Steemit Engagement Challenge (SEC)| S12W2- "Self Motivation"

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"Pick up that lip!" I can hear my mom’s voice so clearly when I hear or read about self-motivation. She always told us that we were our worst enemy and that we had to think beyond boundaries. We cannot get sour when things don’t go our way.

Life is not easy. Best of all, it doesn’t come with a manual on "How to Live Your Life in 101 Steps." It comes with trial and error, and you write your own manual as you walk your path.

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I know that by now we’ve all read about the basic things that go wrong in people’s lives. Those things that cause them to lose their "umph" or motivation in life, like finance, unemployment, etc.
Therefore, I want to touch on points that are often not so clearly visible and are also often missed.

I’ve seen many people in my life who lost their purpose in life, which resulted in them no longer being positive. Most of the time, this happens when they no longer have clear goals and aspirations.

This can easily be because of their inability to make meaningful decisions or even because of their fear of failure, rejection, or overthinking things.
People want to be acknowledged, and they want to be praised. The negative influence of family and friends can cause them to no longer care about their purpose in life. Pressure, my friends, is a terrible thing and it can cause the wisest of men to go astray.

Life is unbelievably complicated and dynamic, and things will always change. I can remember how I felt when I was introduced to Excel. There was no way that I was going to master spreadsheets, charting, macros, pivot tables, array formulas, and the list goes on. Yet I had to adapt and learn.

Being ready and open to handling changes is essential to coping with life and staying motivated. Although certain changes can knock you off your feet, like the world of crypto currency for me, we cannot allow changes to get the better of us.

The wisest quotes are to be found in the book of Proverbs. I gladly share one of my favorite verses with you:
(NIV Proverbs 3:5–6) Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and do not rely on your own understanding; submit to him in all your endeavors, and he will make the way of your feet straight.

God is the superior authority in any situation since He is in control of everything and everyone on the planet. We will be delighted if we put our confidence in Him because He will offer us the calm and guidance we so desperately need!

The answer is YES! Plenty of times. I doubt very much if there is one person on this earth who has never been discouraged or depressed.
Let’s take COVID-19 as an example. It was a time when billions all over the globe were either discouraged or depressed, if not both.

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Before I carry on, I think it is important that we look at the meaning of these two words.

Discouraged: When you have lost that drive, that enthusiasm.
Depressed: When are in a state or a condition of discontent or hopelessness.

The first step I normally take is to acknowledge that I am discouraged or depressed. It might sound silly but if I acknowledge something it lifts the weight off my shoulders when I can say, "Hi, I am Pat. I am not an alcoholic, but I am discouraged and depressed."

The second step is to figure out what I need to do. What are those small steps I need to take in my healing process? So often it is these small steps like going for regular walks, listening to music, and yes, having those "me times" that turn me positive again.

The third step is to learn. I have to not only learn from my mistakes and what put me in this state, but I also have to learn what I can do to overcome these feelings of discouragement or depression. I need to know what I can do for myself.

The fourth step is self-talk. As the saying goes, you have to heal yourself from the inside out. I have to be in control again. I have to be positive and get back to my goals, or even change them if I have to.

The fifth step is to reward myself. Getting yourself on the right track takes a lot of work therefore it is important for me to reward myself. Going for a haircut can do wonders for me. By rewarding myself I recognize the efforts I’ve put in and the successes I've achieved.

I attended a seminar about positive thinking that was held by Myles Monroe, who was a Bahamian evangelist when he was visiting South Africa. He said there are three questions we need to ask ourselves.

1. Can you do it? In other words, do we have the needed training?
2. Do you believe that it will work? Do we have the education to make it happen?
3. Will it be worth it? What motivates us to do it?

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Well, you can have the needed training, the know-how, and the education, but if you don’t have the motivation to do it, you should not even attempt it.

Self-motivation starts every morning when you open your eyes.
You have to motivate yourself to get out of bed, to eat, to get the family ready, to go to work, and to complete your day.

We are accountable for our own actions. We cannot expect others to keep us motivated therefore, my answer is YES!

In fact, it should not be good practice; it should be a good habit.

The people!

If I had to be involved in Steemit for the money I would have stopped long ago. It is not my bread and butter, like it is for so many other Steemians. I am priviledged that I have lived my life and had my own businesses and properties. Yes, hubby and I had our fair share of unluck, but looking back, I am happier now than I was when I was living in a five-story house.
Steemians want recognition, acknowledgement, feedback, assistance, a shoulder to cry on, and most importantly, they want a friend.

That is what motivates me.

Okay, I must admit. If I capture a dolphin while I am on my Steemit journey, it is epic!

I invite: @bela90 @ynglu22 @radleking