When I was a runner, I realized that motivation was not something that you waited for. It is created by just doing it. Motivation comes when you want the payoff no matter what the work involved. There were countless times when the last thing I wanted to do was lace up my running shoes and head out the door. The only way I was able to continue on my training course was to close off the part of my mind that was telling me I don’t feel like running today, its too hot, I’m tired, I can skip a day… and just do it. This is easier sometimes than others, it helps to remember how great it feels after you are done.
Your inner saboteur can talk you into or out of anything. The voice in your head never goes away. As human beings we have a will that is stronger than the doubting fearful self that usually runs the show. How many times have you had an idea that was so inspired, you were excited and it felt right? what happens when you don’t act on it? For me it fizzles and dies due to lack of momentum. Maybe in your excitement you share it with someone, even someone who you trust and that loves you and cares about you. You forget the fact that everyone has their own independent world view, needs, and priorities. Maybe in their love for you, they project their own fears and give you all the reasons why you should not do something- they are well-meaning nay-sayers. Since they care about you, they don’t want to see you fail or get hurt. They can’t imagine a worse fate than failure.
We are creatures of unlimited potential for growth. Our lives, failures, and successes up until this point have perfectly prepared us for what we are currently experiencing in our lives. The challenges will come no matter what we do to create a perfect world for ourselves. It is up to us to look at each situation that makes us uncomfortable, scared, stressed, nervous, bored, angry, anxious or sad as opportunities to learn and grow.
The emotions that we identify as negative can only be defeated by love and acceptance. If you resist the negative emotion, you are feeding it more negative energy, which will take you deeper into the emotion!
When I feel what I perceive as a negative emotion, I have learned to embrace and welcome them. Feelings like uncomfortable and scared. These to my are messages that something new and unpredictable is coming my way. Something I have not done before, or that entails stepping outside of the self imposed boundaries of my comfort zone. These feelings come up for me when I need to deal with difficult people, people I perceive as being more successful than I am, when it comes to spending money, launching new business ventures, and more.
Stressed or bored are two sides of the same coin for me. I have come to realize that my life flows in a series of waves of these two emotions, with (longer) periods of flow in between. When I am stressed, it usually happens because I have a lot of projects or goals on my plate, and have not yet figured out how to get the help I need. Bored can happen when all the work I have done to make the stress disappear is successful, and the lack of stimulation can cause me to think “boredom”. I don’t fall into the boredom trap as much as I did in the past because I know that I have the ultimate power over my emotions. I can look at a quiet day as relaxing, I can add variety to my life in so many different ways if I truly need it. I can reach out to a friend and offer my listening ear. I can be grateful. I can get out there and move.
The most important thing for me to remember is that emotions are transient. They come and they go, just like leaves blowing in the wind, or clouds in the sky. If you grab onto them, they act like sticky sap, and attract more of the same. One constant in this life is change. When things are great, they will change; when things are bad, they will change. When we attach ourselves to things being a specific way in order for us to be happy, we are setting up for pain.
Find the place in yourself where you are real love and joy. This is your true state. You are perfect just the way you are. Love yourself first, and the love and patience you can give will multiply. That is the secret to a joyful life.
“I was once asked why I don’t participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I’ll be there.”― Mother Teresa