Every get up in the morning and just wonder just how you’re going to get going? (My answer to everything in the morning is coffee so you might want to keep reading. ;D)
Or perhaps you’re like me and take a big breath at times and say..”okay, you can do this – get going” in the hopes that this will actually get you going? Yes, I talk to myself…a lot.
Then you see people who bound out of bed ready to tackle anything. They go, go, go with seemingly unbridled energy.
What gives?
Why are these folks so freakin motivated all the time?
Well, they may be hyped up on energy drinks I suppose, but there is another possibility. Everything might be related to how they choose to think about and see the world.
You see there are two ways to view things that expressly affect your internal motivators. Those feelings that you can do it, and you are about to!
You see, there is this way of thinking that far too many adhere to. Wayne Dyer called it “deficiency motivation”. Basically you are motivated because you think you are lacking. You don’t have as much as the other guy. He’s smarter than you; she’s prettier than you. You are not enough, you don’t have enough so you must work, work, work. You are motivated by a deep down core of fear; a fear of not being enough.
Yuck.
And guess what? It really doesn’t work. Think about it. You will only find frustration and self-depreciation here. You can NEVER win this one. There is always someone who is or has more of something. What kind of life is that you creating then? One that can never be fulfilled or joyous.
So, where do we take this then? How do we motivate ourselves?
We learn to be grateful and celebrate all that we already have and all that we are. We live in the right here, right now in a joyous way. It’s vital to understand that you are enough. Where you are is exactly where you should be right now. Your journey should never be compared to someone elses because it is uniquely yours. Apples and oranges my friends.
This is not to say you shouldn’t work towards goals and dreams that you have. Not at all. It just means that as you work towards each new step in life you are taking time to find gratitude for that which you already have.
You are a gift in this world. You bring things to it that no other person can. When you stop doing things to impress or compete with others your purpose will speak much louder to you. And really, there is no greater motivator than living from within that purpose.
Try working with this affirming thought each day. “I am grateful and appreciate all that I am and all that I have.”
[...] a fire under their butts”. Fear based motivation does work; sort of. I’ve covered that in previous posts but suffice to say it’s not long-lasting and the results are lower than if the motivation was [...]
When you appreciate yourself, others and your uniqueness all things are possible. Love the saying about behind the scenes
I’m always amazed at how much easier it is for people to show love, appreciation and praise for and to other people than it is for them to shower themselves with such things. There is a really skewed perception around what egotism is and self-love.
I agree that the attitude of gratitude is the key to motivation and happiness.Competition with others takes your focus off your own strengths and makes you doubt yourself. I love the affirmation
Janette, every single time I hear that expression ‘attitude of gratitude’ I can’t help but have 2 things happen. First I kinda of sing it. Can’t help it..it must be done. In fact it’s hard for tme to say it without a bit of sing-song in there. Second I always think that there is a reason those two words sound so much alike..dont’ you think?
Well said, Bonnie!
I especially loved the reason we struggle image. That was right on point!
Many times we spend countless amounts of effort and energy looking at the green pastures of someone else’s yard, when all we must do is change the direction of where we’re placing that effort and energy. By focusing on what we want to bring into fruition for ourselves, we must know two things: 1) we are fully equipped to carry out the vision that’s been placed within us, and 2) we are deserving of making it our reality.
I feel that once we cover those two major dream killing points, motivation from any outside source become unneeded and/or necessary.
You know with the advent of twitter and facebook I think we are subject to so much more of other’s highlight reels. It can really make us feel inadequate and sad. It can be good to be reminded that you too have much to offer.