My One Word for 2014 is: Blessing
The Blessing of Motivation
Motivation
noun \ˌmō-tə-ˈvā-shən\
1.: the act or process of giving someone a reason for doing something : the act or process of motivating someone
2.: the condition of being eager to act or work : the condition of being motivated
3.: a force or influence that causes someone to do something
(Webster’s Dictionary)
The word motivation is used often, but I’m not really sure that too many people know what the word means. People use expressions like, “You lack motivation”, “You just need a little bit of motivation”, or they are less polite and say things like “You’re lazy”, “You’re useless”.
As a person with ADHD, I hear about motivation a lot because apparently people without ADHD think we have none thanks to issues with Executive Function. This couldn’t be any further from the truth, but I’ll save that topic for another day. ADHD looks different in everyone’s life, but I can honestly say motivation plays a huge role in my personal pursuits, but not in the workplace. In the workplace if something needs to get done, well… I just get it done. I may not be fueled by energy and excitement, but I get my work done.
I encounter too many people who think that motivational sayings and inspirations are only needed for people with struggles in achieving goals, depression, ADHD or laziness. Well, not so! I realized that the bulk of motivational quotes that I use come from uber successful people.
Words of strength and encouragement are not for the weak; they are for people who know that they will have challenges to face on a daily basis. Daily challenges might not be major and life threatening, but it’s not a smart idea to wait until something catastrophic happens. It’s for people who know that they have to get from one place to another with a positive and healthy outlook. Those who feed their mind motivational thoughts have something to remember and draw from when things become unstable. If you don’t have a habit of motivational thinking, when life becomes overwhelming for whatever reason, you end up falling apart with no words and memories of comfort to lift you up.
There might not always be another person to lift you up with words of truth, strength, and encouragement. People lead busy lives and waiting all day for your friends and family to finish work and be available to talk is a long period of time to be without uplifting words. I believe it is important for us to have our own memory bank filled with honest words to comfort and guide us.
I meditate on various motivational quotes and I am able to draw on them when I am about to do something challenging, new, fearful or sometimes when I am about to do something exciting and fun! However, I do caution people to be realistic with quotes, for example the popular quote that states, “You can become whatever you choose to do!”; well… unfortunately, no you can’t!
Motivational materials are a blessing because someone else has decided to share with others their successful mindset and skills. Others are passing along blessings of well wishes and assistance in order to help individuals become the best that they can be. All of these people could have been exclusive by sharing their wisdom with only close friends and loved ones, instead, they chose to go beyond their tightest circles.
I encourage you to receive the blessings of motivation by learning how others have made it to where they are at today.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF:
-Do you have motivational sayings and words that you regularly meditate on?
-Do you depend exclusively on friends and family to bring you words of encouragement? How do you act and what do you start believing when there is no one around to uplift you?
APPLICATION:
-If you don’t already have a few motivational quotes and bible verses, try to find some. The internet is filled with motivational quotes websites. You can even take lines from novels or books that you’ve read and use them for motivation.
-If you already have quotes and verses, that’s great. Review them again and see if there are any other new or former material you might want to meditate on for any specific upcoming events (e.g. College, new job, decision making, new goals, etc.)
-Place the motivational quotes and scriptures in places where you will see them and repeat them: wall, fridge, bathroom mirror, on your smartphone, as a wall paper on your computer screen, on your daily to-do list, on your day planner/calendar.
Feathers For Your Journey 