A Call To Motivation Seekers — STOP SEEKING
Motivation, Inspiration, Drive, Consistency, Direction — What do these 5 words have in common? That’s a question I would like to ask you, the reader, as it’s come to my attention that many people have been asking me about where do you get motivation, how do you find it and how can you create it?
“Why is there such a commotion to create motivation in people’s lives?”
Where does the urge for seeking motivation come from? Why do you even need it? Is there something wrong today in how we think about ourselves that we start asking for tips and resources on motivation? Look, i’m all for motivation but I believe the deep underlying issue in today’s world is there’s too many people looking for motivation in:
1.) The wrong places
2.) Too much quantity
There’s an old saying,
“If you start in the wrong place, you’ll usually end up in the wrong place”.
Bare with me here before I move into Zen mode (that’s what we martial artists are best at), if you’re looking for motivation onthe internet that’s a “place” to find it and in many occasions it’s a fantastic place to start. The hard part is, how do you know which motivational article, blog post, YouTube video is right for your given “moment”; it’s not about what has happened in your past or what will happen to you in the future, a motivational quote or video is only as good as it pertains to your current situation.
You can pick up “Money: Master The Game” by Tony Robbins to give you insight on how to invest money for financial security and freedom, but is that motivation going to actually change your spending habits?
*Side note: I do have the audiobook and found it fascinating for the practical content it offered.
If you’re used to spending your money on gadgets when you really should be putting that cash towards investing in your first home or maybe paying off the 50k in credit debt you have, then Master The Game may not be the best “motivational” tool for you.
On the flip side, if you took the time to read/listen to the first chapter of the book where Tony spoke about what it was like to not have money or food, maybe that’s what gives you motivation because you too have no money or food in your life.
Do you see where i’m going with this?
It’s not resourceful to seek external motivation from ANYONE else, including myself, if it doesn’t pertain to your current situation. I cannot offer professional advice as a holistic lifestyle coach to a 50 year crack addict, that’s not my speciality. I would invite that individual to seek support from someone who has helped 100 people with crack addiction and perhaps through my network I know someone just like that to help him or her.
Too Much Looking, Not Enough Doing
You have to know when looking, learning and researching is stopping you dead in your tracks from growing, from expanding not only in width but in depth. Knowledge is good, you should have knowledge but knowledge speaks more to scaling with width — it’s about growing side to side across the horizontal line. In the book “Maturity” by Osho, he defines the horizontal line as that which relates to growing old, in age as a number you tack on with another candle on your birthday cake.
Growing along the horizontal line (width) is not maturing into a fully functional human being — it’s only when you learn and understand that moving up the vertical line (depth) provides your life with maturing in relation to growing up. The more time you spend growing old, the less time you use towards growing up in moving forward with your life’s tasks; without a purpose and clear definition of what you wish to do with your life (life’s task), then you start to seek motivation, you start to ponder and wonder, “What the hell am I even doing?”
Motivation is what gets you going, BUT
It loses its potency when you stop practicing it each and every single day of your life. Motivation is like having a 1 gallon water jug with a small hole at the bottom; eventually the water will drain out unless you refill it.
I think that’s where people lose motivation, they begin to grow tired of the constant refilling of energy through all of the obstacles and set backs life “gifts” us — yes I said GIFT, more on that later…maybe =)
Discipline, Commitment, Strong Habits
Are what get things done. The daily commitments you keep to yourself will start to build discipline (you have to build it and work on it), where discipline exists you’ll start to create focus and direction with your goals because one small victory creates the momentum to win more small battles along the way. I invite you to sincerely think about success in your life as small battles that end up winning the war; when you’re able to think of life in this manner then you’ll discover motivation is a tool you can use at any given time.
It’s still a tool, don’t get it twisted, which means it can rust if you don’t take care of it properly. Allow discipline and creating strong habits in your life to be at the forefront from where you move.
So what now Obi-Wan?
Well, don’t ask me, ask yourself! What now? Hmm?
What do you do, what change do you start TODAY to identify your motivational tools that construct the foundation to which you move towards your goals? No one can tell you that, they can only offer their opinions and heart-felt advice on what they believe is best for you.
You must take all of them as feedback, opinion and good-will, then decide for yourself what you need to do. If there is one sincere and “guideline advice” I may offer, it’s to know why you’re doing it.
What do you wish to change and WHY? Only if it’s something that truly matters to you and will enhance your quality of life should you move in that direction. Don’t romanticize it, that time of your life is over.
Start getting real, start listening to yourself and stop looking to others for help.
Get out there and do the thing!
With love and strength,
David Lee — The P.O.W.E.R Coach
I hope you enjoyed reading this rant, philosophical expression, psycho-something or other post!
If you have 1 second (just one!) please comment or ❤ the post if you liked it! I believe in communication and community which is why i’m here.
Thanks a bunch and be sure to follow me around on my journey as a Powerlifter, Yoga Teacher, Holistic Lifestyle Coach and Techie.
Namaste!
