I find it very interesting on how many of us (myself included) allow other people or circumstances to provide the motivation we need to do the things we need to do.
Watching this dynamic for several years in many different environments, I have come to the conclusion that the real reason that people allow outside factors to influence their level of motivation is because they are focused on someone’s plan rather than on their own.
Let’s think about this a minute. Most of us either have or are working for an employer. When we do that, we are part of a team that shares responsibilities to provide what is needed to complete the mission of that organization. Within that environment, we find ourselves working on someone else’s plan and thus the motivation has to come from serving a purpose other than our own. Or does it?
What are your long term goals? Financial independence, happiness, early retirement? Now ask yourself how what you are currently doing is helping you to reach those goals?
Stop reading and answer the question.
If you can’t connect what you are currently doing to your long term goals, I would suggest that you will find it highly difficult to be motivated in what you are doing. In addition, I think that circumstance leaves you with the idea that the people you work with should be helping you reach your goals because you are helping them reach theirs. Right?
If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much. – Jim Rohn
So if they don’t have much planned for you, where do you think your motivation will come from? Hello!
There is only one answer here. Motivation comes from within. It comes from what you are passionate about and from the actions that serve your “why.”
I know many people are frustrated in their current jobs and some may not even have a job which can make the idea of being motivated even more difficult. But there is light at the end of whatever tunnel you may be stuck in and the better your plan, the brighter the light and better the chance that you will be motivated to find your way out of the tunnel.
So who holds the responsibility for your motivation? You do. I used to blame all kinds of people and all sorts of circumstances as the reason why I was lacking motivation. Then I discovered my purpose and created a plan to allow me to serve that purpose and reach those long term goals that I wanted.
Full transparency here, I still have a long way to go. But I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and it get’s brighter every day which indicates to me that I am headed in the right direction.
I know this is all easier said than done but the simple fact is that once we stop pointing fingers at other people and take responsibility for our own thoughts and actions, it becomes much easier to find the motivation to do whatever it is that we are doing.
Even if you don’t love what you are currently doing, can you see how it is part of the process to get you there? If not, you better take a hard look at yourself. One of my mentors has pounded into me; “Plan your work and work your plan.”
It is no different for your life picture. Plan your life out and work that plan. There are many roads to get to the same destination. Some take longer. Some are more enjoyable along the way and some are nothing more than gravel roads full of potholes. But if it is a road to get you where you want to go, the trip is worth it.
The BIG question for today; “Will the road you are currently on, get you to your destination?” If your lacking motivation, it may simply mean that your not clear on your destination. Maybe you need a new map!
***********************************************************************
Don’t miss a single post from Building What Matters by subscribing at the top left of this page.
Help support us by clicking here and Liking our facebook page
Barry Smith 7/26/13 photo by author © Building What Matters 2013
