Motivation can be direct or indirect, instructive or destructive, depending on the circumstances. I am so grateful to have had so many positive and encouraging people and communications over the years and want to share a few thoughts with you. The motivation for me at 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 years old was similar in some cases and very different in others. I don’t have to tell you how hard life can be. In the darkest moments, my faith in God, my family and friends made life bearable; I could see my way out of the darkest of tunnels. I’m an avid reader, often of material with a positive ending, so I’m continually looking for comments, quotes, and life lessons from others that push me to take the next step: positive action.
As an adult, I have always been drawn to motivational authors and speakers. I will say that what worked in your 20s generally didn’t work in your 50s. No need to apologize here: my perspective, and I suspect yours, changes over time. The Internet has expanded our ability to search for the right word or thought to help propel us forward. In recent years, remote seminars, podcasts, and live broadcasts are some of the newest modalities for expanding our learning potential. Regardless of the source, when we take our “intentions” to the next level, our perspective begins to change.
Take a moment to reflect on an event in your life when someone or something excited you, encouraged you, and your new thought became “I can do this!” What are you working on personally or professionally that might need that extra push to take it to the next level: action or more action? I use a number of things, but one new to me is five beautiful agate word magnets that I have strategically placed on the base of my “Imagine” desk; “Believe”, “Laugh”, “Love” and “Create”.
I have a word of warning for you about negativity. There are many in the world who thrive on naysayers and love to shoot down any positive thought or idea you can express. If there are realistic issues that you need to consider, do so; otherwise, don’t waste your time or any other resources with these people. Surround yourself with positive, like-minded people who will support and motivate you as you go. Ask yourself, “Who am I looking at? What am I reading? What am I looking at? Are my actions and decisions in this regard motivating me to positive action? If not, what steps need to be taken to improve?”
As with any habit, especially a new one, take time for daily affirmation and repetition of something positive at the beginning and end of the day. Try it for 90 days and reward yourself at the end of each week with something that simply makes you smile. This can be very contagious and I hope it contributes to your personal and professional success.
Finally, I leave you with this thought from an organization called Great Quotations:
“Did is a word of achievement, will’t is a word of retirement, might is a word of mourning, can’t is a word of defeat, ought is a word of duty, try is a word every hour, will is a word of beauty, can is a word of power”.
