Have you ever had one of those days when everything turns out for the best?
Motivation is more than a few reasons why you want to do something. Most people use money as their primary motivational vehicle. I certainly did 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?
First we have to identify the root cause. Often when we exercise a certain desire to do something but aren’t sure why, people we love who are worried about our future 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 was selling markers, when I was 12 I was selling bread (homemade) and when I was 14 I was shoveling driveways in the winter, raking leaves in the fall and tending gardens in the summer.
Therefore, when I told my friends that I was interested in studying business, they concluded that I wanted to study Accounting, for a good understanding of how business works. Accounting later became CGA (Certified General Accountant), which eventually became CA (Certified Accountant). Did you really want to be CA?
Today, my plans to become CA have turned into a major in English literature. How did I get from Business to English? I was brutally honest with myself and went back to when I was 12 years old.
This is what you are now going to do with yourself. Go back to the days when you knew no 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 have to call your parents and ask them what you loved to do (ie anything you did that made you smile) before you can remember.
Take a break and do this right now.
(6-10 minutes later…)
What happened to you? 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… really love doing, then you’ll be sure to find a way to make it work.
I understand that all this is still in your head. Imagine that your whole life depends on you finding a way to make what you love BIG! Truly, your happy life depends on this. 99% of people settle for the paycheck every two weeks and the boring day at the office.
This is where the motivation comes in. If you’re doing what you love, you’re motivated 10,000% more than if you’re doing something you hate, we all know that!
Over the next few days, as you express gratitude for all that you have, are, and can be, remind yourself of what you’ve always wanted to do.
The sky is the limit! The problem is that most people keep limiting themselves.