Ever find yourself scrolling through social media, eyes glazed over, as you watch videos of people achieving incredible things? One minute you’re watching a dude build a house out of mud and sticks, the next you’re looking at a cat playing the piano better than you ever could. Meanwhile, your own dreams sit in the corner, gathering dust like that old treadmill-turned-clothes-hanger in your bedroom. (I promise this isn’t a clip from my own life)
Well, it’s time to shake it off, and put down the Wotsits (If you’ve not had a Wotsit buttie before, I’d encourage you to try it! Recipe at the bottom of this blog!) and grab life before any more time passes. Let’s dive into the magical realms of determination, motivation, and making your future what you want it to be. And let’s make it fun, because if we’re going to change our lives, we might as well have a good laugh along the way, right?
Determination-
My brother would be so proud of me for this part…..
Remember in Star Wars (Empire Strike Back)when Yoda lifts Luke’s X-Wing out of the swamp with just his mind? If not watch it HERE That’s the kind of determination we’re talking about. (Side note: If you don’t know what I’m talking about, go watch Star Wars. Like, right now. This blog will be here when you get back.)
Determination is your inner Yoda. It’s that little voice that says, “Do or do not. There is no try.” It’s also the same voice that tells you not to eat the entire pizza by yourself (although, let’s be real, sometimes Yoda’s not that loud).
Here’s the thing: Life is going to throw a lot of swamps and sinking X-Wings your way. Whether it’s a tough job, a difficult fitness class, or the struggle to finally got viral on TikTok, determination is what keeps you moving forward, even when you’d rather lie down and nap forever.
Motivation: Your Personal Cheerleading Squad
Motivation is that electrifying feeling you get when you watch a Rocky training montage. It’s what makes you feel like you can run up the stairs of your house and not just collapse at the top. It’s when you write yourself a “To Do list” and actually get through it- I had to get up early on a weekend which feels illegal but I did it!- You can catch this HERE
But motivation is a bit like that one friend who’s always hyped to go out but sometimes disappears when it’s time to actually leave the house. You’ve got to keep it engaged. So, how do you stay motivated?
Set Goals-
Start with small, achievable goals. Like, “Today, I will not hit the snooze button 47 times.”
Reward Yourself: Treat yourself to something nice when you hit a milestone. Finished that project? Get yourself a little cake. (Just maybe don’t eat the whole thing alone. Moderation, people!)
Stay Inspired: Surround yourself with things and people that inspire you. Pictures of places you want to visit, quotes from people you admire, or maybe even a vision board. Yes, it’s a bit cliché, and It feels slight cringe writing this but It’s just true.
Making Your Future: The Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Book of Life
Remember those Choose-Your-Own-Adventure books where you could either fight the dragon or take a nap in the enchanted forest? (Spoiler: The nap always ends badly.) Life is kind of like that. Every decision you make is a new page, a new path. Every decision you make counts. I was very close to going to Bath university when I was 18 but I chose a university closer to home. There I met my now husband and now have THE best daughter. I chose to take a risk and learn about making money online, I now write weekly blogs to try and help other people find happiness. Take a minute to think about all your good decisions and smile- You have made some good ones- promise. It sometimes may seem like you haven’t, as the bad ones stand out. But you have. You really have. Tell me what they are in the comments.
Making your future is about more than just dreaming. It’s about taking action. You can’t just sit around waiting for a fairy godmother to show up and bibbidi-bobbidi-boo your life into perfection. You’ve got to get out there and make things happen!
Don’t Give Up: The Secret Ingredient in Grandma’s hotpot
Imagine if Colonel Sanders gave up after his 100th rejection. No KFC! Or if my Grandma gave up on making her famous hotpot just because one batch went wrong, Or if J.K. Rowling tossed Harry Potter in the bin after the first publisher said no. No Hogwarts! (And let’s face it, we all need a little magic in our lives.)
The point is, everyone faces rejection and failure. It’s part of the process. The important thing is to keep going. Every time you fail, you’re one step closer to success. And every time you get up after a setback, you’re building that determination muscle.
So, whether you’re aiming to be the next big thing in tech, the best baker in your town, or just someone who actually finishes a workout routine, remember: You’ve got this. Be your own Jedi, your own Rocky, your own magical fairy godmother.
Now, go out there and conquer the world. Or at least start by tackling that laundry pile. Baby steps.
Wotsit Buttie Recipe
What you will need:
- 2 Fresh slices of white bread
- Butter
- Wotsits
Butter both slices of bread- don’t be shy with the butter
Place the Wotsits on one slice of bread, they don’t need to be linier, the more the better
Place the other slice on top of the Wotsits and press down to hear the crunch
You will enjoy this most when you have come home from having a few drinks!
I love the reminder that determination is our inner Yoda saying, “Do or do not. There is no try.” It’s so important to keep moving forward despite what life throws our way.
Your insights on motivation made me laugh—it really is like that one friend who’s all hyped up but sometimes disappears when it’s time to leave the house. Setting small goals and rewarding ourselves is so important. And staying inspired? Absolutely! Whether it’s a vision board or just surrounding ourselves with things and people that spark joy, it’s all about keeping that fire burning.
Choosing our own adventure and acknowledging the power of our decisions resonated deeply. It’s such a powerful reminder that every step we take, every choice we make, is shaping our path. Thanks for urging us to reflect on our good decisions and celebrate them. Sometimes, we need that nudge to see how far we’ve come.
Thanks Alison, who doesn’t love a vision board!
At this point we have all come so far, and its important to look back and celebrate our success. x
Hi Sarah,
This was such a fun and motivating read! Your take on determination, motivation, and making our own futures was great. I love how you likened determination to our inner Yoda and motivation to a personal cheerleading squad. It really brings those concepts to life! Your encouragement to take action and not wait for things to happen is exactly what we all need to hear. Keep sharing your wisdom and positivity. Looking forward to your next blog post! 😊
Meredith
Meredith Moore recently posted…Exploring the Magic of “The Iceberg Effect”
Thank you Meredith. We’re in this together and we will succeed!
It really does all come down to “do or do not; there is no try.” The key to accomplishing goals is to know exactly what you want and why you MUST have it and take massive action until you have it. Thanks for the post! Thanks to you, I returned to my vision board of “what” and “why” and am pushing full steam ahead. Michael
That’s amazing, and your comment made me feel so happy. Thank you,
I like thinking of the inner motivational voice as Yoda. I’d certainly say that’s different from the inner judgmental voice that tells us we are going to failing and then everyone will think we’re stupid. Don’t listen to that voice, listen to the Yoda voice.
I also love the Wotsits Buttie recipe, we don’t have Wotsits in the US, but it inspires me to finally give making a crisp buttie a try, or if I can find some gravy, or curry I’ll make myself a chip buttie
Definitely listen to the Yoda voice! We all have the other voice in our heads, and it pops up a lot!
PLEASE give it a try. You wont look back! lol
For some strange reason, I was reading the “do or do not; there is no try” in my most perfect Yoda voice! (goes to show my age).
You’ve definitely hit the nail on the head with your blog entry this week but the unfortunate side is that sometimes that Yoda voice IS asleep and the other Darth Vader voice is the one you hear saying: “you will lose”… (as someone who does voice-over, you can only imagine how many voices are in my head at any given time! LOL!)
All kidding aside, I’m also reminded in reading your blog of what my mother used to tell me: “you can have everything in life Marc…just not all at the same time!” – well time for my Affiliate Marketer to get his mojo on!
Wishing you all the best!
Sarah,
I’m going to have to use a pretty link or a bitly link if you keep up these humungously long URLs, lol. It’s practically half of my X post.
You had me laughing all the way through with just the right amount of seriousness.
The best decision I’ve made was to incoroporate back in 2007 enabling me to go from a full time job to a well-paid contractor. It afforded me yearly trips to California to celebrate none other than Canada Day! It’s coming up July 1.
There is a well-being group I belong to and they often refer to everyone having a Jedi council…the people that support you with being healthy.
I’d say a Jedi council is also needed in Affiliate Marketing. But yes – as you say – we need to be our own Jedi.
BTW The Wotsit Buttie Recipe is new for me but very similar to my peanut butter, honey, balogna and CHIPS sandwich – Yum and Crunch!
Robert Klein recently posted…Out with the Old, In with the New
Sarah, Great fun and factual post you had me laughing out loud! I really liked “You can’t just sit around waiting for a fairy godmother to show up and bibbidi-bobbidi-boo your life into perfection. You’ve got to get out there and make things happen!” This is an award-winning statement. I even challenged Glen on one of his lives that he couldn’t relate bibbidi-bobbidi-boo to affiliate marketing, but he sure did. Always inspiring to read your posts!
Sarah, I love the idea of a Wotsit buttie! Crisp sandwiches are definitely a British thing, and they bring back so many childhood memories. There’s something so satisfying about that crunchy, buttery goodness. Your blog post is really motivating and makes me want to tackle my own dreams, even if they involve more than just making a perfect sandwich. Thanks for the inspiration and the recipe! Atif
This was that just bit of motivation that I needed to read for today… but really for my week! I love the character and personality you put into all of your posts. You keep me entertained all the way through your posts! I’ve never even heard of a Wotsits Buttie but I’m up for anything! Thanks for providing the recipe… I gotta try this out!
Hi Sarah,
I loved reading this post and how you Yoda’d the heck out of that “Determination” section…awesome!!
Very inspiring and empowering post and the recipe in you ended with is definitely worth a try! But only once so I don’t ruin the blood pressure 🙂
Denny
Thank you Sarah, that was a great read. Had me amused from the very beginning. Your insightfulness is shining right through in all your blog posts; especially this one. You have given us more motivation and food for thought (Wotsit butties – priceless).
Hi Sarah,
I absolutely loved reading your post. Your mix of humor, and relatable references, is not only entertaining but also inspiring.
Your Yoda analogy is spot on. Determination is our inner Jedi Master, guiding us through the swamps of life.
It’s that inner voice that pushes us to keep going, even when the odds seem insurmountable.
Your reminder that life will inevitably throw challenges our way, and that it’s our determination that will see us through, gives us the strength to keep going.
And It’s about embracing the “Do or do not. There is no try” mindset in all aspects of our lives.
Fantastic read! Your post really struck a chord with me. The way you weave humour and practical advice together makes the concept of becoming the main character in our own lives so accessible and inspiring. I loved the Yoda reference for determination – it perfectly captures the essence of pushing through life’s challenges. Your tips on staying motivated by setting small goals and rewarding ourselves are spot on. And the reminder to take action and not just dream is exactly what I needed to hear. Thanks for the boost! Oh and I’ll try the Wotsits butty recipe.