100 Ways To Motivate Yourself, Third Edition

94. Give yourself flying lessons

We need heroes in our lives. They are not a sign of weakness; they are a source of strength. “Without heroes,” said Bernard Malamud, “we are all plain people and we don’t know how far we can go.”

Heroes show us what’s possible for a human being to accomplish. Therefore, heroes are very useful to anyone who is in the process of finally understanding self-motivation. But unless we consciously select our heroes in order to use them as inspiration, we simply end up envying great people instead of emulating them.

When used properly, a hero can be an enriching source of energy and inspiration. You don’t have to have just one hero, either. Choose a number of them. Put their pictures up. Become an expert on their lives. ...