel more motivated to work on our goals. It may take a bit of a push especially if we are more inclined to feel tired, but more the reason that we learn to push against it. Otherwise, there is a risk that we may get stuck and not know how to move forward. Here is a great example of a good worksheet that can help you reflect and identify how to work toward motivation: https://i.pinimg.com/564x/84/ac/9f/84ac9f200638f12dd44d61dc7d4dfca9.jpg

It sounds like being a musical artist hasn't provided you with the financial means that you were hoping for just yet. Finding the balance between survival and doing what you love can be a bit of a balance. For some people, they are able to make a living as a musical artist. But others may need to figure out another way to pay the bills as they try to build their musical career. And finding that balance can be an adjustment and can take a bit of time management. But it is possible to figure it out. And also reminding yourself that if your goal is to support yourself as a musical artist, doing your research, finding mentors, and continuing to do it will allow you to continue working toward your goal.

In addition, we can always work on self-affirmations and building our self-esteem to keep moving forward. When we feel good about ourselves, we are more likely to feel motivated and want to move forward in our life. Even saying one self-affirmation per day to ourselves can make all the difference. But we need to be consistent with it as we let these compliments that we give ourselves to sink in. It is also important that we have people in our support system that can also encourage us to stay motivated. If you don't feel like you have a lot of people that you can turn to for support, you may want to explore peer support groups. These can be great places to express how you feel and find ways to support one another in times of need.

There are some great articles and self-help books that can provide additional support to you as you work on increasing motivation and self-esteem.  You can also look for a case manager at a non-profit agency if you need additional support on finding resources in your area or budgeting assistance. When we feel hope, we are more likely to want to work toward our goals. There are also free or low-cost mental health therapy services that you may find beneficial and that you can explore in your area. I would encourage you to try using 211 to determine which resources or programs would be a good fit for you. Best of luck to you on your journey to figuring things out.