Motivations out of place
Have you ever had one of those days when everything is going well?
Motivation is more than a few reasons why you want to do something. Most people use money as their main vehicle for motivation. I certainly did that during the three years I studied business at McGill University. I quickly realized that my motivation was misplaced.
So how do we deal with misplaced motivation?
We first have to identify the root cause. Often times when we exercise a certain desire to do something but are not sure why, as people we love and care about our future, we suggest ideas about why we might like what we like. Some of these ideas shape our own personal reasons. Over time, we forget what we originally wanted.
When I was 6 years old I sold markers, when I was 12 I sold bread (homemade), and when I was 14 years old I cleaned roads in winter, raked leaves in fall and tended gardens in summer.
So when I told my friends that I was interested in studying business, they concluded that I wanted to study Accounting, to have a good understanding of how companies work. Later, accounting became CGA (Certified General Accountant), which eventually became CA (Certified Public Accountant). Did you really want to be CA?
Today, my plans to become a CA have turned into an English Literature Specialist. How did I go from business to English? I became brutally honest with myself and went back to when I was 12 years old.
This is what you are going to do with yourself now. Go back to the days when you did not know fear and did what you wanted to do without thinking about the possible consequences.
That’s right, when you were 7 or 8 years old.
What did you love to do back then? You may need to call your parents and ask them what you liked to do (that is, what you did that made you smile) before you can remember.
Take a break and do this right now.
(6-10 minutes later …)
What did you come up with? Do you feel that what you wanted to do is not exactly what you now feel will put dinner on the table?
Join the club! But this is where the fun begins.
If what you came up with is really what you, only you, personally you … really love to do, then you’ll be sure to find a way to make it work.
I understand that all of this is still in your head. Imagine your whole life depends on you finding a way to make what you love BIG! In truth, your happy life depends on this. 99% of people settle for the biweekly paycheck and boring day at the office.
This is where motivation comes in. If you are doing what you love, you are 10,000% more motivated than if you are doing something you hate, we all know that!
During the next few days, as you express gratitude for all that you have, is, and can be, remember what you always wanted to do.
The sky is the limit! The problem is that most people continue to impose limitations on themselves.
