We all come to that point in life, regardless of age , when things stop making sense to us for a bit and we can't really identify what our purpose is or where we fit in. Nothing is adding up, very little brings us joy and the motivation to do anything at all is simply lacking. But the question is why do we feel this way sometimes? I probably asked myself this question everyday for the first few years of my 30s and I came up with 2 possible reasons:
1. It is probably God's way of telling us that we are not yet living in our purpose OR
2. We have allowed ourselves become distracted, discouraged and side tracked by external and internal influences like making comparisons, outside opinions and mental imprisonment.
There was a time when I was very unhappy with where my life was, how things were turning out and how unable I was to believe in something better. It took a lot of prayer, strength and sheer force of will to come out of that state of depression and unmotivation. Now I'm on the path to a better, happier and more fulfilled me. My circumstances are still less than perfect but that is no longer the point; the point is that now I have an inner peace that I guard so fiercely and have refused to allow anything happening around me shake it. Truth is, "you will never always be motivated, you have to learn to be disciplined".
Staying motivated takes discipline and the willingness to believe that only you can change the way you look at life. The problem with many of us is that we want things to happen instantly and it just doesn't work that way majority of the time. Change often is a slow process and it is that way so we can understand what exactly needs transformation and why. More often than not, that transformation takes place with and in us; nobody but you can be responsible for your growth. In other words, you are and must be your own source of motivation first before anything or anyone else can. C.S Lewis said "Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extra ordinary destiny". When you hear the stories of people like Oprah Winfrey, Tiffany Haddish or Tyler Perry and how they grew up with abuse and tremendous hardship, you almost can't reconcile that past with their present but it should serve as motivation for anybody going through any form of hardship that is leaving you lost and without hope. We all have to push past resistance and obstacles to implement good habits and choices; don't wait to feel motivated because that moment may never come. Staying motivated is a daily choice we all must make because life is riddled with mountains, valleys, rollercoasters and so many uncertainties that will almost always threaten our resolve to stand strong.
So finally, here are 5 tips to help you remember to stay motivated when life threatens to pull you back down:
1. Change is a slow process but quitting doesn't make it go faster
2. Motivating yourself should be a daily habit you form (even before the storms come)
3. Slow progress is better than no progress
4. The same boiling water that softens the potato, hardens the egg. It's about what you're made of, not your circumstances.
5. Not all storms come to disrupt your life, some come to clear your path.
We all go through tough times, nobody is immune to or exempt from them. So get up, show up and keep it moving. You've got this!!
Love Always
You are so on point sis, who instant gratification epp? But thank God for life, with it we can be anything we want.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. As long as there is life, there is always hope even when its clouded by darkness. Motivation pushes you through the storms as long as we remain disciplined and committed to our goals. Thank you for your comment.
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