Motivation

Motivation

What is your motivation?

Money?

Fame?

Recognition?

Betterment of mankind?

Saving something worthwhile?

Love for the work?

Expanding worldwide goodwill?

Feeling of accomplishment?

Is your motivation intrinsic? Or external?

Don’t get me wrong! There is value in external things if they lead to survival, or security against a rainy day that floods the basement! If survival and security motivate you, great! Go for it! There can be joy and altruism in that journey. That would be an awesome journey! Recognize your motivation.

Ask anyone that you think is successful a question. Ask them how they feel about what they do. There may be a few who hesitate in their response. They may not say that they love what they are doing. Or they might not even respond! Wait a few years. They may change either their response or their focus. They may end up saying that their motivation is found on the list at the beginning of this discussion.

Either way, there is an interesting relationship between motivation and what we consider success.

There is another way to define motivation. Call it expectation. If the expectation that a “thing” equates to happiness, imagine the disappointment when those expectations are not met. Or when happiness does not arrive!

Why are we so often motivated by “things” rather than by feelings or connections to people who matter? A big part of the reason is our society’s focus on “making it.” “Making it" is usually defined by things and seldom by close family and interpersonal relationships. It is often defined by how “much” one has. Certainly, the observation of coming into the world with nothing and leaving the world with nothing holds true. When gone, what is left behind? Is it the warmth of memories, the value of principles, the heritage of a life well lived, or a whole lot of “things?”

Are you living in a world you have created where you are motivated by “things” that are beyond survival and safety at the cost of connection and relationship?

Create your own world. Know yourself first. Consult and discuss with others who are affected by your definition of success. If your bus to success is not carrying those you love, more contemplation and discussion are needed.

Regardless of who is with you on your bus to success, the road ahead is bound to have potholes and perhaps even detours. Give yourself time and the benefit of patience. The journey is to be enjoyed.

Motivation is an important component. Focus on the goal but cherish the process. Consider that success is what is happening along the way, not just the ultimate accumulation of things.

Questions to ask yourself along the way: Is it me? What part of what I’m doing for survival and safety speaks to my soul? How do I make my world and the world of others a better place? What am I sacrificing or am I contributing as I spend my time this way?

There are more questions to be asked and then answered. They very person to person, journey to journey.

The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Do it today. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Adjusting your motivation may take time and small steps. No attempt, no success. Remember to incorporate deeper feelings of connection and relationship to whatever goal your motivation drives you to. The journey is the destination. The next time you face the tradeoff of time and energy for whatever is beyond survival and security, stop and evaluate your motivation.

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