Motivation comes in many ways. Pain may cause a desire to change something.

Debt may cause a desire for a second job, or to change jobs. Someone or some thing humiliates and one is driven to the desire to speak up for self or a cause.

A tragic story of a friend, a movie, or television show, or perhaps it is an inspiring book that prompts us to change. Any of these and more can motivate us.

But with the negativity of the world surrounding us how do we keep self-motivated. Some tips can help.

1. Keep those dreams, and achieve them. One day they will become real.
2. You must believe in yourself. Believe in what you can do.
3. Consider things from every angle so you can understand life. Then determine to achieve your dreams.
4. Acquire knowledge and let it give the courage and ability needed to achieve.
5. Don't give up or give in. Persistence is a winner. Winners never quit. Choose whether you are a winner or a quitter.
6. Enjoy life. Your work, your family, your friends, are to be enjoyed. Ignore negativisms and get on with what you know is constructive and good.
7. As you put your hand to a task or project give more than just enough, win at whatever you do.
8. Just be your self. Don't put on "airs." People will be more attracted to you, and you will be more comfortable with life.
9. If you haven't all ready, learn to love self. Don't be an egotist, but learn self, who you are, and realize what you can be.
10. Don't ever lie, cheat people, or steal. Always play the game fair for everyone, including self.
11. Practice common sense and realize how you want things to be, and how they should be.
12. Prepare yourself, to seek and gain self-improvement. Learn and practice what you learn, or know.
13. Control of your life belongs to you. Take control and discipline your self. Both work well with motivation.
14. Develop understanding of other people. Learn to listen and understand others, and to be understood secondly.
15. Maybe you haven't realized it, but you are unique. No one else is exactly like you. Practice the good attributes and get rid of the negatives.
16. Focus on your dreams. Visualize them, and go for them.
17. Then make things happen. Sitting still will leave you at the same place forever if you don't make them happen.
18. Motivation and self-improvement go hand-in-hand. They are winners.

Each of us is both our loser and winner. We must choose which will predominate our life. Choose and go with it, that is, being a winner. And you will win.

1800 avenues for improvement at http://ocw.mit.edu