Staying Motivated

Ah yes! That moment when everything starts to get too busy to handle. When you've gone weeks without a solid break and have to add one more thing to your to-do list.  How will you ever get through it this time?

I have come to that point.  That point when I start asking myself if my efforts are worth it.  Oh sure, from your perspective I have only been keeping this blog for a few weeks.  Not quite even a month. And here I am, debating if it even matters.  

In any endeavor, this is what I think is the true test of commitment.  My wife has told me countless times that she “can do anything for a few weeks.”

It’s true, really. Our brains have hard-wired programming.  We are incredibly resilient creatures.  We really can endure anything when we know that it is only for a short while.  Hence the reason why we are constantly reassuring one another during times of strife and depression that “this too shall pass.”

But start telling yourself that this is something you must continue to endure FOREVER!! And watch as the alarm bells start ringing while you frantically try to imagine all the reasons why you should NOT do that thing.  You’re start telling yourself that it is worthless.  That no one will care.  That you are insignificant.  

Or you’ll simply find something else that is more worthy of your time and energy.  You will think of all the things that are more enjoyable.  Indeed, you will be plagued and tormented by these thoughts.

And through it all, we must find a way to stay motivated!

For some people out there, that means staying motivated to stay in a relationship.

It is a hard thing to swallow.  It is never talked about it public until it is time to part.  So I will assume that some of you out there are struggling to find the will to go on.  You don’t need to say who you are, but maybe there is an answer here.

Remember what I said waaay back at the beginning?

1. Make a Plan  The biggest struggles come when we not only have to motivate ourselves, but we have to think of how to do so.  Before my first post, I struggled big time getting started. Finally, I sat down and planned out every single day. I assigned a post topic to every day of the week.  I assigned a “date researching” topic to every day as well.  (Hence “Post-Op” Mondays). It’s much easier to grit your teeth and just do it, when you don’t have to wonder what it is.

2. Cut Back, but Never Stop  If time is the issue, just give it a little less.  Step back a bit, take a deep breath, and take some “me” time.  You deserve it! But don’t ever stop! We will always seek to improve ourselves and our efforts in the things we are doing.  If you stop, then make sure you are prepared to stop forever, because you may never come back to that thing.

3. Get Others Involved  One of the biggest secrets I learned in overcoming addictions is to recruit help.  The key at play is in order come out conqueror, you can’t give up.  And if you have your own fan-base cheering you on, it does wonders. (Hopefully I can get my fan base going here soon, but I haven’t started worrying about that yet).

4. Remember True Motives  Whatever quests we set out to complete, they rarely reflect the face value of what are true purposes are. We can’t stay motivated if we fail to remember our motives.

5. Start a Blog and Ask the World “What do you do to stay motivated?” ...Well?...  What DO you do?!