Short Stories From 10 Years Ago – March 10, 2004
Motivation & Drive
Short Stories From 10 Years Ago – March 10, 2004 – I’m sitting here at my keyboard and wondering what it is that motivates people, and drives them to pursue their goals at any cost, and to stop at nothing in their quest to succeed?
Is there a magician with some special potion that’s available to the chosen few? I’m not a big ‘joiner’ , and I can’t think of anyone I’d actually line up to meet, but I might break down and queue up for a few drops of ‘motivation’ juice. It’s not that I can’t and don’t accomplish things. I’ve achieved a comfortable lifestyle by my own efforts – I haven’t been handed ‘life on a silver platter’. I’ve taken significant risks in my life and then followed through with the hard work necessary to succeed. So I do have a level of drive and am capable of motivating myself. So what is it that I’m missing?
The first thing I need to acknowledge is that I am, without a doubt, my own worst enemy. I hold myself up to a standard that is impossible to achieve, and then instead of cheering my successes – I dwell on what I haven’t accomplished. Case in point – my exercise program. Howard, my treadmill, will attest to the fact that I’ve not been as conscientious as I’d hoped. So let’s look at this.
I decide that I must work out 6 days a week. Perhaps a bit unrealistic for a single, professional woman who is responsible for everything in her life. At week’s end, I’ve only done 3 exercise routines. Therefore I have failed. Typical all or nothing thinking. So the way to re-think this is to say – “You rock, woman!” Perhaps next week I’ll get in 4 work-outs. Perhaps not, but at least I’m trying.
I’m amazed at my progress with this daily writing. I frequently still think, “Who am I kidding? What could I possibly have to say?” Well, I care, and in fact I appear to be have opinions, thoughts, and feelings on a wide variety of subjects. In spite of a busy work life, I’m making time to write every day. Light Bulb Moment – it is important to me.
One day soon, I’m going to write one of my stories on anxiety and how it has controlled my life, or rather how I have allowed it to control my life. Because of anxiety and panic I’ve been afraid of life for so long that it has become my reality. My security blanket. My excuse. My companion. No more – I am talking about this. I am facing it. I’m still afraid, but my fear is going to be exposed. The thought of this terrifies me. What will happen when my social mask comes off? Stay tuned, because you’ll read about it here. Now back to ‘motivation’ – facing hard truths can drive you to confront things in life.
When I think of motivation and drive – I find that I’m usually comparing myself to other people, and some of them are half my age. What a concept to think that they just might have more energy than I do. Instead I need to look at the life that I have created for myself. I’m a successful, accomplished human being on many fronts. Professionally, spiritually, emotionally (still learning – but who isn’t), physically – this is a work in progress). To be alive – to be getting up each day and doing my best.
Lighten up (with apologies to Christians everywhere) – this should be the 11th Commandment. Seeing as I’m not about to zip right out and commit adultery, perhaps I could replace that Commandment with the “lighten up” one.
I’m re-thinking motivation. I’m doing just fine. No, I’m not a rock star, the head of a multi-national company, a mother with four kids and a husband or an award winning photojournalist. But I am a good, kind, decent, honourable, funny, successful woman with a unique twist on life, who is still attempting to walk down my path with a sense of humour and a willingness to learn!
Motivation and drive change with age. I need to keep my thoughts in focus on the things that are significant to me. My health is the one area where I’m still slipping. My motivation should be a recognition of my what life might be like without the blessing of good health. That in itself should be enough to make my exercise routines a priority. As for my decision to write – I’m learning so much from this daily commitment to tell stories. By the end of the year I hope to have surprised myself! Who knows where this will end, but what a great experience it is in the telling!
