How to motivate others in their daily life.

 How to Motivate Others in Their Daily Life

Motivation is the fuel that drives us to act, achieve our goals, and make the most of each day. But let’s be honest—staying motivated isn’t always easy, life gets in the way and sometimes, the people around us need a little encouragement to keep moving forward. Whether it’s a friend, family member, colleague, or loved one, helping someone find their motivation can be one of the most rewarding things you do.

Motivation isn’t just about achieving big dreams; it’s about maintaining the energy and positive mindset and mental toughness to get through everyday life. So, how can you inspire and uplift those around you? Here are ten powerful ways to motivate others in their daily lives.

1. Understand What Drives Them

Everyone is motivated by different things—some by personal success, others by purpose, recognition, challenge, or growth. If you want to inspire someone, take the time to understand what truly drives them.

• Ask questions like: “What excites you?” or “What are you working towards?”
• Listen carefully to their goals, passions, and struggles.
• Tailor your encouragement based on what matters most to them.

By showing genuine interest in their aspirations, you’ll be able to provide motivation in a way that resonates with them personally.  From a work point of view, I have worked for some managers that have been so autocratic that it became a chore to go to work as they sucked the joy out of it and then I have worked for some companies who have truly valued individual skills with people and allowed them to shine by letting them use these skills, but they only find out about them whilst having positive conversations with you.  I fully understand that you are there to do a job but research after research has shown that if you are happy at work then you are more productive at work.

2. Lead by Example

People are more likely to feel motivated when they see someone else embodying the mindset and habits they aspire to have. If you want to inspire others, be the kind of person who is:

·       Enthusiastic about personal growth.

·       Committed to achieving goals.

·       Resilient in the face of challenges.

When others see you pursuing your own passions, staying positive, and overcoming obstacles, they’ll be more inclined to do the same.

3. Set Achievable Goals Together

Big goals can feel overwhelming, which often leads to procrastination and discouragement. Help others by breaking down their aspirations into smaller, achievable steps.  I maybe saying something that is not the ‘norm’ here but let me tell you something, no one can set a goal for you.  In work situations you may have goal setting sessions with your manager, but these are not goals they are targets and managers will probably go through this method of goal setting. SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).  This is a common method used in business, but again, this is not your goal, it is a target that you need to aim towards, and your performance will be measured against it, but to truly set a goal why not use the PREP method (personal, realistic, endpoint and positive).

Goals need to be personal; I cannot stress this enough.  If it is not your goal, you will not work toward achieving it.  Any goal needs to be realistic.  Now this is not saying that they should not be difficult to achieve, indeed, there may be lots of things that you may have to learn to do for you to achieve your goal, but it should not be impossible.  For example, my daughter in law may wish to learn how to drive, however this would be a pointless goal to set, as legally, due to her health conditions, she is not able to drive, so no point setting it as a goal. You also need to have an endpoint, a date in which you want to achieve this goal by.  For example, if you did want to pass your driving test, the DVLA suggest that you have one hours’ worth of tuition for every of your life plus twenty, if you wanted to do a course that would give you a qualification, how long is the course?  Is it over a few days, weeks or even more than one academic year.  All of this is information you need to find out to set your endpoint.  The most important thing for me though is to be positive.  If you are not positive about your own goal, then how do you expect other people to be positive about it and there will be times where will need help from other people to achieve what you want to achieve.  If you are lacklustre when asking for help, the help they may give you could also be lacklustre.  If you are positive about what you want to achieve then this will rub off on other people and they will be more willing to help.

It is important though for you to write down your goals and break them down into smaller manageable steps but use the correct language to maintain the positivity.  For example, turn ‘I want to’ statements into ‘I will’ statements as shown below,

• Instead of "I want to get fit," try "I will exercise for 30 minutes, three times a week."
• Instead of "I need a new job," try "I will update my CV and apply for three jobs this week."

Small wins build momentum and confidence, and you need to celebrate each little win as this helps the positive juices in our brains to flow.

4. Provide Encouragement and Positive Reinforcement

A few kind words can make all the difference in someone’s motivation. Praise their progress, no matter how small, and remind them of their strengths.

• Recognise effort, not just results. Even if they haven’t reached their goal yet, acknowledge the work they’ve put in.
• Remind them of past successes. If they’ve overcome challenges before, they can do it again.
• Encourage self-compassion. Progress is more important than perfection.

Sometimes, a simple "I believe in you" is all someone needs to hear.

5. Create a Supportive Environment

Motivation thrives in a positive and uplifting atmosphere. Encourage those around you to:

·       Surround themselves with like-minded, supportive people. 

·       Avoid toxic influences that drain their energy.  A friend or family member who constantly pulls you down with their own negativity is not a friend at all so get rid.  It may be difficult, but you have got to do you to the best of your ability, not their perceived ability of you.

·       Organize their space to reduce stress and improve focus.  The reason why TV programmes that help people sort out their homes are so popular is that we would all probably like them to come into our own homes and do the same for us.  Why wait, do it yourself, this could be one of your PREP goals!

A strong support system makes all the difference when it comes to maintaining motivation.

6. Inspire with Stories and Role Models

Sometimes, the best way to motivate someone is by sharing stories of people who have overcome similar challenges.

• Talk about individuals who started from nothing and achieved great success.
• Recommend books, podcasts, or videos that provide inspiration.
• Remind them that even the most successful people faced setbacks—but they kept going.  J.K. Rowling had her first Harry Potter book rejected so many times before it got published; Oprah Winfrey was told that she was unfit to be on TV because of the colour of her skin and Micheal Jordan was not very good at Basketball when he was at school, but he knew he wanted to play professionally so he put the time and effort into gaining the skills that have made him successful.  There are stories about how the Beatles were rejected at first; how Richard Branson’s severe dyslexia could have stopped him from starting his businesses and many, many more stories.

Hearing about others’ journeys can make their own goals feel more achievable and realistic.

7. Help Them Build Healthy Habits

Motivation isn’t just about mindset—it’s also about daily routines and self-care. I am not a doctor or any sort of medical professional, but research has shown that encouraging and practicing healthy habits that support energy and focus are key to maintain positive motivation.

·       Get enough rest—tired minds lack motivation.

·       Eat well—good nutrition fuels productivity.

·       Stay active—exercise boosts energy and mood.

·       Practice mindfulness—stress management is key.

A strong foundation of well-being and routine makes it easier to stay motivated over the long term.

8. Encourage a Growth Mindset

One of the biggest motivation-killers is fear of failure. Help others shift their perspective by embracing a growth mindset—the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed with effort and persistence.

Instead of:
🚫 "I’m terrible at this." → ✅ "I’m still learning, and that’s okay."
🚫 "I failed, so I should quit." → ✅ "Failure is part of growth—I’ll try again."

When people see challenges as learning experiences, they become more motivated to keep going.

9. Make Motivation Fun and Engaging

Motivation doesn’t have to feel like hard work—inject some fun into the process!

·       Turn goals into a game or friendly challenge.

·       Play music that boosts energy and mood (for me this is Shakin Stevens)

·       Celebrate milestones with small rewards.  I was once told by a friend of mine, who was attending a local weight watchers’ group, that they were allowed to have a sweet treat, should they have reached their target weight loss for that week – a little reward of something nice!

By making the journey enjoyable, people are more likely to stay engaged and committed.

10. Check In and Offer Ongoing Support

Motivation fluctuates—no one feels inspired every day. Keep checking in and offering encouragement:

·       Send a simple message: "How’s everything going? You’re doing great!"

·       Call or meet up to discuss progress and challenges.

·       Remind them of why they started.

·       Consistency and kindness go a long way in helping someone stay on track.

Final Thoughts

Motivating others is about understanding, supporting, and inspiring. Whether through encouragement, leading by example, or helping them set achievable goals, you can be a source of positivity and motivation in someone’s life.

Remember, motivation is a journey—it’s not about always feeling inspired, but about finding ways to keep going, even on tough days.

How do you help motivate the people around you? Share your thoughts in the comments!