Motivation 2.13.12

let's get nerdy.
i've got a few motivation posts lined up that are based on some scientific principles.

i'm not a science buff, but i've often heard these principles used to present psychological/spiritual truths, and i've been studying up, because i don't want to misrepresent the actual science being used.
if you'll bear with me as i talk through some of the technical stuff, i promise it will be worth it. there really are some applications that you can use in your personal growth.

Ready? Here we go:

I'm pretty sure most of us understand the principle of inertia, even if we don't recognize the word. You know, the whole "An object at rest tends to stay at rest, and an object in motion tends to stay in motion."

If that doesn't ring a bell, just re-read that sentence, and then come back, because I'm going to explain it anyway. This is Isaac Newton's first law of motion, and it helps to describe the law as it happens in space. Because we live on a planet, all our experiences with physics are affected by gravity. I'm sure we'll talk about that at some point, too.

In space, objects in motion, such as planets, asteroids, comets, et cetera will continue in their motion indefinitely, and objects not in motion will remain that way as well, so long as nothing alters that state.

Consider the moon, it circles the earth continually, and will probably do so for the rest of our lives. This is INERTIA at work. Unless some force or object disturbs the natural state of the moon, it will remain in motion.

Congratulations, you now understand the first law of motion. Right?

So, what does that have to do with you? Or productivity? Consider any goal you may have at the current moment; I'll use the generic goal of running three times a week for an example.

When you first decide to start running, and even before that moment, you can consider yourself an object at rest. This goal will remain inactive until you act upon it, giving it momentum. There are millions of people who would like to run three times a week, but who never get off the couch. Because there is no force acting upon the goal, they remain in a state of INERTIA.

If you have been running for years, you are an object in motion, and you will probably continue running, until some major event halts your momentum. Because this is a natural state for you, you too are in a state of INERTIA.

So, how is this encouraging? Where is the motivation?

Inertia can work for you, or against you.

When you begin to pursue a new goal, it may feel like it's stuck, without movement. Inertia is hard to overcome, because it requires FORCE, but it can be done.

If you find yourself looking at that never-started project, take heart. Just because the natural tendency is to remain motionless doesn't mean that you can't get this done. Choose not to be an object at rest. Act upon your goals and you will see the momentum build.

If you've been in the swing of things for years, and have no problem keeping up with your goals, ROCK ON! Inertia is working in your favor, and I'm sure you've seen it keep you going. Just remember that there are outside forces trying to cut in on you and slow you down.

In either case, keep your eye on the goal and keep moving forward.

-Karey

Motivation 2.6.12

In any type of sport or exercise, there is a wall; a point in the practice where you are threatened by pain, lack of oxygen, fatigue. Sometimes we allow the discomfort to stop us in our tracks; we give up on the goal because it's too much work.

There are obstacles to productivity, too. They're not as obvious as a shin splint, but they keep us from continuing our work and reaching our goals. Housecleaning, schoolwork, personal growth; you fill in the blank, they all create hang-ups that keep us from getting better.

I have a certain craft project, more like a few projects, that I call my "forever craft," because I don't know how long it will really take to finish. Every month or so, I pull one out and get a few hours worth of progress made. As I sit here and consider these projects, I feel guilty about the fact that they've taken me so long, and I'm nowhere near done. The guilt actually keeps me from pulling them out; it's become an obstacle to my productivity. It just hurts too much to do it anymore.

Anyone who has been involved in sports, or simply working out, has been told to simply push through the pain; to grit your teeth and move forward. It's not complicated, but it's not easy, either. The simple, difficult truth is that growth requires pain, and the only way to become who you want to be, to do what you want to do, is to keep going despite the hurt and discomfort.

I've been jumping some hurdles lately, getting past the doubts that have kept me still so long; it makes a difference, in that painful moment, to trust that I'm growing.Whether or not it is visible to you, I am making progress, and I can still see that finish line.

I'm encouraging you to keep running, to keep going in your personal pursuits. If you can focus on the goal, and work through the pain, you'll find out that it's worth it.

Motivation 1.30.12

 
 “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” -Mark Twain

If you've ever let a task sit on your to-do list for too long, you've been letting a frog live in your house rent-free. It's not been one of the cute ones that people like to see and enjoy having around. No, these things are the fat, ferocious kind that leave a slimy trail and belch noxious gases. They are sickening, and they are ruining your productivity and your attitude.

A close friend and mentor of mine recently advised me to make an appointment with myself to get one of these monster tasks off of my to-do list, and she quoted Mark Twain to make her point. While I can't imagine actually eating any sort of amphibian, much less a LIVE one, tackling a problem task is definitely more palatable.

These tasks have a way of seeming worse than they really are, and the longer you avoid them, the meaner they look. Day after day, you stare down a mean, ugly frog, refusing to get the nasty thing off of your list and out of your house.

Take a look at the second half of that quote again. It's absolutely true, no matter how it feels when you look at your monster. Tackling your problem task first thing will make the rest of the day (and the to-do list!) that much lighter, and you'll be delirious with personal pride.

What frog have you been avoiding lately? Isn't it about time to get the nasty thing off of your list and out of your life? If you don't have time to tackle it today, make an appointment to get it done first thing tomorrow. Taking the time to get rid of it will leave you happier, and free to get on with your life, instead of babysitting a little monster.

-karey

Motivation 1.23.12

Donald Miller recently wrote a blog-post, inspired by Viktor Frankl, that asked what would we do differently if this were our second time living 2012. It threw me for a loop at first; we can't know what we'd change, because we haven't done it yet! 

Once I let the idea settle in my brain, I found a way to make it work. Starting with the mindset that I'm re-doing this year makes it a little easier to make changes, because instead of starting from scratch, I *know* that this will be a good year, and I can simply build on what I'm expecting. I don't have to know where I'm going to mess up, I only have to know where I want to succeed. And there are many things I want to do well this year.

One of the things that I'm doing differently is housework; instead of spending so much time writing lists, stressing out, and then avoiding housework, I'm going to replace those bad habits with simply picking a task and seeing it through to completion. How much frustration will I save? How much work can I actually get done? Even if I only manage to change my habits once a week, I'm sure that I will see a HUGE improvement.

I can't say that I will constantly be seeking areas to do better in, and for sure, I could completely forget about this concept by February 1st. But what harm can there be in trying it today?

This is your motivation for today, and this week. Is there anything you want to do differently? What positive change can you build into this year, that you wouldn't have considered without a second look?

Take the time today to re-evaluate your day, your week, your year, and maybe it will save you some frustration and regret in 2012.

-karey